The non-exhaustive lists of Do's & Don'ts

[Dom]

Hey everyone,

Here is some points (I have thought of) & which will be expanded (suggestions via PM are welcome!) to help any job seekers (voluntary or involuntary) through Covid and any other time really:

DO

• Have a LinkedIn profile that you keep updated (especially if you are learning along the way) as the reach is incredible & some jobs are posted here that are not on other job portals
• Keep an eye on (subscribe to receive email notifications for similar jobs to what you are looking for) at least two jobs portals (Careers24 & Career Junction are 2 of my favourites as they allow you to track your applications and see at what stage the position is in the hiring process)
• Join a WhatsApp group that posts daily updates on jobs in various industries & parts of the country (not promoting here) - 079 633 1656
• Have at least one professional headshot - filter of your choice as long as it is not SnapChat kak (can be the same for a job portal or LinkedIn)
• Two versions of your CV - an abridged one pager (summarised/shortened/condensed) & an unabridged multi-pager (full length/extensive/thorough) as this may help recruiters/HR from having to page through more info than they need and become dis-interested
• Be realistic with the jobs you are applying for in terms of skills (gaps can always be bridged through online learning as knowledge does sometimes not cut it) & salary expectations (doing a 360 career change in your 40's will rarely net you the same pay if the industry/skill sets are wildly different)
• Hopefully obvious - do be professional & courteous in any verbal or written communication with a potential employer or recruiter
• Double & triple check any emails that you send out (first impressions really matter & someone people do not over ride this) & always send a courteous thank you mail after an interview (regardless of whether you are successful or not) as this shows character and will win brownie points for possible future opportunities
• Research the company & industry that you are interviewing for - this shows good commitment as well as attention to detail
• Do use the opportunity to ask post-interview questions (GlassDoor has many articles that are a good guide) but choose carefully
• Arrive early to an interview - we all get lost & a few extra minutes to prep never hurts
• Look for alternative or better choice key words when mentioning skills - task switching as opposed to multi-taking
• Use sites that offer CV templates as people are paid to design the templates and good presentation is key
• Mention your language proficiency in terms of written & spoken

DON'T

• Refrain from marketing yourself in a way that makes you look like a tit & kill your owns chances (dress the part & cover-up tattoos/remove piercings as need be)
• The above may not fully apply if it suits the industry - more is however less earlier in the interview process (the wilder/weirder side can always be revealed once you have landed the job)
• Limit social media flaming (bitch or moan to a friend or family member over WhatsApp versus Facebook etc) as it is easy enough to Google someone
• Don't send your CV, personal information or completed "forms" to a fax number as this is a well known scam - 5 most common job scams in South Africa | Careers24
• Don't pay for information that you can get yourself (I have made this mistake) - Transunion & Experian offer 1 free Consumer Credit Report a year, a SARS Tax Clearance Certificate can be acquired through a tax practitioner for a fee and in under 24 hours, a Police Clearance can be requested from your local police station & academic transcripts or matric certificates can be re-requested from the school/institution for a reasonable fee
• Do not (under any circumstances) slander or bad mouth your old/current employer in an interview (you look like a tit & this will never win you any points)
• Do not be discouraged by going to the Department of Labour to claim UIF - there is uFiling which is a lot easier & quicker
• Avoid cutting ties with your previous employer at all costs - they may not have an issue providing a reference & could network you to their network
• At all costs - try to avoid being fired (you usually get a choice of a severance package or a disciplinary) as this will be noted on your professional record/work history & will not bode well
• Really avoid miffing/pissing off HR at your old or current employer as HR is quite tight knit within industries & sexual harassment/racism/being an insufferable asshat will be something that people remember
• Don't fluff or fabricate anything on your CV - people can tell & this can lead to serious consequences (immediate dismissal & potential criminal charges)
• Never omit or withhold potential conflicts of interest (previous/current business interests, sequestrations or insolvencies, anything applicable that may affect you as a candidate in your relevant industry or field) as honesty is important & a core value for almost everyone

 

[Dom]

These are also quite nice (and free!) - eBooks Archives

 

[Dom]

Hey everyone,

Here is some points (I have thought of) & which will be expanded (suggestions via PM are welcome!) to help any job seekers (voluntary or involuntary) through Covid and any other time really:

DO

• Have a LinkedIn profile that you keep updated (especially if you are learning along the way) as the reach is incredible & some jobs are posted here that are not on other job portals
• Keep an eye on (subscribe to receive email notifications for similar jobs to what you are looking for) at least two jobs portals (Careers24 & Career Junction are 2 of my favourites as they allow you to track your applications and see at what stage the position is in the hiring process)
• Join a WhatsApp group that posts daily updates on jobs in various industries & parts of the country (not promoting here) - 079 633 1656
• Have at least one professional headshot - filter of your choice as long as it is not SnapChat kak (can be the same for a job portal or LinkedIn)
• Two versions of your CV - an abridged one pager (summarised/shortened/condensed) & an unabridged multi-pager (full length/extensive/thorough) as this may help recruiters/HR from having to page through more info than they need and become dis-interested
• Be realistic with the jobs you are applying for in terms of skills (gaps can always be bridged through online learning as knowledge does sometimes not cut it) & salary expectations (doing a 360 career change in your 40's will rarely net you the same pay if the industry/skill sets are wildly different)
• Hopefully obvious - do be professional & courteous in any verbal or written communication with a potential employer or recruiter
• Double & triple check any emails that you send out (first impressions really matter & someone people do not over ride this) & always send a courteous thank you mail after an interview (regardless of whether you are successful or not) as this shows character and will win brownie points for possible future opportunities
• Research the company & industry that you are interviewing for - this shows good commitment as well as attention to detail
• Do use the opportunity to ask post-interview questions (GlassDoor has many articles that are a good guide) but choose carefully
• Arrive early to an interview - we all get lost & a few extra minutes to prep never hurts
• Look for alternative or better choice key words when mentioning skills - task switching as opposed to multi-taking
• Use sites that offer CV templates as people are paid to design the templates and good presentation is key
• Mention your language proficiency in terms of written & spoken

DON'T

• Refrain from marketing yourself in a way that makes you look like a tit & kill your owns chances (dress the part & cover-up tattoos/remove piercings as need be)
• The above may not fully apply if it suits the industry - more is however less earlier in the interview process (the wilder/weirder side can always be revealed once you have landed the job)
• Limit social media flaming (bitch or moan to a friend or family member over WhatsApp versus Facebook etc) as it is easy enough to Google someone
• Don't send your CV, personal information or completed "forms" to a fax number as this is a well known scam - 5 most common job scams in South Africa | Careers24
• Don't pay for information that you can get yourself (I have made this mistake) - Transunion & Experian offer 1 free Consumer Credit Report a year, a SARS Tax Clearance Certificate can be acquired through a tax practitioner for a fee and in under 24 hours, a Police Clearance can be requested from your local police station & academic transcripts or matric certificates can be re-requested from the school/institution for a reasonable fee
• Do not (under any circumstances) slander or bad mouth your old/current employer in an interview (you look like a tit & this will never win you any points)
• Do not be discouraged by going to the Department of Labour to claim UIF - there is uFiling which is a lot easier & quicker
• Avoid cutting ties with your previous employer at all costs - they may not have an issue providing a reference & could network you to their network
• At all costs - try to avoid being fired (you usually get a choice of a severance package or a disciplinary) as this will be noted on your professional record/work history & will not bode well
• Really avoid miffing/pissing off HR at your old or current employer as HR is quite tight knit within industries & sexual harassment/racism/being an insufferable asshat will be something that people remember
• Don't fluff or fabricate anything on your CV - people can tell & this can lead to serious consequences (immediate dismissal & potential criminal charges)
• Never omit or withhold potential conflicts of interest (previous/current business interests, sequestrations or insolvencies, anything applicable that may affect you as a candidate in your relevant industry or field) as honesty is important & a core value for almost everyone

Updating something that I see happening a lot - don't include your ID number (this is a unique identifier) & full residence address (the suburb/area & province is more than enough) on your CV people.

I understand that the intention is to give recruiters or potential employers as much info as possible, but - identity fraud is still very real & almost too easy if you give a document that has the above as well as a contact number, email address & a picture.

 

[Techfox]

Awesome list!

I was required to sit in on interviews in my previous roles, but also being in PM got thrown some curveballs in my own interviews. A couple of things that may or may not come up. As you mentioned though, read the situation as it may not always be applicable

1. Don't be afraid to talk about yourself in a personal capacity. Skills are important, but a cultural fit is just as important nowadays. Let them know who you are. Skills can be developed, your personality is set.
2. Answer all questions seriously. A lot of companies ask random/weird/distracting things to throw you off balance or see how you think on your feet. I've been asked everything from "How many tennis balls would it take to fill this room", "What would you do if a bear attacked you right now" etc. They're not just being obnoxious or wasting your time, they're fishing for specific answers, attributes, etc

3. Know your weaknesses, and don't give those vague answers everyone rolls their eyes at. Bad at multitasking? Well, you're good at focussing on the task at hand, but started using Trello or something to start balancing things. You're an introvert and shy? You use the time you're focussing on tasks to recharge before the next meeting/encounter etc. You're human, and if the company doesn't accept this, well, maybe they're not a good fit for you.

4. Wash your glass/coffee cup. This one popped up a lot after it became a trend overseas. It shows your willingness to clean up after yourself, and not just make it someone else's problem or say "It's their job". Yes, you're hired for a specific role but no one likes the guy who says "well it's not my job" essentially cleaning their hands of any type of accountability/teamwork. This is especially relevant in smaller companies where often everyone has to chip in to get stuff done when things run late

 

[Dom]

Awesome list!

I was required to sit in on interviews in my previous roles, but also being in PM got thrown some curveballs in my own interviews. A couple of things that may or may not come up. As you mentioned though, read the situation as it may not always be applicable

1. Don't be afraid to talk about yourself in a personal capacity. Skills are important, but a cultural fit is just as important nowadays. Let them know who you are. Skills can be developed, your personality is set.
2. Answer all questions seriously. A lot of companies ask random/weird/distracting things to throw you off balance or see how you think on your feet. I've been asked everything from "How many tennis balls would it take to fill this room", "What would you do if a bear attacked you right now" etc. They're not just being obnoxious or wasting your time, they're fishing for specific answers, attributes, etc

3. Know your weaknesses, and don't give those vague answers everyone rolls their eyes at. Bad at multitasking? Well, you're good at focussing on the task at hand, but started using Trello or something to start balancing things. You're an introvert and shy? You use the time you're focussing on tasks to recharge before the next meeting/encounter etc. You're human, and if the company doesn't accept this, well, maybe they're not a good fit for you.

4. Wash your glass/coffee cup. This one popped up a lot after it became a trend overseas. It shows your willingness to clean up after yourself, and not just make it someone else's problem or say "It's their job". Yes, you're hired for a specific role but no one likes the guy who says "well it's not my job" essentially cleaning their hands of any type of accountability/teamwork. This is especially relevant in smaller companies where often everyone has to chip in to get stuff done when things run late

Thanks man!!

Going through a job search in 2020 & also recently made me want to help as it isn't something that is really mentioned in that many places.

The cultural fit is key for many companies - it has become one of my counter questions in interviews. They have every right to ask you a bunch of things but you are also allowed to ask what their culture is like, is this a new role or did someone previously occupy it & what makes them nice to work for (more than the generic things that a lot of company's list on job specs). Personality as well - very few jobs require you to work in complete isolation and this means that you do need to interact wit people at some level.

Agreed - people will want to hire a clown explicitly & do want to see how well you can focus on being professional + proper (sure you see some bizarre things and they may be hilarious but you need to act appropriately when representing a company in any capacity). My weirdest curve ball was being asked: "What fruit would you be & why?". It was fun to answer and added a nice friendly touch.

I also try to focus on this personally (I am afflicted with the UK vagueness) - they do want honesty here and also want to hear how you have thought (or actually) minimised or mitigated this weakness. Nobody is perfect & not everything can be righted overnight but working at it proactively does show a good mindset and work ethic.

I will admit that I am lazy with this (Covid made it more difficult with contamination risks) but am at least open about it. I do however not expect someone to clean up after me as I am an adult - that little bit of gratitude goes a long way & hygiene + presentation can also extend to your personal work space.

 

[Techfox]

Yea, it's a great initiative as interviews are already a source of anxiety and fear, but they're also a learned skill

Definitely. You have as much right to interview them, as they do you. They're paying you, but you're generating revenue for them. It's always nice to hear about company culture or even experience it. I found places that pride themself in a healthy culture are eager to show you around, and meet some people. Those who swear life is a party, but you sit in a cold, clinical boardroom... well, yea.

I've always been into office pranks, very light-hearted ones of course, and always something I mentioned in an interview. It shows you actually want to be part of a team and not just sit in your corner and crunch numbers/code with 0 interaction. Some places need that, but most startups are looking for the team player

Definitely - and people see straight through the whole "my weakness is I work too much" type answer. Probably one of the worst answers cause everyone experiences burnout, and this means it would be sooner than later

Yea, this one was especially important to me when conducting the interview simply because as you mention basic hygiene/respect for a workplace goes well past just the basics and the physical. Everything from guys pissing on a toilet seat and not cleaning up (especially if it's a shared bathroom), to leaving food in the fridge to go off etc, it affects everyone. In a work capacity, untidy code, or random comments was just irritating

 

[aiccc]

4. Wash your glass/coffee cup.

Why sailors love a filthy, unwashed coffee mug

You'll never catch a sailor washing out a coffee mug.

www.navytimes.com

 

[Dom]

As I haven't added to this (for a while) + am on the job prowl again, try out LinkedIn Learning - the first month is free (will confirm on the price (as I get there)), LinkedIn is a great professional platform and can even help you create a CV & it is honestly better than Udemy so far!!

 

[aiccc]

Create a separate email address for job hunting, else you will end up with spam. Don't make it look like a secondary email address.

jane_jobs_search@hotmail.com is not a good email. Jane.205@hotmail.com is better

 

[Dom]

Create a separate email address for job hunting, else you will end up with spam. Don't make it look like a secondary email address.

jane_jobs_search@hotmail.com is not a good email. Jane.205@hotmail.com is better

Not gonna lie, I honestly cannot see the logic in doing so - deal with the spam & only have to monitor one email address (clear out the spam sources later).