How to respond to a job offer?
Location.
Before you respond to a job offer, think about your situation. Are you willing to travel to another part of Slovakia or even abroad for work, or is your current location more important to you? Be aware that abroad, with the exception of Czech Republic, you need a very good level of English. Numbers, relationships, technology? Get your head in order. Think about your disposition, achievements, successes, areas you are good at and what you would like to do on a daily basis. Ask for the opinion of people you’ve worked with or meet, how they see you.
Read several job advertisements.
If you’ve already made up your mind about what job you’re interested in, go through several job postings and compare them before you decide to respond. Focus mainly on the job description and the employer’s requirements.
Do not respond to offers if you do not meet the criteria.
A lot of jobseekers say they won’t give anything for trying. That’s true, but it’s pointless. Only respond to jobs where you meet at least 80 percent of the requirements. Job offers tend to state what special skills the employer requires. In addition to languages, it may be proficiency in computer programs, specific technologies, or the level of certification required.
Languages.
If you can’t estimate your level of a foreign language, test yourself. You can find a number of tools on the Internet, or ask friends who know the desired language to rate you. If you overestimate your language skills, you risk slamming the door on yourself for a while. Be prepared if you are asked over the phone to conduct part of the interview in a foreign language.
Pay attention to details.
For example, the advert may be in Slovak, but a CV in both English and German is a requirement. The chances are that you will have to use one of these languages at work. Employers use this condition as the first filtering criterion, so it is important that you answer in the required language. In addition, the manager who makes your hiring decision may be a foreigner.
Do not apply for all positions.
Larger companies post similar advertisements for different positions, requiring the same criteria from the applicant. Never respond to four offers from one company, but choose the one that suits you best.
If you copy your CV, remember to change the details.
Often when responding to multiple positions, you do not tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific offer and forget to make the necessary changes in a hurry. It does not look good if you give the wrong salutation or job title. Also be careful about consent to the processing of personal data. Sometimes candidates copy a template on the web and send it to multiple companies. Those companies then get your consent to process personal data for another employer.
Remember what offers you have responded to.
If you respond to offers from multiple companies, remember them. If you get a call and you do not remember exactly who or what company it is then it automatically degrades you in the eyes of the potential employer. It shows that you are mindlessly looking for any job and have no specific interest in the position.
