As co-coordinator with my colleague Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, I am proud to help launch a new community of expert career advisors and resume writing professionals called the called the Career Collective. Today’s post is one of many responses to the question, “Are you a cookie cutter job seeker?” I encourage you to visit other members’ responses, which will all be linked at the end of my post by this afternoon! Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.

You’re a job seeker, so you want to stand out in a crowd. The LAST thing you want is to be called a “cookie cutter” applicant – someone who seems just like everyone else. We all know that the way to find a job is to stand out above a crowd. To be special – to be better.

So, the question is: How can you create your own shape?

As with many things, it may not be as complicated as you think.

– Know what you have to offer. You would be surprised (or maybe not!) to learn how few job seekers I meet can easily describe what skills they bring to the table. Being able to succinctly describe those skills in a networking setting – without resorting to the catch all/kiss of death, “I can do anything” will absolutely help you stand out. Follow THIS link for more ideas about your “elevator pitch.”

– Be a problem solver. Pitch yourself as a solutions oriented hire. Look for the organization’s “pain points” and identify ways that you can help. Remember – it’s all about what YOU can do for them! (Hat tip to Michael Long/The Red Recruiter and Stephanie Lloyd/Dream Job Radio.)

– Recommend someone on LinkedIn for helping you. This really shows that you want to pay it forward. Have something nice to say? Well, say it!  (Another hat tip to Michael Long/The Red Recruiter and Stephanie Lloyd/Dream Job Radio.)

– Know where to look. I teach clients to identify organizations and companies, not specific jobs. The fact is, most jobs are not actually advertised. (It may be as many as 70-80% of positions.) Rather, they are filled via networking and referrals. Stop spending all of your time looking for jobs. Research and target organizations instead and you will automatically stand out as someone not overly concerned with focusing on a specific job and more interested in the big picture.

– Use your ears more than your mouth. Ever been in a room full of people networking? They are all talking, but no one seems to listen? Be the listener. People LOVE listeners! Make a point to connect with people on a social and emotional level and you will stand out. (Learn more about this HERE.)

– Follow up! How many times have you networked your heart out, only to find yourself busy and overwhelmed? You didn’t make an effort to follow up and really connect after the event or to re-touch base online? Don’t let an opportunity slip through your fingers. Learn how to stand out by following up HERE. (There are probably some tips there you haven’t considered…They could change your job search for the better!)

– Great materials. This is a no-brainer. Unfortunately, most resumes are simply not very good. There are basic concerns – aesthetics, grammar, verb tense, consistency. These are not difficult to address. The bigger concern is making sure the resume specifically focuses on the employer’s needs and highlights the job seeker’s skills and accomplishments. If you are sending out a resume that lists “stuff” that you have done but is not adequately connecting to the employer’s needs, you are missing a key opportunity to stand out in the crowd.

There is no one ‘right’ way to look for a job that works for every person. So, don’t try to mold yourself into someone else’s shape. There is no “right” resume. There is no “best cover letter.” Not everyone likes or appreciates being approached the same way. So, stop trying to find the holy grail – it does not exist. Do your best to be your best. Go a little beyond the expected. You may be surprised.

Feel free to add your 2 cents to the comments…How can a job seeker stand out?

How have my colleagues responded? Follow us on Twitter with our hashtag #careercollective and read these posts:

Megan Fitzgerald, Career By Choice’s Expat Success Tips:
Ongoing Career management is No Longer Optional for the Expat in Today’s New World of Work

Top Margin: Gayle’s Blog:
Sabotaging Your Prospects: Cookie-cutter Style

J. T. O’Donnell of Careerealism:
Cookie-cutters are for baking…not job searching

Chandlee Bryan of The Emerging Professional:
On the cookie-cutter approach to the job search: Do you need a recipe?

Rosa Vargas of Creating Prints Resume Writing:
Creating Prints Being a cookie-cutter jobseeker is a misfortune

Grace Kutney, Sweet Careers:
Passive Job Seeker = Cookie Cutter Job Seeker

Barbara Safani, Career Solvers Blog:
Cookie Cutter Resumes Can Leave a Bad Taste in the Hiring Manager’s Mouth

Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, Career Trend Blog: 
Eating Bananas Doesn’t Make You an Ape

Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog:
Avoiding Being a Cookie-Cutter Job-seeker In Your Resume and Throughout Your Job Search

Heather R. Huhman, HeatherHuhman.com: 
Break the Mold: Don’t Be a Cookie Cutter