Five Tips for Job Seekers
By ERCJobs In NewsAuthor: Travis Peper
So you’ve decided it’s time to make a career change. You’ve come to a point where it’s time to move on and seek another opportunity to either grow your career, move away from a toxic culture, or due to the necessity to relocate. Here are five tips that will increase the likelihood of landing your dream job.
Create a clean and concise resume
It is very important to tailor your resume to each job opportunity. Don’t expect one version to meet the requirements of every job. It’s easy for human resource managers to identify resumes that have been blindly “shipped” off to a variety of positions in a particular area or industry. It’s important for you to make every company understand why you’re interested in their position. This will show prospective employers that you’ve done your research and that you are truly interested in joining their team rather than just any team.
Maintain a consistent resume
If you choose to use platforms such as Monster®, LinkedIn®, or Indeed®, keep a consistent resume across all of them. Although this may appear to contradict the previous point, remember that in this case you are not necessarily applying for a specific job with a specific company. Employers do use these websites to find candidates, and if you have multiple resumes with a variety of different information, they may start to question your authenticity.
Use keywords that are industry specific
Don’t forget the convenience of a Boolean search—a search that links keywords together by using terms like AND, OR, and NOT to produce more relevant results. You’ve used it, and employers certainly use it. Make sure you have industry-specific keywords in your resume to get noticed when employers are searching.
Quantify your accomplishments
Decision makers will relate to numbers every time. Use your resume to show your accomplishments numerically. Include specific numbers and percentages that show how you’ve increased the bottom line of your current employer. Instead of statements like, “Increased sales portfolio significantly over five years,” use a quantifiable statement such as, “Increased sales portfolio from $5 to $25 million in five years.” Numbers don’t lie and decision makers relate to them.
Engage a recruiter
A recruiter has built a network of companies with which they’ve established long-lasting relationships. Many times recruiters work directly with the decision makers of a company. The recruiter is able to get your resume directly into the hands of those decision makers. Often the company will receive online applications after an initial interview. Once you’ve decided to work with a recruiter, stay in touch with him or her. Your engagement and touchpoints show that you’re serious about making a change. As in everything, open and honest communication is important.
Travis Peper
Account Executive
Banking/Finance, Midwest
605-428-6149
[email protected]