The Principles of Successful Job Hunting

There are three main principles that act as the foundation of a successful job search, known collectively as the 'Three A's'. They are as follows:

• Availability: The importance of being easy to contact and being able to attend interviews when potential employers require.
• Accessibility: Making it clear who you are, where you're coming from, and what you're looking to achieve.
• Application: The ability to apply yourself, and not be afraid of the hard work or rejections that you will have to deal with.

Availability

Being in the right place at the right time helps with most things in life and job hunting is no exception. Being there, being easy for employers to contact, and having the capacity to attend interviews as and when required, all go a long way to ensuring that your job search is a successful one.

To gauge whether you satisfy the first principle - availability, answer the following questions:

1. Would any prospective employers be able to get hold of you in a hurry?
   - Make sure that your CV includes your home and mobile telephone numbers, with an indication of when they can be used (e.g., home telephone number - weekends and after 6pm).
2. Might they have problems contacting you, in the form of unanswered phones or a line that is constantly engaged?
   - If you're often difficult to contact being away from your phone, install an answer machine or set up a voice mail facility. If the phone is constantly engaged, set up a Call Waiting function so that you'll be notified if anyone tries to get through. Alternatively, consider installing a second line.
3. Would you be able to attend an interview in office hours?
   - Try to keep a few days' holiday in reserve, just in case you need to book time off to attend interviews.

Accessibility

Any future employer needs to be able to see who you are, where you are coming from and what you are capable of doing in a very short space of time. This is where a well-written CV comes in.

When applying for an advertised job, you will be one of many applicants and your CV should make you stand out from the crowd. Your CV may have to survive the treatment of a harried manager who only has an hour at the end of a busy day to quickly glance through a pile of CVs and pick the ones that look of most interest to them. Your CV has to grab their attention on the first read through, as that may be the only chance that you have.

Even if you're just sending your CV to companies on the off chance there may be something suitable for you, they will need to catch the reader's eye immediately to prevent your CV from being filed under 'B for bin'.

Make sure you check out our section on CVs to learn how to create this all-important first impression of yourself.

Application

One of the big challenges you face on your job search is having the drive and determination to keep going and not being discouraged by any of the difficulties that you come across.

To some extent, this will require you to keep your expectations in line. Don't expect to be invited for an interview every time you apply for a job, and don't expect everyone to be nice to you. Employers' standards vary enormously and you won't always be treated as you would like to be.

Nevertheless, don't let bad experiences affect you so that they become a source of discouragement, and try to find ways of hardening yourself against the knocks.