By James Alexander
These days, those in the employment space have to fight for what they want. So, when you’re hunting for a job, do you have what it takes to stand out in a sea of competition? That is, do you have the “it” factor?
When it’s absolutely imperative to stand out in our concentrated job market, it’s a good move to ensure you’re doing all that you can to be the best candidate. After all, having the “it” factor, someone who has everything an organisation wants, will probably improve your chances at getting hired. So, what do you need to be that special job applicant? Here are a few suggestions:
Relevant experience. It goes without saying that you need experience to get anywhere these days. However, what’s more important is relevant experience. For example, if you’re applying to an advertising firm, they probably don’t need to know about anything that’s not industry relevant, like the chemistry courses you took at university (unless it can directly contribute to the job, of course). Why? If it’s not applicable to the position, why does it matter? You’ll save the time of the recruiter, as well as save face, if you just stick to what matters for the particular position.
Online presence. Your online presence does matter. With 89% of recruiters using this tactic to find
potential candidates, it’s in your best interest to have a good online reputation and , particularly for the job search. In order to do so, think about cleaning up your presence by taking care of your privacy settings, making sure your profiles reflect the kind of candidate you are, and even proving quality information. That is, ensure your online presence is unique to your professional brand and that it gives you the extra push to make an employer give you a second look.
Shining testimonials. Sometimes, it’s all about what other people think. So, it’s a good idea to try to get testimonials and recommendations from those who can speak of your accomplishments. Why? You can talk for days about why you’re a good worker, but it’s important to know if someone can vouch for that.
Fitting personality. Sure, you may have the best resume and the best experience, but does that mean you will actually fit in an organisation? That is, does your personality sync with the culture of an organisation? It’s incredibly important that your personal and professional values align with those of a particular organisation since this is how you’re going to be operating on a daily basis.