Every job hunter starts out with a decent idea of what they’re looking for in a new role. However, after doing a couple of job searches to see what opportunities are out there, many job hunters find it difficult to work out which roles are worth applying for.
If you’re on the hunt for a new role, here’s some helpful advice to help you narrow down the options and find the next step in your career.
Why you need to be strategic with your job applications
When you’re not sure what you’re looking for, it can be tempting to apply for every role that looks like it might be a good fit and just hope for the best. However, this approach rarely yields the best outcome for several reasons. Not only do you want to avoid wasting your time applying for roles you simply don’t have a chance of landing, but you also want to be able to find the job that’s the best fit for you and be able to make a great impression if you do get a call back.
Having too many job applications on the go at the same time is the fastest way to lose track of the ones you really want, increasing the likelihood that you’ll slip up when or if you do get a call back about that golden opportunity.
What to look for when considering applying for a role
So, how do you know what to look for when trawling through job advertisements?
We’ve identified the four most important things you need to consider when deciding whether a job is worth applying for: the criteria, the dealership, the role, and the lifestyle fit.
The criteria
The position criteria should always be the first thing you look at in a job advertisement. Most job advertisements divide position criteria into “essential” and “desired” criteria—and they mean exactly that. Something listed as “essential” means the dealership won’t consider a candidate that doesn’t possess that specific qualification or experience. In short, if you don’t have what they’ve asked for, the chances of getting a call back in response to your application are slim to none. If something is listed as “desirable” this means the dealership might consider your application provided you meet all the essential criteria and have other skills or experience which could be beneficial to the dealership. In some cases, you may still be able to land a role even if you don’t meet all the desired criteria. However, if the dealership was to receive an application from an applicant with all the essential and desired criteria, you might be hard-pressed to prove why you’re the better candidate.
If you’re ever in doubt about whether you meet the specified requirements for a position, it doesn’t hurt to call the recruiter or contact person before applying to find out whether your application would be considered.
The dealership
The dealership industry is filled with plenty of different players, from smaller independently owned and operated dealerships through to large multi-national corporations. When applying for roles, it’s important to know which type of dealership you want to work for and ensure it can accommodate your long-term career direction. If you value having plenty of scope for progression or have a desire to try out a variety of roles, it’s likely you’ll enjoy working in a larger, more corporate dealership environment. For workers that enjoy a more relaxed and close-knit working environment, a smaller dealership may be the go. It’s also important to consider whether the dealership is a good cultural fit for you. While it can be difficult to gauge a dealership’s values, beliefs, and behaviours from a position advertisement alone, investing some time to browse through the dealership’s website and social media pages will help you gain some more insights before applying.
The role
You also need to consider the role itself. While the dealership has a set of criteria you need to fulfil, you should also have some criteria you want the role to provide. The position description will provide the greatest insights into what the role entails, so make sure you read it carefully and consider aspects including:
- how similar or different is it to your current or previous role
- how much it interests you
- whether it will challenge you
- whether it will help you develop the skills and experience you need to support your longer-term aspirations
It’s also worth having a read of this previous blog post which provides some helpful insight into what some of the terminology you’re likely to come across in job ads really means.
The lifestyle fit
Finally, you also need to consider whether a position will fit in with the practical aspects of your lifestyle, noting details such as:
- your working hours and amount of flexibility you’ll have
- the location of the dealership and the likely daily commute
- the remuneration package and any benefits, and
- the type of employment (e.g. contract, casual, part-time or full-time).
Job advertisements may not always provide details about all the practical aspects of a role, but you can always get in touch with the recruiter or contact person for more information if needed.
Need a helping hand finding the right role?
If you’re looking to take the next step in your career, the easiest way to streamline the job-hunting process is to get in touch with Teamrecruit. As specialists in placing candidates in the best roles across the entire dealership industry, we do the heavy lifting for you and can show you a range of opportunities that are aligned to your qualifications, skills, experience, and aspirations.
Find out more about how we help candidates or submit your resume to get started.
Teamrecruit is Australia’s most established recruitment agency specialising in truck, earthmoving and agricultural machinery dealerships in Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and Southeast Asia. Find out more about Teamrecruit and how we support employers and candidates in the dealership industry.
