Five must-do’s before you apply for a job

YOU’VE got great grades and it’s time to suit up and take a dive into the world of work. Before you start filling out those application forms though, here’s a few things to do first.

Clean up online

Those pictures where you do that amazing thing with the lampshade and the tray of margaritas are not going to impress – unless she happens to be recruiting talented bar staff along the lines of Tom Cruise in Cocktail. Recruiters now routinely check Facebook, Twitter and blogs as part of the recruitment phase. So clean up your online act.

Check for opportunities

See what opportunities they have for you in two, five and 10 years time. If the career you’re interested in is not their core business, ask yourself if you really want to be with them. If the answer is yes, you need a game plan.

Ask are you a good match?

You’ll be spending a lot of time working, so you want to make sure that this is a relationship you can invest in. Put on your PI hat and do some research into their corporate culture. If they are formal and hierarchical and you’re not, can you invent a new you or should you look elsewhere?

Check their reputation

Some companies are really successful but they treat their staff horribly. Google the company, the department, and your potential bosses to see what people are saying. Look at their FB and Twitter pages too. And ask people privately for gossip. If the news isn’t good, ask yourself what you are willing to put up with in return for your compensation package.

Prepare

If you get an interview, discover what your job would require and how you and the department fit into the overall organization. Find this out before you go, and make sure this homework comes through during the interview.