10 ways to score that job

Whether you're applying for your first job, or trying to land your dream job there are some really important tips to keep in mind. No job is too small or too big for these tips, and you can really learn to stick out in a positive way. Here are ten ways you can reach your goals.

1- Your resume

You want to try your best to fit your entire resume on just one page. Even if you have to use the smallest font, take out unimportant information or sections, or abbreviate (with full intent to explain in person), it is better than having multiple pages. You may even resort to a bullet type format, and save room by not using full sentences or paragraphs. The reasoning behind this is that most likely the employer will only see that first page, regardless if there were more pages or not. If you are having trouble building your resume, Microsoft word has great formats for all different types of resumes you can use, as well as cover letters, reference lists, and they are free to use. While we are on the topic of cover letters, just do one. It takes roughly about 10 minutes to whip up and if you have Microsoft word, you already have a format you can use to get started. Having a cover letter is a great way to stand out among other candidates. It shows you are really interested in the position and that you are willing to take that extra step. Avoid leaving gaps in your past work experience if your able to, and if you can't avoid it be prepared to explain why that is. It is better to have fewer number of past jobs that were long term, rather than many past jobs that lasted less than one year. Having a lot of jobs that only lasted a short amount of time, may show your future employer that you will not last if they hire you. Don’t lie on your resume but don’t leave anything out if you have the room. It is beneficial to include your skills and what you do in your spare time, even if it doesn’t pertain to the job you're applying for. Some things that are mention worthy are your community service, if you are a veteran or served our country in any way, if you travel, if you play sports or coach, or if you have a hobby/skill (photography, play an instrument, craft, baking, teach, etc.). Most of the time these things will strike a good nerve with the interviewer and you'll gain a common interest with them and it will be a positive way that they can remember you by. Avoid sharing your personal websites such as Facebook, twitter, Instagram. Chances are they will probably search you to get a better idea about the real you. It may be a good idea to set your personal profile to private during this time, or use a unique name on these websites for privacy. 2- Build yourself up before hand

It may help to build up your experience before applying to your desired career. If your resume is looking a bit dry, spice it up with some community service! This doesn’t have to take up a lot of your time. Get in touch with a local animal shelter and see if they could use a hand for a couple of hours every other week or so. Not only does this look good on paper, it is good and you'll feel more confident and better about yourself. Look into an externship to gain hands on experience in your field. Volunteer at your local church and help where it's needed. It could also benefit you to look into online courses or lectures you can sign up for, to gain more experience and education. Also, If you know someone in the field, ask to shadow them as much as they will allow. 3- Hack it

To make it easier when filling out applications have a cheat sheet handy. Create a resume for potential employers to read and a separate one yourself to easily transfer information about past jobs, your titles, dates of employment, addresses, phone numbers, and job duties. Be consistent with your information especially the dates. Create a timeline for yourself. Most job applications are lengthy and having the information readily available, cuts your application time down. Now with most applications being online, more employers are requesting you take online assessments to test your capabilities right there on your own computer. Give yourself enough time to complete these applications with minimal distractions. Some applications and assessments I've taken in the past, took me an hour from start to finish. Have some pen and paper handy as well as your phone for easy, fast access to google when you get stuck. 4- Stay organized

It’s a good idea to keep track of what jobs you’ve applied for and the progress you’ve made with them thus far. I'm a sucker for a good list/ chart. You'll want to have this information all in the same place so you're not left scrambling for information. Keep track of the job title, its location, its pay, if you’ve made a follow up call yet, if you’ve gotten an interview, the name of the person whose interviewing you, the time of the interview, what you'll need to bring. Be prepared to have to explain why you are there and who you are there to speak with. I usually keep everything together in my professional portfolio so I don’t forget anything. Just remember to hide it away in the folder compartment, if you hand it over to show a potential employer during an interview. They don’t need to see all your other information.

5- Location Location Location

The location is a very important thing to keep in mind. Growing up in New York, you always anticipate traffic. This is a good thing to keep in mind especially when using major roads and traveling long distances. You'll want to map these addresses out before hand and anticipate for any traffic you may encounter at that time of day. If it's not too much trouble, even taking a trip beforehand to the address isn't a bad idea. This way you know exactly where to go and where to park. If you know you have to park in a garage, you'll want to give yourself an extra 6-10 minutes to get to where you're going on foot, and be prepared to have to pay for parking. If you cannot help it and you find yourself running late, definitely call and let them know about the circumstances. Maybe you can reschedule or make the interview later. It’s better to call ahead than not at all. When and if you make the interview late, apologize and thank the employer for waiting. 6-Make a good first impression

You want to look put together, presentable and simple. You want to smell like soap, not perfume. What I mean by that is, you will want to smell clean but not have an overwhelming amount of perfume on, or skip the perfume altogether. Dress for the job you want. I remember one time I interviewed for a plastic surgeon office as a medical assistant. I dressed as I would if I were working at my old office job (dress pants, dress shirt, cardigan, scarf, black dress flats, minimal makeup). To my surprise all the girls at this office were dressed as I would dress for my bar shift (boobs out with a full face of make up on and high heels). This job was definitely the exception to the rules I would normally follow and you could probably guess I didn’t get the job; however, I did try my best to improvise! As I waited to be interviewed, I told the girl at the front desk I forgot something in my car and ran out and made a few small adjustments. I ditched the scarf and pulled down my shirt, and put on a little eye liner and ran right back inside. If I would have just scoped out the place prior, (Facebook, Instagram, webpage, even a simple drive by) I would have seen the “look” they prefer their staff to have. It’s ironic too because the look they were seeking was a look I presented outside of my professional career on a daily basis. But for the most part you want to present yourself as a professional. You want to go with something “safe”, plain, and simple. Even if you are applying for a job in the fashion industry, you want to have your outfit make sense and be practical. For example, are you able to sit down in that skirt without worrying if it rides up to far, or digs into your stomach too much while sitting for long periods of time? You're going to be sitting for a while and you may be nervous; it will help if you're comfortable during this time. Chewing gum beforehand or popping a mint is a good idea because no one wants to talk with bad breath, and it could be distracting. Just remember to get rid of the gum before the interview starts because this is unprofessional and distracting as well. Mind your manners and always be polite. Personally, I always get myself a big coffee right before an interview so I'm alert, attentive and talkative. Naturally I'm not very talkative and I can see how this might be off-putting. 7- Practice makes perfect!

Practice answering commonly asked questions from employers to yourself or with a friend. When you are confident in answering on the spot questions it helps the interview to go smoothly. Some common questions might be: Why did you leave your last job? What are some of your weaknesses? Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you fixed it at your last job? Tell me why you're a good fit for this position? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 8- Turn the tables

Try to remember, as much as you are being interviewed, you are also interviewing your employer! While thinking this, it may even give you a boost of confidence while in the interview. Usually at the end of an interview an employer will ask you if you have any questions. Here are some ideas on what to ask them: Why is your company hiring more employees at this time? Is there any room for growth with this company? What benefits does your company offer? How many sick days and vacation days do you offer? What is your policy on taking maternity leave? What is the working environment like on a daily basis (does everyone get along for the most part)? What is your dress code? It is okay to keep an open mind when applying to different jobs. If you are offered a job on the spot that is great but be honest if you still have another opportunity to sniff out. Let them know when you will have an answer for them, but don’t make them wait too long. If you hear back that you did not get the job, ask why and what you could do better. 9- Don't sell yourself short

If you think you deserve a better wage than what they are offering ask for it! The worst they can say is no. Have a number in your head and take it from there. Be prepared to explain why you deserve more! Reiterate your experience and potential value to their company. Don’t be afraid to take a day to think about your decision. After all you'll want a job that will last and that you'll be happy with. Burn out is a very real thing and it can be avoided early on. If the job you're applying for is strenuous, you'll need some sort of an incentive to want to continue doing it. 10- Always be prepared!

You will need to bring with you a professional portfolio and if you don’t have one, make one. Your professional portfolio should include a few copies of your resume and references, readily available to hand out, a cover letter (explaining why you want this job and why you think you’d be an asset to the company), copies and/or original documents such as your birth certificate, driver's license, cpr card, diplomas, certificates, transcripts, awards, past projects that highlight your work, and/or letters of recommendation from past coworkers, bosses, or mentors. You may also wish to share some samples of your side hustles. For example, in my portfolio I include some professional portraits I’ve taken to highlight my photography skills. It’s a great conversation piece and it helps find common interest between me and my future employer. Along with your portfolio you’ll want to have some scrap paper or a skinny note pad (that can easily be held in your portfolio), with a pen or two. This shows you come prepared for the job even when you don’t know what the job is. You may need to jot down notes or new information. You can even take it to the next level and have an extra pair of clothes, extra hair clips/ rubber bands, shoes, or umbrella with you in your car for easy access. You never know what could happen on your way to the interview and you’ll be thankful later. Be mindful of your body and your daily routine. Don’t schedule an interview at a time you are usually in the bathroom. Personally, I have my morning coffee around 8-9 am every morning and use the bathroom shortly after this. I wouldn’t want to schedule an interview for this time for obvious reasons. Prevent any mishaps by simply thinking ahead! Schedule the interview for later, or wake up earlier to take care of business beforehand.