I am sure today’s job seekers are fed up hearing that they need to ‘stand out’.  Many have no idea what that means or where to even start.  It’s a complex world right now and job hunting can be hard work.  I addressed this in a recent blog “Job Hunting is a Sport”.

Recently in a local paper there was a front page article about an ‘older’ gentleman who claims he couldn’t find work because employers were ageist.  I immediately contacted the journalist that wrote this and gave my feedback.  Namely, I am sure this person’s resume was not ‘standing out’ or written correctly, nor was he doing the right things to secure a job.  I offered my services FOC to try and help.

Once I spoke with the job seeker, there were a number of factors that stood out for me.  1. His resume needed work. 2. He was extremely inflexible with regards to working hours (he had a part-time job that he enjoyed but resulted in him being available for only a small amount of hours each day) and 3.  His attitude; he was fed up and disheartened.  It was nothing to do with his age (not that I could find anyway).

I understand how difficult and de-motivating the job hunt can be.  Applying to hundreds of job applications then only hearing from a handful of them and in most cases receiving next to no feedback. But you need to remain positive, you need to ensure you have the best resume and you need to be flexible.  Here are some tips that I hope will help you:

1. Find a good recruiter. A recruiter that you can form a relationship with, one that will give you direct and consistent feedback and one that will know you inside and out and represent you well.   This may take a bit of time as there are many transactional recruiters out there, but there are also many good recruiters who will work with you to secure that ideal job.
2. Be yourself.   Be authentic.  Employers, and especially recruiters, are immediately suspicious of people who respond to questions in a rehearsed or wooden way. Let your personality shine. Be prepared to tell your recruiter or potential employer about your capabilities and passions (professionally of course!); what gets you excited and what motivates you.  Let your guard down a little.  Trust me; you will stand out as a result.
3. Follow up: The biggest part of job hunting is getting an ‘in’. Securing that first interview.  Follow up your application with a phone call or LinkedIn message asking to meet them regardless of whether you were successful for that particular role.  You will stand out in their mind and be foremost when they recruit again.
4. Make sure your resume is easy to follow and includes all your relevant employment information. I cannot stress this enough.  If necessary go to a professional resume writer that has a good reputation.  Do you homework as it can be expensive, but it’s worth it to have a top quality resume that effectively sells your accomplishments and skills.
5. Be professionally and positively visible in social media, particularly LinkedIn. This is essential now as many future employers will look through their online contacts first before advertising a role.  Be active.  Like articles of interest and follow relevant people.  Be professional at all times as if you online footprint is consistent and engaging your resume and LinkedIn profile can help get you in the door for a job interview.

I sincerely with you the best of luck and would love to hear about your success stories.

My next blog will be about working with recruiters.  I will give you an overview of the types of recruiters out there and how to ensure you develop a strong working relationship with the right ones.

Eva Grabner
Managing Director
Elite Executive Pty Ltd
eva@eliteexecutive.com.au
0409 59 11 88