One important factor in this scenario is that Brazilian organizations generally start their fiscal year in January, and the new budgets allow them to hire more people. That is why waiting until after Carnival to start looking for a job is a mistake. Those who do may miss out on great opportunities.
But being qualified for the position you want and available for interviews isn’t enough. Professionals need to take care of their image, which is also reflected in the format and content of their résumé. A well-presented résumé is the first step toward a successful job search.
Simple résumé formatting tips, which candidates don’t always follow, can decide whether or not a professional makes it into a selection process. Some mistakes are unforgivable and will get you eliminated when résumés are screened. Never badmouth former employers, make spelling or grammar mistakes in Portuguese, or describe yourself with adjectives and expressions such as handsome, good-looking, ambitious, intelligent, and persistent. Don’t use colored fonts, borders, or backgrounds with drawings and graphics. It is also important not to use an informal email address or one with words that are inappropriate for a professional relationship with a company. Ideally, create one with your first and last name, or a variation of it.
Following these steps, write a concise résumé, no more than two pages, with a clear career objective and a summary of your qualifications in no more than seven sentences that unmistakably convey your skills and potential.
Once it is ready, you need to distribute it in a strategic, targeted way so that it reaches the companies and employers you are interested in. There are three particularly effective ways to do this: look for openings in print and online classifieds; sign up through the “Careers” (“Trabalhe Conosco”) links on company websites; and maintain a good network, including former coworkers and classmates, and contacts made at courses and events, as well as online on professional networking sites such as Linked IN (www.linkedin.com).
The last step in this process is to be prepared for group assessments and interviews. When you are called in for a position, research the company, its business, and its particularities. You need to show balance between your personal and professional life, and come across as energetic and driven to take on new challenges.
Throughout the conversation, keep your phone switched off, don’t use slang, and don’t give one-word answers, but don’t talk more than the interviewer either. Ideally, build rapport with the recruiter without becoming overly familiar. Making eye contact and not gesturing too much show that the candidate is confident.
If you haven’t heard back about the selection process a week after the interview, there’s nothing wrong with calling the company to find out whether the position is still open. And once the position has been filled, candidates who were not selected can contact the recruiter to ask for feedback.
The job market is hot, and this is the best time to find a new position. However, openings alone aren’t enough: there must be candidates prepared to compete for them.