Job hunting can be tough and although you are a great candidate for the role, you won’t be the only one. So, what can you do to make sure that you stand out from the crowd?
On average recruiters and hiring managers take only about 7 seconds to review your CV, which means simple errors such as spelling mistakes, unclear layout and lengthy paragraphs can result in your CV being overlooked. This is why you want to make sure from CV and application to the interview and follow up, that you make the right impression quickly.
Here are a few tips to help you on your job search…
Get noticed
- If you have contacts who can refer you or introduce you to a hiring manager reach out to them, you will be surprised how willing people will be to help, even if you haven’t spoken for some time.
- You have likely got a LinkedIn account – use it to your advantage. Many HR, recruiting teams and recruitment agencies use LinkedIn to search for high performers. Having endorsements and recommendations on your page will certainly help – do not be afraid to ask.
- Don’t apply for hundreds of jobs, be selective. By doing this it will mean that you are giving each application the time it deserves – by tailoring your application and CV to the company and the job opportunity, ensuring your skills are relevant.
- Have you taken the time to check through not only the company’s website but their social media pages and other sources too? There could be useful information in this that you can draw upon.
The company will want to see how motivated you are to work for them
The Interview
- Do your research on the company, but don’t just recite information from the website. How can you show you have gone the extra mile in the way you have done research for the role?
- Make sure you’ve done your homework not only on the company but also on the people you are meeting with – social media can be very helpful with this and it will enable you to connect in a more personal way. If the interview has been arranged for you by a recruiter try to find out from them a bit more about the person/people you are meeting.
- Find out what the organisation’s ‘pain points’ are and make the connection between what their needs are and the skills you have. This will help to put you above the other candidates.
- Have your numbers ready – don’t just say “I increased sales” instead say “I increased sales by 60%”
- The interview is just as much for you as it is the employer so always make sure that you have questions prepared to ask them and make them relevant – this will help you decide when it comes to offer stage.
- If, given the current situation you are finding yourself applying and interviewing for roles which are not quite related to your most recent, try and draw on experiences from other parts of your life which are relevant. Think about the stories you can tell about your personal and professional experiences which demonstrate your ability to change and adapt.
The personal touch
Reach out to the interviewer and your potential new employer following your interview and leave a positive lasting impression. Try to reference parts of the conversation to show how engaged you were. You don’t need to do this immediately after the interview but certainly do this the day following the interview.
We are sure following these steps will help you stand out from the crowd and leave a lasting impression. Good luck and let us know how you get on; we’d love to hear from you!
If you need help with finding your next role or help with your CV get tin touch with your local Corr Recruitment branch today!
