The job market is vast, with some industries being more in demand. Thanks to the cost-of-living crisis, it is more important than ever to have a decently paying job. The question is, how do you make yourself stand out amongst a sea of other qualified candidates? Read on to learn more.
Build Your CV
If you want to ensure that you are progressing through the application process, the very first step is ensuring that you have an excellent CV and cover letter to submit. Remember, for many recruiters, your CV and cover letter will be the first impression they have of you. While the content obviously matters, you should also put some thought into the layout and the design. Strike a balance between being professional and showcasing your personality.
Read over your CV; you need to make sure that you don’t have any grammatical or spelling errors. Your CV needs to be updated after every job to ensure that it is up to date. Remember to list all relevant skills, experience and qualifications regardless of how trivial they might seem. You should tailor your CV to the roles or industries you are applying for. Think about which areas might need more emphasis, depending on where you are applying to. While you can certainly use a template for your cover letters, they should be personalised to each job, mentioning specific things from the job listing to show that you have read it through.
Use Your Initiative
Employers expect more from their candidates today; you need to set yourself apart from the other candidates. You need to put yourself out there. Be proactive. When applying for jobs, a generic application isn’t going to make you stand out. Employers appreciate a more personalised application. After applying, you should always follow up. Most job listings will have a closing date.
If you are continually rejected from the jobs that you are applying to because you don’t have what they are looking for in terms of skills, qualifications, or experience, then again, it is time to use your initiative. This could mean getting some work experience if possible or taking a course. Some course providers are more respected than others which is something that you will need to bear in mind. For example, The London School of Economics and Political Science is a prestigious institution with a range of courses to help you stand out, from business management and leadership to finance and accounting.
Get Online
This won’t necessarily help everyone when looking for a job; depending on the industry and the type of roles that you are applying for, it can be a great tool. Obviously, most job seeking today is done online because that’s where the vacancies are listed. Employers use the internet to find candidates; they also tend to look up their potential hires on social media, so why not make it easier for them to find you? Your social media pages could become an online portfolio of sorts where you share your previous works and show off your skills.
In addition to this, there are specific social media platforms that were created to be professional social networking aids. Take LinkedIn as an example. Create a page on these sites and make sure that you are giving potential employees a good snapshot of who you are, what skills you have and what you would bring to the team.
The Interview Process
After applying and being vetted, the next stage in the application process is the interview. A job interview can be incredibly daunting. You meet the employers face-to-face for the first time, and the pressure is on you to make a good impression because nailing the interview often means you will be shortlisted for the role. So before you go for an interview, you need to prepare. This means researching the company, role, and any experiences that other employees have had. In the interview you can use what you have learnt to show that you are interested and that you have done your homework on them.
Interviews tend to follow a predictable pattern. There are common questions that you can expect to be asked, and as such, you should have already come up with answers for them. Look up interview questions online and write out your answers so that you can practise the questions in advance. You need your responses to appear natural and off the cuff, as though you haven’t rehearsed them at all.
Don’t be afraid of small talk either. It can help you to develop more of a personal connection with the interviewer, and they are more likely to remember you. Just before the interview ends, the interviewer will usually ask you if you have any questions for them. This is your opportunity to work out whether the job is a good fit for you as well as you being a good fit for them. There are a number of questions that you can ask, so think about the things that you want from a job role or employer and ask them if they provide those things.
Remember Confidence is Key
Being confident in yourself and your abilities is important. After all, if you don’t believe in yourself, how are the recruiters meant to believe in you? In order to get the job, you need to be able to convince the employers that you are the best person for the role. Confidence really comes into play during the interview stage. Focus on the things that you have already accomplished during your career, the skills you have and how you could apply them to the role. It comes down to telling the recruiter why you would excel in that role with the tools that you already have at your disposal.
The Bottom Line
When applying for jobs, you need to be aware that you will be coming up against some stiff competition. It isn’t enough to simply have the right experience and skills for the job. You really need to do your best to stand out. So take on board the tips listed above; they can help to make sure that you are showing the recruiters why you are the best person for the job.
