Be aware of what can be found online about yourself. This can be both positive and negative. To a large extent you have influence on this yourself and it is important to profile yourself positively and professionally online.

Search yourself

It’s not a bad idea at all to look yourself up. Enter your own name into Google and see what you can find about yourself. Do you see profiles or images that you are not aware of? Please contact the owner of the relevant page.

Update your Social Media

Social media has become indispensable in today’s society. Know that your potential employer can easily look you up and will probably do so. So you have control over what your profile(s) look like. For professionals, LinkedIn is the most important profile to have. So you can ensure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date and has a professional appearance.

Your Facebook, Instagram or other profiles are generally less relevant to employees, but you should assume that an employer will seek you out on these platforms too. So for these profiles you also have to ask yourself whether the images and/or videos here can be visible to everyone. The following matters are important for LinkedIn:

• Make sure you have an up to date profile photo that clearly shows your face with a positive appearance.
• Make your profile up to date by adding your jobs, education(s) and certificates.
• Write a short introduction or summary about yourself so that people see who you are and what you stand for.

It is always wise to dress neatly when applying for a job. Look up the company to assess what kind of clothing is appropriate. This way you can estimate whether you should appear in a three-piece suit or just a nice blouse. Be yourself in this and don’t wear something you would otherwise never wear. If this is the case, you should ask yourself whether the company you are applying for is right for you.

Practice makes perfect. This is also the case with a job interview. Even if you are a good speaker, it can be useful to practice interviewing with friends or family. Consider the possible questions an employer can ask you. This way you can think in advance about possible answers you can give.

Where do you want to be in 5 years? What are your ambitions and why do you think you fit within our team? These are all standard questions that often arise in a job interview. So think in advance what you are going to answer to this. This makes you appear confident and makes you appear better to your potential employer.

In addition to having a job that you enjoy, it is also important to see what you will earn. People often find this difficult to ask and leave it up to the employer. Here too, you can prepare yourself by researching which salary indication suits the job you are applying for.

In addition, you are in a stronger position if you already have some experience with the work you have to perform or if you have completed a training course that matches the vacancy. This allows you to ask more than the average during your job interview.