How To Make
Yourself Stand Out From Other Job Applicants In 3 Ways
I've been recently reading a lot of
articles relating to recruitment and I have been surprised by the lack of
advice and tips given in regards to understanding the effects technology and
digital media has had on businesses.
In this day and age we are
surrounded by a virtual world which affects businesses on every level, yet it
is surprising that people are not familiar with the ways in which the internet
and methods of promoting businesses actually works online. In a recent article for
Forbes Magazine, Susan Adams lists ten skills employers say they seek in order
of importance. The list is as followed:
1. Ability to work in a team
2. Ability to make decisions and solve problems
3. Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work
4. Ability to communicate verbally with people inside and outside an organization
5. Ability to obtain and process information
6. Ability to analyse quantitative data
7. Technical knowledge related to the job
8. Proficiency with computer software programs
9. Ability to create and/or edit written reports
10. Ability to sell and influence others
2. Ability to make decisions and solve problems
3. Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work
4. Ability to communicate verbally with people inside and outside an organization
5. Ability to obtain and process information
6. Ability to analyse quantitative data
7. Technical knowledge related to the job
8. Proficiency with computer software programs
9. Ability to create and/or edit written reports
10. Ability to sell and influence others
I have been to countless job
interviews and the list provided by Susan Adams emphasises key characteristics which
have not changed in over 10 years. I found an article by Jobsearch.com from
2004 in which Alison Doyle states 7 job interview tips as followed:
1. Practice
2. Research
3. Get Ready
4. Be On Time
5. Stay Calm
6. Show What You Know
7. Follow Up
2. Research
3. Get Ready
4. Be On Time
5. Stay Calm
6. Show What You Know
7. Follow Up
It is clear that these generic
interview tips are characteristics emphasised by almost every job seeking website
online and haven't changed in a number of years. Even Monster, one of the
largest employment websites in the world advise you to do your research on
aspects such as profits and new developments for the company your being
interviews for.
The bad news for you is that these
old strategies will not work!
So How Can You Differentiate Yourself From Other Job Applicants?
Some companies want a workforce
full of clones who they can pay a minimum wage to carry out simple tasks, but
you don't want to be a clone, do you?
A recent article by Mariana Zanetti
for Business Insider answers this question by suggesting that interviewees need
to apply an entrepreneurial mindset to fine tune what you can offer employers.
Here's how to stand out from the
clones:
1) Observe Which Problem Your Market Needs Solved.
An impressive CV is nice, however a
solution to an employer's problem is even better. Identify the problems in this
industry and not only will you guarantee your job security, you will develop a
competitive edge since your company will be afraid to lose you.
The majority of firms around the
world now have a virtual presence and it is important for all employees in a
company to understand the importance of this virtual presence to a company's
marketing strategy and business model. The articles below will help you gain a
foundation of knowledge into the importance of search engine optimisation (SEO)
and social media marketing (SMM).
2) Work Towards Fine-Tuning Your Skills In One Niche
Your experience and skills need to
be unique in your market, therefore identifying the companies where your skills
can make a real impact is extremely important. Patience will ensure that you'll
emerge as the leader of your niche when the opportunity presents itself.
3) Showcase Your Humanity
While hard skills can be learned,
trust is priceless and irreplaceable. Every person you interact with is a
potential connection for future opportunities and each of these people will
remember the way they felt when working with you.
Doing what everyone else is doing
requires an enormous effort that keeps you from applying your energy and
resources towards doing what makes you unique - and what you love.
Maybe it’s time to stop thinking
as a clone. To find a job you love and not a job anyone could do, think like a
savvy job hunter instead.
Sources:
Adams, S. (2013). The 10 Skills Employers Most Want In 20-Something Employees. Available: http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/10/11/the-10-skills-employers-most-want-in-20-something-employees/. Last accessed 11th March 2014.
Doyle, A. (2004). Job Interview Tips. Available: http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/interviews/a/jobinterviewtip.htm. Last accessed 11th March 2014
Zanetti, M. (2014). 3 Ways To Make Yourself Stand Out From Other Job Applicants. Available: http://www.businessinsider.com/want-to-get-hired-stop-fighting-the-clone-wars-and-show-how-youre-different-2014-3. Last accessed 11th March 2014.
