With many people across the country now returning to the workforce, you may be feeling like your qualifications and credentials aren’t enough to land you a job in a competitive field. While it’s very much a “jobseeker’s market,” the application and interview process can still be challenging, especially for the most sought-after jobs. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to stand out from the competition and shine above others vying for the same types of positions. Here are some ways to get started:
Polish your resume.
It’s not enough to simply update or revise your resume. During the entire job search process, you should take the time to strategically tailor your resume for the position to which you’re applying. Enhancing past job descriptions, adding new skills, and removing irrelevant information are all part of crafting a strong resume that will demonstrate to employers your abilities as a candidate. Incorporating metric-specific information about your past performance (such as the number of employees you managed or the percentage of sales you secured per year) will show what you’ve accomplished and how you’ve excelled in prior positions. It’s also important to add keywords from the job description within your resume that indicate your strengths to show you have what it takes to excel within the role.
Revisit your online presence.
If it’s been months or years since you’ve searched for yourself on Google, it’s time to evaluate your online presence. As a candidate in today’s digital world, your image on the Internet – especially on social media – can heavily impact your ability to land a job. Cleaning up your social media pages and removing any content that doesn’t reflect positively on you as a professional is critical for presenting your best self during your job search – and throughout your career. Along these lines, developing a complete LinkedIn profile will give you a platform to highlight your expertise to potential employers. This will complement your job applications and help you make stronger connections with hiring managers.
Follow up with employers.
Once you’ve interviewed for a job, there’s great value in following up with employers in a professional and respectful manner. First, it’s always best to thank interviewers for their time and consideration. Second, checking in on the hiring status of the position will demonstrate interest and show employers that you care about the opportunity. In your follow-up communications, you can also reiterate why you believe you’re a fit for the position and how your credentials and qualifications align with what the employer is looking for in the winning candidate.
By taking the right steps, standing out in the candidate pool doesn’t have to be complicated. With the tips above, you can leverage your qualifications and make yourself marketable to a wide range of competitive job opportunities.
Ready to get your job search into high gear? Contact HH Staffing, a recruiting agency with offices in Florida, to learn how our staffing experts can help.
Until Next Time,
Your Staffing Partner, Darrin Rohr- President, CEO, and Chief Servant
Current owner of HH Staffing and Former Chief HR Officer for several successful Multinational Fortune 500 Companies. Brings a fresh perspective from decades of experiences creating Great Workplace Cultures by building high-performance teams while leading and managing people from all different backgrounds. HH Staffing is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, and is uniquely positioned to serve both local and national clients.
