Job seekers today have their work cut out for them. Competition is intense. Every online application system gets hundreds of submissions (sometimes thousands), so capturing the employer’s attention is extremely important.
But you can be prepared to compete and win! You can start with preparing for your job search effectively to position yourself for success. Here are some activities that work well for job hunters.
First, research the companies you are interested in.
Look up their websites. Search for articles written about them. Business publications are a gold mine when it comes to industry news. You can also engage in informational interviewing. This is when you ask someone who works in your desired field or role to talk with you about how they got into that work, what things are like at their current employer, what they love about doing that work, and other questions that can help you uncover what you need to do or know to get into that line of work.
Next, review your own work history to uncover all of the results you achieved for your employers. Ask yourself: “What were the challenges of that job?” “How did I meet those challenges, and what were the results?” Write it all down! You will need it to create a great resume. Collect any great job reviews you have saved. These can come in handy as you communicate your value.
Then, write a resume that resonates with the employer who will read it. Carefully review all the job requirements and the research you have gathered and create a document that explains the achievements that will matter most to that company. In sales? Well, tell how you grew revenues at your previous employers. Project manager? How did you prevent or solve issues that cropped up with the team?
Use some of the language from the job posting and your research. Many companies will filter resumes through an applicant tracking system, or software, that is pre-loaded with search terms designed to find potentially viable candidates’ resumes.
Most importantly, track your activities: people you talk to, companies you apply with, articles you’ve found, etc. Excel is great for this! Make your series of spreadsheets and start filling them in!
This should help you feel more prepared! If you have any questions, let me know. I’m here to help! Email me at Ruth@ConfidentCareerSearch.com.