With the unemployment rate at 34.9%, job hunting is becoming difficult for South Africans in the job market. Keeping up to date with the latest in the industry and tailoring your CV for the position you are applying for is one of the many things you will need to land a job.
However, knowing which tools to use can boost your chances of hearing those long-awaited words that inform you of your new position. Here are a few handy tools to get you started.
If you do not have it, it is time to get it. If you already have it, it is time to update your profile accordingly. Not only are millions of jobs posted globally on a daily basis, but it can be specifically tailored for you to find jobs that best match your skills. Sign up for job searches in your region, but also make sure that you optimise your profile to make you stand out.
Add relevant skills and make sure to keep your profile set to 'open to work' to make you visible to recruiters. Researching the necessary skills that are needed for a job you are looking for on LinkedIn can help you tailor your CV and profile to list relevant skills that will increase your chances of getting a job. Furthermore, you can make use of LinkedIn Learning to help you upskill through their free and paid courses to help you stand out.
CV Templates
Your CV is the first touchpoint recruiters will have with you. On average, companies receive 250 CV's a day. Only one person will get the job. It only takes a few seconds for a recruiter to know whether they should invite you to the next round or not. Therefore, first impressions count. Think like a recruiter and tailor your CV to be readable; with your contact information and relevant skills listed.
There is a chance that your CV will be handled through an automated system. Keep your CV concise. Avoid using too many colours, shapes and designs which will make it difficult for these systems to read. A useful tool to use to update your CV is CANVA, a free tool that offers relevant CV's in a format and suggestions that will help you stand out.
JobScan
As we have mentioned above, it is crucial to update your CV in a way that will catch a recruiter’s eye by being easy to scan and read, even if it's run through an Applicant Tracking System. Jobscan is a tool that can help you edit your CV accordingly to help you stand out. It will also highlight other related keywords and where you could be lacking to improve your chances of matching.
Grammar tools
Communication is one of the top soft skills you will need for any job. Even if you have the necessary skills, not effectively communicating and confidently can weaken your chances of landing a job. Sending through an application that is riddled with errors and grammer mistakes can cause your application to be rejected. Using free online writing assistant tools such as Grammarly and Language tool can help you send through cover letters, CV's and emails that are error-free.
Staying organised
There are probably hundreds of applications you will be sending out, and you may get a few responses from recruiters. It can be overwhelming to keep track of everything if you are not organised and get a response from a recruiter for an interview for a job you applied for and forgotten about. Use tools such as Excel or Airtable to keep track of jobs you have applied for, interview dates and companies you would like to approach.
