4 types of job seekers. Where do you fall?

There are so many different ways people look for jobs. We are as different as the people that live next door to us. We act different and we hunt differently. These are some of the ways job hunters go about finding work.

1.           The internet site job hunters: These people sit at home or office and type in their specific profession and all the job positions pop up. Next, they send in a CV by email or directly through the company’s web site and wait for someone to call them. Their hunt is over.

They have found the right job for them and the phone should ring soon, but more than likely they will not receive that call. There is more to getting a job than just sending in a CV via internet.

2.           The "Friend or relative is going to get me a job where they work" hunter:They look for someone else to do the work for them. Let’s see if they can get me in the door. It's ok if they give you a hint that the companies going to hire but keep it to yourself. Some companies don't like to hire friends or relatives. My suggestion is to keep friends and relatives out of your CV and cover letter. There are some friends and relatives that have helped people get a job, I also know that some companies won't hire them. The question is which companies are they? This person could be a very good worker but won't get a chance because of someone they know. Keep friends and relatives out. The only time it could be in your favor is when its a family run business or that Uncle Bob plays golf every weekend with the HR Manager. 

3.            There is a job hunter I like to call the Gullible Hunters: These poor people will fall for every scam, dishonest and trickery that is in Nairobi. Pay me some money, fill out this form and I will guarantee you a job. Have you seen these ads? Work at home and make K'sh 10,000 a day. Think about this, if you made that kind of money would you share it with others? If the job doesn't sound right to you or you have that red flag warning going off, don't make any decisions until you check the job out. Google the said company first. You will probably find the answer to your gut feelings there. Remember if you have to pay someone to get a job, then it's probably a scam. 

4.           The overqualified professional: This person usually has a college degree and has mastered several job duties. They have worked their way up the ladder. When they fill out a CV not only does it look like they are over qualified but heck it appears they should be the ones running the company. You may have been in a corporate management position and lost your job for whatever reason. Now you want that same position back with another company. Realistically you will probably never see that job again. But, if you can give your skills and accomplishments to a new employer you may get a job that's close.  

Make sure you tone down your CV. If you can build skyscrapers but you are applying for an Assistant Manager job at a factory, they don't care what you can build, they want to know, how can you manage this area of the job.  

Only put in your CV what deals with your management skills and accomplishments. This is the only thing the company is looking for. Show me how you can do this job.

Thank goodness for all these different types of job hunters. We all think different, plan different and act different. This is what companies know about us. This is what makes the employment world go around.