The Three R’s of Job Hunting. (2024)

Daily, we get a lot of emails from job candidates looking for job opportunities or available internships to kick start their careers.

While we are frequently getting requests from clients needing to recruit new faces, we often can’t help but feel saddened at how people miss opportunities to be hired for reasons that are preventable.

In many of the applications, we see avoidable mistakes like spelling errors, outdated portfolios that inaccurately capture information. When conducting a job search, it is important to remember that first impressions matter.

Especially if it’s your first time getting in touch with the company. How can you assure you do that? This is where the 3 R’s of job hunting come in - Research, Relevance and Resilience.

Whether you are unemployed, laid-off, or contemplate making a career-switch, mastering these three processes will ensure you get it right the next time you apply for job opportunities.

Research.

The first thing you want to do before taking the step of reaching out to companies is research. There are so many questions left unanswered when you skip this process. And that is going to show in the way you approach companies for employment opportunities.

These are the self-research questions to consider. You would want to determine answers to cardinal questions like: what are your marketable skills? What are your key strengths? What type of personality do you exhibit? Which companies are likely to recruit you for your skills?

Next, you’d need to dig into the background of the companies you are applying to: what are the specific needs of the companies? What does the personality of the team members look like? Do their core values and yours align?

We feel impressed when a job seeker’s answers to interview questions show they have a fairly sound knowledge about a potential employer.

That said, below are some major benefits of carrying out research as the starting point of a successful job hunt.

The Benefits of Research in Job Search

• You will have informed answers that will stir your interviewer's perception, making you the preferred person for the job.
• Self-consciousness of who you are and what skills you have will make it easy to convince potential employers that you are the most competent person for the job.
• It helps you to know if a company is the right place for you. It is self-disservice to force yourself into a job you know you would not enjoy.

Relevance

Organizations hire for different reasons. But most of the time, it is summed up in one word, relevance. Your skills and work experience must be valuable to the employer’s current needs and challenges. It could be in sales, market development, research, or IT.

The brutal truth is that employers hire only based on what they stand to reap from the services of persons that want to work with them. They would often ask questions like:

How would the employee positively impact our bottomline? If the worker’s role is not making us money, would it at least save us some? Would the business operational efficiency be enhanced?

Only apply for a role if you are sure that your skills are required. Also don’t forget to keep your portfolio up to date. If need be, sign up for short to mid term courses to sharpen your resume. Lastly, ensure your application letter is tailored to capture all these in the most convincing and succinct manner.

Resilience

Last of the 3 R’s is resilience. Things are tough out there. Especially when you recall the fact that the competitiveness of the global job market is at an alarmingly high level. And with the greater proportion of the global workforce getting laid off, the horizon still looks blurry.

As such, job searching in a time like this can be difficult and frustrating. Even with the strategic edge of Research and Relevance, you will need patience and grit to get through successfully. That is why resilience is important.

Your ability to shake off disappointments and rejections to keep moving forward will be one of your best assets. So, adopt a positive mindset with an optimistic view on things. Keep your goals in front of you and never stop executing your job search plan.

In a matter of time, you’d get the desired results.

In closing…

Remember that most people enjoying life at the pinnacle of their career didn’t have it easy at the start. Nights after nights of sleeplessness were endured by successful CEOs before they got their appointment letters.

Focus on the 3 R’s and trust the processes. You will have a success story at the end.

Good luck,

MGCG Middle East Team