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It’s no secret that a lot of people are looking for work right now. With the job market absolutely saturated with seekers, how can you stand out—without resorting to ineffective gimmicks?
You should always do your homework before applying for a job. That means reading through their official website and any other literature you can find. It also means skimming through their social media to familiarize yourself with the company culture. But don’t stop there!
If anyone from the C-suite posts publicly on LinkedIn or shares industry articles, read them. In fact, seek out quality industry news on your own to understand current trends and topics. When you get an interview, you’ll wow everyone with how informed you are about the company, it’s goals and values, and the market.
Too many resumes are focused solely on skills. While that information is important, it shouldn’t be the star of the show. Instead, highlight your achievements.
Companies love to see proof of what you can contribute. Maybe you increased sales by 2.3% or increased customer satisfaction by 6%–whatever you did right, make sure your future employer knows it.
Speaking of resumes, a sheet of paper (or PDF file) won’t cut it if you want to stand out. Create a digital portfolio with dynamic multimedia instead.
If that’s beyond your skillset, use an app with templates to do the work for you. The goal is to create a personal “brand” using a simple website to showcase your achievements and skills.
Networking is more than just shaking hands at a cocktail party—especially now that handshakes are no longer advised during the pandemic. More and more networking is done online.
Expand your network by actively reaching out to friends, former classmates, and colleagues. Don’t be afraid to approach people who could serve as mentors, but always be aware that their time is a precious commodity.
Ask specific questions and keep things brief. If that feels too overwhelming, find an article written (or at least shared) by someone who could be a mentor or future employer and leave a thoughtful comment.
Most jobs don’t ever get listed publicly. Recruitment is done through recommendations and referrals (which is why you need to network). Instead of browsing the internet for jobs in your field, focus on employers that you want to work for in the future.
If you want to get hired by one of the top law firms in Atlanta, as an example, then simply searching for “legal jobs near me” is not going to help. Research the companies that align with your goals and values, then get to know them through networking.
Depending on the industry, you might be able to do volunteer or intern work to get a foot in the door. If that’s not an option, try to build a relationship through networking that will put you in a great place to land your dream job before anyone else has a chance to apply.
