Do you notice that the labor market is getting more competitive as the economy improves? Statistics compiled by Glassdoor.com seem to agree. The average corporate job opening sees 250 applications, yet only four to six people get an interview. The job search is getting much tougher, so here are some winning strategies to land the all-important interview.
1. Build Your Resume
Your resume is only as good as the skills, qualifications and education you actually earned to back it up. Build your resume for a successful job search by employing several tactics that get your document noticed. Keep in mind, the average HR professional spends just six seconds perusing a resume, so you have to make every word count.
Use a headline/summary format to tout four or five key skills. Quantify your achievements and accomplishments with hard numbers, such as increasing sales figures, the number of projects you successfully oversaw or a portfolio of your work. Put keywords from the job description in your resume. This shows you understand the qualifications you need for the job. The format and wording of your resume is only half the story.
2. Include Volunteer Work
Volunteering actually increases your chances of employment during the following year by 7 percent. Volunteering is a great way to build your skills and get a good reference from your supervisor as you continue your job search. Volunteering also shows you're a team player and that you recognize it's not all about the money. Volunteering expands your network as well as your resume.
3. Update Social Media
More and more resumes go beyond paper documents that don't change often. Businesses mine social media to get a feel for employees during job searches. Update your Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn profiles to include recent information. Have the same picture in each profile, make relevant posts about your industry, and connect with influencers over social media. One of these connections may pay off in the future, much in the same way a vibrant network can win the day.
4. Network Like Crazy
More and more hiring involves networking without a formal job listing. Nearly half of all U.S. companies say LinkedIn is the most important networking tool employers use to find quality hires. Maintain contacts through the years by checking in with them every once in a while. Compile a list of people you want to get to know at your potential employer, and target them for information.
5. Find a Contact
Once you develop your network, find a person working with your potential future employer, and get to know that employee. An inside contact can provide information about upcoming job openings before they happen. Companies generally trust referrals from the inside because if a hire turns out to be sour, the person within the organization who made the connection may face trouble for making a bad recommendation. Finding a contact with vital information is key to a job search in contemporary times.
Your job search needs several winning strategies to succeed. These five factors are good places to start. Because of the competitive labor market and hundreds of well-qualified applicants going after one job, you need all the help you can get when it comes to creating a dynamite resume and personal brand.
Photo courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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