How can you get a job? Competition is fierce, so you need to be ready to approach your job search differently from the other equally qualified applicants who want the same position as you.
How to get a job
Alan Corey, author of “The Subversive Job Search,” suggests you take it up a notch so you’ll be sure to have the best chance possible. How can you stand out subversively? Corey suggests trying the following:
1. Appear to be gainfully employed, even if you aren’t. You’ve likely seen statistics or heard people talk about how much more difficult it is to get a job when you don’t have a job. It’s ironic, but some employers do prefer to hire people who are not actively looking for work because they are already employed.
2. Target your application materials; don’t try to be a “Jack-of-all-trades.” It’s tempting to approach your job search broadly and list everything you’ve ever done on your resume so you look well rounded.
3. SEO your resume. Search engine optimization is not just for websites. Corey notes: “Make it easy for employers to find you on LinkedIn and in résumé databases by using searchable keywords and phrases on your resumes.”
Use the terms your employers are most likely to search. For example, Corey suggests: “Use ‘MBA’ instead of ‘Master of Business Administration’ or ‘PMP’ instead of (or in addition to) ‘Project Management Professional.'” Research the best terms by viewing an array of job descriptions and by carefully reading online publications related to your industry and target companies. In-person research can also provide great insights into the key issues facing your industry and the keywords employers use to describe those concerns.
4. Be future focused. Job seekers don’t often consider the fact that the résumé is about the future more than it is about the past. While your job descriptions are important, it’s more important to connect directly with what your future employer wants.
5. Be consistent in your online profiles. You don’t want to confuse employers who Google your name. (And statistics show that they will Google your name.) Be sure they find the same information that’s on your résumé when they look at your LinkedIn profile.
Read the whole post on U.S. News & World Report.
Photo by Suresh Eswaran