It wasn’t long ago that we found jobs by scouring newspapers and circling the positions that interested us. Next, we would have to contact each company individually, sending off a hard copy of a CV and waiting weeks for a response. Now, you can send off hundreds of CVs at the touch of a button and you can even upload your profiles to recruitment websites so that much of the hard work is done for you.
While the process may seemingly have been streamlined, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd as employers have so many more applicants for each job to sift through. The digital age has posed a number of problems for the job applicant.
Here are a few tips for highlighting your skills and getting yourself noticed in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Keywords
It is so important to review each and every job specification and pick out the keywords that you believe the employer is looking for. You can then tailor your application to use these same words and demonstrate how you have the skills that they are looking for. While it is easy to use a template for each application, this is unlikely to get you as many responses. Many companies are now using human resources software for their recruitment, so if you are applying online, make sure you complete all sections of the application as fully as possible.
Keep Up to Date
This is especially important if you are applying for a job in technology or any other fast moving industry. You need to demonstrate that you have the current skills that they are looking for and therefore you need to review your CV on a regular basis to ensure that it looks as up to date as possible.
Be Prepared to Change Your Approach
If you have sent out hundreds of CVs online but are getting no response, be prepared to change tactics. Just because job application portals are there, it doesn’t mean you have to use them. A well placed phone call will ensure that you speak to someone at the company directly, and you can then follow this up with an email that gives your application a human element that is missing from all those people applying for jobs in bulk.
Track Your Progress
Create a spreadsheet that tells you the closing date of each job application process and exactly when you applied for the job. If you haven’t heard anything back from the company, there is no harm in sending a follow-up email which may get them to relook at your application.
Ensure You Have a Good Online Presence
Social media makes it easy to look up candidates online at the touch of a button so you need to make sure that your online presence matches the image that you are trying to get across. First and foremost, this includes LinkedIn, but you should also look to tidy up your Facebook, Twitter and other platforms if they are accessible to the general public.
