It’s hard to stand out in a job search when there’s an average of 250 applicants competing against you for every posting. You need the right advice to help make yourself more marketable and more competitive. That’s where we come in. Use these success strategies to land your dream job.
Frustrated because you just can’t find a job? We’re about to deliver insider secrets to help you make the most of your abilities. From having a LinkedIn account to applying even if you aren’t 100 percent qualified, these are the methods successful people use to get employed and get paid. Take the guesswork out of the job hunt with these secret strategies for success.
Your Dream Job is Just a Few Steps Away!
Have a Comprehensive LinkedIn Account
LinkedIn isn’t just another social network. It currently has over 20,000 companies recruiting for 11 million jobs. An up-to-date profile, complete with most recent positions and descriptions, makes users 18 times more likely to be found in searches.
It’s also important to customize your URL to something simple and recognizable, like your name, instead of the random letters and numbers assigned to your account by LinkedIn. This makes you easier to find in searches, increases your credibility, and has a more streamlined look in email signatures, on business cards and resumes.
Network With Everyone
Networking is the recruiter’s secret weapon. It’s estimated that 80 percent of jobs are never posted and only filled via networking, and anywhere between 70 and 85 percent of people get hired by networking.
But don’t just focus on your co-workers or friends. Anyone you get into a lengthy conversation with can be a worthy networking contact. If you’re working in customer service, talk with clients who have to wait around for a few minutes. Don’t be afraid to share your job hunt. It can lead to the career change you’ve always wanted.
Develop a Story About Your Career
Interviews are a form of storytelling. Recruiters want to know about you and your prior experiences. Practice weaving your professional story; pepper in learning moments, shows of leadership, and anything else that will make you stand out. Run through your story several times before your first interview so you’re prepared.
Have Questions Prepared for the Interview
Not asking questions during an interview can make you appear unprepared, bored,, and unmotivated. Prepare yourself by creating at least seven detailed questions; use them to show your interest. Don’t just ask questions to fill space; make sure your questions are thorough, intelligent, and help you really get to know the company.
Apply Even If You Don’t Fit
Job descriptions describe an imaginary person; often, they outline the perfect candidate. No one is perfect, and you shouldn’t try to be, either. What hiring managers are really looking for is someone with a strong background in four or five of the most relevant skills with a keen aptitude to learn.
You can learn most job tasks on the job, but employers can’t teach you to have an amazing attitude or winning personality. Companies are more than willing to compromise on a few skills if they’ll gain an employee who really fits the culture and makes coming to work everyday a true joy.
Looking for a job is time-consuming and stressful, especially when best practices feel like they’re changing every minute. Follow these strategies to bring yourself one step closer to finding the career of your dreams.
