Standing Out In An Ever-Changing Job Market

By Danielle Birchard

The job market is constantly changing; ever moving, ever shifting. What the job market looked like three years ago and what it looks like now is different, but it still has some similarities. Speaking from my own experience of sorting through applications and resumes, here are my tips for standing out to that recruiter or HR Rep.

We all have different ways of doing this. Different ways of glancing through resumes and assessing skills and experience. And every employer has their own way of doing it, but we are all looking for similar attributes. There are studies that show that recruiters will only look at a resume for about 6 seconds, and I would agree and say that's true. So how do you sell yourself? How do you make yourself stand out beyond your resume? Sometimes the approach may be taking a look at the “old fashioned” way of getting a job. Personal connection, talking to those you know to see if their company is hiring, reaching out directly to the company or hiring manager through traditional or modern ways. I have to say that the people that stand out to me the most are the ones who apply online and then follow up with me directly. The people that actively show me that they want to work for the company. They give me a well written cover letter expressing their interest, showing that they have done their research on the company.

Sometimes utilizing the old-fashioned approach isn’t an option. But there can sometimes be ways to find open positions beyond job sites. That's not to say that modern conveniences for hiring do not do their job, because they do. But to those who are trying to find those extra couple steps that will push their name to the front of the line when it comes to hiring, take advantage of the personal aspect of it. Attend lots of events where you cannot network. Take advantage of the network that you already have, whether it be LinkedIn or contacts from your friends or family. Always keep an open mind in a conversation. The person you are talking to could help you get your next job.