Unemployment is steadily becoming a top global threat with overly saturated job markets. The emergence of COVID-19 has plunged many countries into record-setting unemployment rates. Many current job seekers have not experienced economic downturns or mass furloughs before. Thus, most of them end up navigating months of unemployment and endless hours of applications to find their next opportunity.
The competition is stiff. You need to stand out to attract attention. Like my lecturer used to say back in the day, you must stand up to be recognized.
6 Tips to help you navigate the saturated job markets.
Build a personal brand. Your personal brand is what sells you along with your resume/CV. In fact, your employer may forget your resume/CV but personal brands can have a lasting impact.
How do you want prospective employers to perceive you? If a hiring manager perceives you positively and connects with you on a personal or professional level, your chances of getting hired are higher. You can create your brand through blog posts, engaging and sharing content through social media, providing expert advice where you add value to conversations or by simply publishing industry articles in your niche.
Have an impeccable online presence. It is not enough to have an online presence. What kind of presence do you command online? Don’t be surprised when prospective companies go through your online profiles in order to gather more information about you.
Before you take that quiz about what dog resembles your face decide to put your energy into a more meaningful social media presence. Use social media tools for building your personal brand and let your networks know you are seeking new career prospects. Make meaningful contributions to online conversations, join virtual meet-up groups and leverage LinkedIn content and groups to showcase your talent and intelligence.
Craft your resume/CV and introductory letter to the position’s needs. Let your resume/CV tell an employer how your experience can solve the problems the organization is facing. You need to think like an employer when preparing your resume/CV and introductory letter. Why does the organization need you on their team? How is your expertise superior to others? What impacts have you made to previous organizations? Do a Google search for impact statements on resumes, the knowledge will change your life! Companies don’t just want to know WHAT you did before. They want to know why YOU doing it was the added benefit. If you lead others, design your resume/CV with the intention of showcasing how your skills will benefit a team.
Introduce Yourself. Corporate, freelance and agency recruiters all benefit from a brief introduction. Want to stand out amongst the masses? Send a quick note to the job search team with one or two bullet points about your fit and background. Always attach your resume and be bold! If you can determine who the hiring manager is send them a quick note as well.
Reframe your Expertise. Many professionals in Oil & Gas, and Software & Technology are finding ways to transfer their skills into new industries. If you don’t know the difference between chronological and functional resumes, now is the time to learn. Nothing makes it easier for a hiring team to see your potential than a well-crafted functional resume. Functional resumes highlight your expertise and transferable skills. Lead with your strategic prowis and program management abilities vs. recapping a decade of highlights. Each style of resume has a place in job searching but when making a big shift in industry or role, functional is the way to go!
Take bold steps. Take the initiative rather than wait for job announcements. Make a list of your top 20 organizations you’d like to work for then simply reach out to people who work there. Most organizations have referral programs. Once you get to know someone on the inside they can refer you to the right opportunities. Referrals often get priority so it pays to network and make new connections. This added step also allows you a look from the inside out to make sure that the companies you admire are actually living up to your expectations.
To stand out from the crowd of job seekers, be creative. Don’t be stagnant, make sure you upgrade your job search abilities in order to get recognized.
For more tips or example functional resume templates email me at info@ExpeditedTalent.com
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