As an HR professional, I cannot tell you how many resumes I have received from candidates that were so unqualified, so out of reach, so uninteresting to me as a hiring manager that I had to look twice to see if I was putting them in the right pile for the right job.
Related:How To Turn 'Fired' Into 'Hired!'
Introspection is a critical part of your job search. Before you send your resume to every opening you find, you should sit quietly and ask yourself whether YOU would hire YOU if YOU were the hiring manager. If you feel like you are close, than go ahead and submit, otherwise...
Does My Background Meet Your Needs?
As I consider my credentials, I look at the job description to determine if my background represents a good fit for the position. According to the description provided by your company, it seems (at least on paper) that my qualifications fit. I possess the core competencies, which include leading a large team, managing complex projects, and drafting processes and procedures to streamline the operation.
My efforts have been instrumental in adding a new revenue stream for my employer, which is also highly important and relevant. Having been recognized with industry awards, I demonstrated excellence in my field. From the looks of things, my background is a clear match; so I expect that, once I submit my resume and cover letter, I will be invited in for an interview.
Do I Have Experience In Your Industry?
I have applied my skills in a few industries. I spent some time in manufacturing; but it was several years ago. I have utilized my talents in financial services and retail - all with great success. I am confident that my previous industry experience complemented by my other work will enable me to make a contribution.
Since I understand how many companies and industries operate, I can use a diverse set of skills to drive change for your company. I will sell myself to you - believe me. Even though my direct relationship with your industry is somewhat dated, it's there. I will highlight those relevant experiences toward the top of my resume so you see them immediately. Also, my history of being promoted will definitely show you that I am more than capable of doing the job.
Do I Show Commitment?
I am sure that, during an interview, I will clearly demonstrate my level of commitment to my position, staff, and employers. But, since we have not yet scheduled a meeting, I will go with "Yes!" Yes, I show commitment.
How you ask? Well, my promotion in each of my roles to positions of increased levels of responsibility is one example. I have also indicated that I am focused on the growth of my staff. Many of the people that have worked under me have also been promoted, and several of them have worked for me at more than one company by their own volition; I am known for providing exceptional training, and supporting the development of others.
Do I Demonstrate An Interest In My Community?
I have a family and other personal responsibilities, so while I would like to say unequivocally yes, I cannot. I do volunteer some of my time to a local shelter where I dispense meals to the needy during the holidays. I really enjoy the work and being able to help others; of course if my time allows I would be more than willing to do other things to give back to the community. In the past, I have raised money for charitable causes, including cancer research.
I look at this letter and think, yes; I would definitely interview this candidate. If he is as good in person as he looks to be on paper, then perhaps we have a winner! It is very difficult to identify, attract and hire the right candidate.
In part, this is because people apply for things that they are not qualified for; they submit resumes and cover letters for opportunities that are completely outside the scope of their experience. If you take the time to really evaluate your own credentials and that of the position for which you are applying, your job search would be more focused and more fruitful.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
With 20+ years as a strategic career advisor, Debra helps clients obtain highly desired interviews for competitive positions, including preparing results-oriented resumes, and providing guidance centered around interview preparation, salary negotiations, and overall career management. Visit her website at Careersdonewrite.com!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert.
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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