Making Your Job Hunt More Successful
Three of the most stressful things in life are finding a new house, dealing with the death of a loved one, and looking for a new job. We are wanted to talk about the latter stressor: job hunting. Though the economy has improved considerably over the last couple years, competition for most office jobs remains stiff. So, how can you stand out from the crowd? Try sprucing up that resume and making other changes as you go about your job search. By highlighting some of these tips, we hope potential employers move you to the top of the pile.
from: Jobs Go Public
Spruce Up That Resume
The first thing that potential employers notice is your resume, and it's something they spend about 30 seconds scanning, so it has to catch their eye immediately. Immediate resume killers? Grammatical errors, flashy fonts, or other graphics. Unless you're applying for a design job and have experience inDesign, a simple and straightforward layout will do you wonders every time. Another thing that's an immediate deal breaker? A non-professional email address. Skip the butterflygirl12@hotmail.com and opt for something like samantha.brown@gmail.com, instead.
As CNN Money also points out, you need to focus your resume on your accomplishments. Instead of simply listing daily duties, mention how these duties helped contribute something positively to the company. If you work in social media, for instance, mention how much growth you contributed to on Facebook and Twitter.
Don't Hesitate to Contact Recruiters
Sometimes recruiters can get a bad wrap, but if you work in a specialized industry, they have a lot of contacts to help you find prospective employers that might not be listed on your typical job boards. However, not all recruiters are alike, as this story over at Forbes explains. You are the one in control of the situation, as you are the talent, so remember to assert what you want and need in a job.
At the same time, it's important to ask questions about the recruiter. What are the most common positions they tend to fill? Have they worked with this particular employer before? If a role is temp-to-hire, what have been success rates for securing full-time employment in the past? Make sure you know what you're getting into before you find an opportunity that might not be right for you.
Make That Cover Letter Count
First and foremost, don't copy and paste your cover letter across different job opportunities. As Jill Jacinto explains, potential employers can spot laziness immediately. Ditch the informal "To Whom It May Concern" for a more researched cover letter. If possible, used LinkedIn or the company website to find out who is charge of hiring. Mention articles or projects specific to company and describe why you like them. Don't hesitate to offer a small amount of praise. Employers like that.
At the same time, try to make the cover letter more about why you're switching jobs and why this company is right for you at this present moment in your career. Don't rehash your resume, as they have already looked over that. Instead, use a few short paragraphs to articulate your reasoning behind applying. This will set you apart from the other applicants.
As always, don't forget to check for spelling and grammatical errors. With any of the above-mentioned tips, if you can't present yourself professionally, you will not get hired. Feel free to share other job-hunting tips in the comments section below or share a success story. Happy hunting!