The irony of job-search advice: You don’t need to spend more that four seconds searching the internet before you find some gem of wisdom.
But, there is so much information out there (some of it completely contradicting other advice) that it can be overwhelming. In fact, this is the exact opposite result you are looking for when you seek out useful and genuine advice.
Let’s get down to it: These are sound, timeless jobs in Birmingham search tips that will help you streamline your strategy and make the process easier.
1. Make Yourself a “Smack-in-the-Forehead” Obvious Fit
Your resume will be reviewed first by an applicant tracking system before being sent to human eyes. Many times, the first person to review your resume is a lower-level HR representative or recruiter who may not be familiar with all the details of the job you are applying for.
Therefore, you should make it easy for the computer and the person to connect their “Here is what we are looking for” with your “Here is what you can walk through our door and deliver.”
Pro Tip
Take a look at the job description, and any information that you may have about the position. Are you resembling the words and phrases found in the job posting? Are you showcasing the strengths that are most important to this job? You can do it.
2. When searching for a job, don’t limit yourself to only online applications
Are you looking for a job that lasts? Then, you can rely only on online applications. This will help you to get ahead. You don’t have to stop applying online for this position. Find people who are interested in your skills and make them feel comfortable with you. Set up informational interviews with prospective peers. Reach out to an internal recruiter for some questions. You should be on the radar for the people who may influence you to get an interview.
Pro Tip
It is easy to stand out by meeting people from the companies you are interested in. Before sorting through the throng of resumes sent to the ATS, decision-makers interview people who are recommended by someone or via a personal recommendation.
3. Remember that your resume (and LinkedIn profile) is not a tattoo.
Yes, your resume looks great. Your LinkedIn profile, breathtaking. You can modify your LinkedIn profile to make it more relevant to the role you are applying for. Your LinkedIn profile and resume are not like a tattoo. Consider them living, breathing documents that you will use throughout your career and job search.
Pro Tip
If you are a covert job-seeker, make sure you turn off your activity broadcasts (within your privacy and settings) whenever you edit your LinkedIn profile. You may be suspect if your boss or colleagues are connected with you via LinkedIn.
4. Accept that no one will ever bore you into hiring
You must be professional and articulate throughout your job search. This is often translated as: Must. Be. Boring.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. You will be surprised at how few people get hired simply for having perfect white space, memorizing all the interview questions and using cliches throughout their resumes. You will look fake and fake with all of this correctness. Instead, be yourself and allow yourself to be polished but also charming. It is almost always the most memorable, likeable candidates who get the job done.
5. LinkedIn Doesn’t Have a Place for You If You Aren’t There
It’s no surprise that LinkedIn is the primary search engine used by over 90% of recruiters. You must be active on LinkedIn if you want to be a professional. Do you doubt me? Consider this: What if a recruiter logs on to LinkedIn tomorrow morning and searches for someone in your geographic area who is knowledgeable in what you do? Guess who they’re going find and contact? Yes, this person’s real name is “not me.”
Pro Tip
LinkedIn can help you harness the power and potential of social media for job search. It is (by far) our best resource for career and job searching networking, for finding people working for companies of interest, for positioning yourself for being found by recruiters with relevant job openings, and for identifying potential employers.
6. Your thanks-giving is important
I once placed an engineer candidate with a company manufacturing packaging equipment. He was competing against another engineer with similar talents who wanted the job as much as he did. My candidate wrote a thoughtful, non-robotic, thank you note to everyone he interviewed within two hours of leaving their offices. The other candidate didn’t send anything.
Guess who got the job offer for my candidate? Yes, those thoughtful, non-robotic thanks notes. He was able to seal the deal with them, even though the other front-runner did not send anything.
Pro Tip
Write thank you notes that are original and genuine. One for each interviewer. Your note quality and speed will impact the outcome.
Finally, the interviewer is more interested in what you can do to help them than what you get out of the deal. After you’ve established your worth, interviewers will be more interested in what you want. However, during an interview, you should show that you are a business-minded candidate.
Now go out and prove who your boss is to your job search.