By Ousman Seckan
In the Gambia, there is a general belief that it is only through personal contact and referral that one can get a job. While it is undeniable that personal contact is an important element in job searching anywhere in the world, it is not the only option available to job seekers. Searching for job, they say, is a job in itself. Thus, considering the rigorous and sometimes frustrating nature of job searching in the Gambia, job seekers need a change of mindset, and to follow set hints to achieve results. This is relevant, especially to fresh graduates who neither have a large network nor a better idea of the job market.
Upon completion of tertiary education, most graduates would be eager to get into the labour market with little or no consultation or research as per the etiquettes of their desired jobs – making it difficult for their applications to standout. Therefore, it is important to guide graduates and other job seekers of the relevant tools in applying for jobs given that it takes more than just writing an application, and attaching scores of documents. In this article, I provide you five hints that will help you to achieve your goal of landing your dream job.
1. Know the organization you wish to work
Firstly, you need to have some knowledge of the organization you are seeking employment. This cannot be downplayed as it will give more weight to your application. With the internet, getting information about any organization in the Gambia is easier now. You can get information from the company’s website, if they have one, or through other platforms such as Gamjobs, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
In addition, Gambia is an interconnected society, thus, it is possible that your friend, your friend’s friend or a family member knows about the organization or somebody who works there. Feel free to ask them about the organization to get accurate information prior to submitting your application.
Key aspects you need to know about the organization are the historical background, mission and vision statements, core-values, products and services or members of the management team, etc. This will enhance your chance of getting the job, since employers want applicants who are au fait with their organizations.
Unfortunately, most job seekers in the Gambia do not invest time to know more about the organization they wish to work. As result, they often submit their applications without answering or put into account the needs of the employer. This reduces their chances of getting the job offer. As an applicant, you must note that you are not the only one seeking the job. There may be hundreds or so applicants eyeing the same job. Therefore, you must do everything humanly possible to acquire some knowledge about the organization if you want to have an edge over other applicants.
2. Apply for a specific position, not any position
Employers often do not like to see captions such as ‘Application for any vacancy’ in your cover letter. This type of caption is outdated. Besides, it gives the employer the impression that the applicant has no knowledge about the job, the organization, and has no skills to offer. In essence, applying for ‘any vacancy’ means applying for ‘no vacancy’. It also suggests that the applicant is lazy. If you want employers to take you seriously, you need to be specific about the position you are applying, and show out skills that you have in relation to that position. Applying for a job is NOT a gamble!
3. Use formal communication
Proper communication is a significant component of job searching process. Note that formality is expected throughout the entire process – from writing an application to facing an interview panel. Remember that you have no personal relationship with the employing officials, and even if you do, you ought not to show that in your communication. It has been proven that applicants who disregard formality are at risk of having their applications turn down. The usage of acronyms, abbreviations and colloquialisms are ardently discouraged.
According to Mr. Ebrima Dem, the founder of Gamjobs.com, the use of shorten words, as in texting, are common among job seekers, especially young people.
“Many applications we reviewed, especially from young applicants were substandard, full of shorten words, poor grammar and improper address. This apart from not being respectful is very informal,’’ he said.
In addition, it is important that you go over your application or even give it to a second person to read through with a view to spotting out mistakes and typographical errors before submission. This is necessary because mistakes and errors contained in your application can downgrade your chances of getting a job offer or even a call for interview.
4. Prepare for impromptu interview
Never go for an interview not fully prepared. Preparing yourself starts with going through the CV you submitted. Make sure you understand the content of it. The chances are 65% of the interview questions will come from what you put in your CV. It is also important to familiarize yourself with the most frequent interview questions, and the services and products of the organization.
To avert abysmal performance, embarrassment and reduction of chances of getting the job, a Job seeker must adequately prepare for impromptu interview. As an applicant, you must note that an impromptu interview is sometimes done for a purpose. One of which is to quickly screen and drop off some applicants, especially where there are scores of applications.
5. Make follow up
Finally, once you submit your application or have your interview with the employer, you can make follow up after waiting for some time. Unless otherwise stated by the recruiter, there is nothing wrong with making a follow up. Besides, making a follow up can demonstrate to an employer that you are keen about the job. In some instances, the follow up made, combined with your qualification for the position, can earn you the job. Whether by email or phone call, the follow up has to be formal. Perhaps you can direct your follow up to a specific person you know.
About the author
Ousman Seckan, is a freelance journalist and blogger. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Journalism and Communication. You can follow him on https://www.linkedin.com/in/ousman-seckan-a0122319a/ or send an email to ousman.seckan@gamjobs.com