How to Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market: Essential Tips for Job Searching

Looking for a job these days is vastly different than in years past. Previously, you could look for jobs that interested you and submit a resume to listings for which you were qualified. These days, there is much more involved. For those who have not had to look for one in a long time for whatever reason, there are several important things you need to know.

PERSONAL BRANDING – Perhaps you have never thought about yourself this way because you are not a ‘product.’ However, this refers to being aware of your online presence and creating it if you do not have one. This means you MUST have a LinkedIn profile, even if you hate social media. Every employer will look for you on this platform. So, what if you don’t have or want one? Remember that you cannot only look for job postings on LinkedIn, but employers can also find you, so it is a two-way street.

SOCIAL MEDIA – If you have personal social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, check your privacy settings. They should not be open to the public. Employers WILL look for you there, and sadly, they will judge you. Even if you have nothing controversial, I advise you to make these settings private.

STAY UP TO DATE WITH YOUR SKILLS – Continue to learn new skills, especially technical tools, and various software platforms. When looking at job listings, check out the typical skills they are seeking. Also, stay current with trends in your industry by reading journal articles, newspaper articles, and anything connected to the space in which you want to work.

CREATE A RESUME THAT IS ATS COMPLIANT – Almost all companies these days use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to evaluate your resume before a human sees it. That is because most employers receive, on average, 500+ resumes daily. Pay attention to keywords in a job description and align your resume specifically to that job. Avoid using any A.I. or ChatGPT when writing your resume. These sound robotic and, unfortunately, software can detect this and will eliminate your application.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE EMPLOYER’S MISSION – Conduct your research in advance to learn about the organization’s ethos, mission, and work culture. This will help when you are deciding where to apply and with writing a cover letter. Also, it is important to know this before going into an interview so you will sound well-informed.

HOW ARE YOUR SOFT SKILLS? – These are some of the most important when applying for a job. You will notice that most postings mention adaptability, communication, collaboration, flexibility, time management, and interpersonal skills in their requirements. In fact, these are what can make or break you in a job interview. Consider what supervisors, friends, and colleagues have said about you to help identify these. You might look good on paper, but in an interview, you will most likely not receive an offer if your interpersonal and communication skills are lacking.

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