6 Ways To Stand Out When Applying For Jobs
Over 30 million Americans have been laid off as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic. That’s nearly the entire population of Canada. That means that there are over 30 million Americans competing to get their resume noticed. That’s like the worst episode of America’s Got Talent. So how do you get a hiring manager to notice you among the millions? How do you get Howie Mandel to give you the Golden Buzzer?
Right now it’s difficult to just get a hiring manager to open your resume, let alone set up a phone screen. The journey to landing an interview has become a full time job, and a discouraging one. As one of the 30 million Americans, I started feeling really defeated sending resume after resume only to be met with, not even rejection, but silence. I’ve always hated rejection (who doesn’t), but it turns out silence is even worse — who knew? I put my marketing brain to work and asked, “how can I make myself stand out?”
Here are the 6 tactics I used to stand out when applying for jobs:
Personalized Cover Letter
Nobody wants to hire someone who isn’t excited about working at their company. Never copy and paste the same cover letter — I promise you that’s the first way to get your application tossed out. Show how much you want it from the minute they open your cover letter. Personalize your letter by including the name of the company (duh!) and the role you’re applying for (double duh!). But go farther. Incorporate the company logo into the header of your letter. Use the company’s colors in your headline text. Most importantly, personalize the copy of your letter so that it not only fits the role you’re applying for, but it shows how passionate you are about it. Don’t leave a hint of doubt that you want that job.Video Cover Letter
Want to go the extra mile? Good, you should. Take it up a notch by turning your cover letter into a video. This is a great way to show yourself, your personality, and your passion. Think about the number of cover letters you’ve sent. Now can you imagine how many cover letters hiring managers have to read? Give them a refreshing break with a fun, personalized video. It doesn’t need to be professionally produced or a full length feature discussing your likes and hobbies — you aren’t auditioning for The Bachelor. Keep it short and sweet, and most importantly, authentic.
LinkedIn Message
Another way to stand out is by going directly to the source. After you send an application, hop on over to LinkedIn and find someone relevant at the company: the hiring manager, the CEO, the VP of the department the role belongs to. Request to connect and send a quick message introducing yourself, telling them that you just applied to whichever role it is, and expressing how excited you are at the prospect of joining their team. So you don’t look too desperate or creepy, make sure to add a line about how much of a fan of their products/services you are and will continue to be, regardless of the status of your application.
Stay Active on LinkedIn
If you’ve gotten past the first barrier of getting your resume looked at, give yourself a pat on the back — you deserve it. But while you’re basking in the glory of getting someone to read the fact that you made the Dean’s List freshman year at NYU, they’re heading right on over to your LinkedIn page to scope you out. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and active. Even if you don’t have your own content, share posts and articles that are relevant to your industry. That will show the hiring manager that you’re here, you’re serious, and you’re staying abreast and current. As the unemployment months go by, you want to prove that you’re not just sitting around dawdling — you’re still passionate about what you do, eager to learn, and ready to get back to business.
Use Your Connections
As a wannabe Hollywood icon, I’m all too familiar with the phrase, “it’s who you know.” Who would have thought that the closest I would ever get to becoming a Hollywood icon would be getting laid off, applying for countless jobs, and getting unwanted commentary from Uncle Gary that “it’s who you know?” But you know what, Uncle Gary has a point. With thousands of people competing for one role, having a connection may be the difference between having your resume looked at and having your resume sitting unread at the bottom of somebody’s inbox. Before applying to a job, find out if you know someone who may be able to help. Look up the company on LinkedIn and see if you have any 1st connections. If so — reach out directly and ask if they can help pass your resume along. If you have any 2nd or 3rd connections, reach out to your mutual connection, ask how well they know the employee at the company, and see if they could make an introduction. Any help you can get to ensure your resume gets in the hands of the right people could make all the difference.
Apply to Companies that Aren’t Hiring
This may sound weird, but it’s a great way to get yourself to stand out. If there’s a company you’ve been eyeing, but they haven’t posted any open roles, be proactive. Shoot them an email or LinkedIn message letting them know how much you love their company, how it’d be a dream to join their team, and how you believe you’d be a great fit. You never know — they may be thinking about hiring, but haven’t started their hunt yet. Or they may not be hiring, but will be in 6 months, and then you’ll be first on their radar. It’s a great way to set you apart and prove how much you truly want to be part of their company. Plus, there’s not much competition for jobs that don’t exist, so you can pretty much guarantee that your message will be seen.
These 6 tips helped increase my response rate tremendously. Not only was I actually hearing back, but I was receiving interview requests within one day of applying. I even had hiring managers mention specific notes about my cover letter or video, or how they heard I had messaged their CEO on LinkedIn. I can’t promise you these tips will land you your dream role — that part’s up to you — but they will certainly make you stand out in a sea of hopeful fish.
Stay positive — it’s rough out there. Good luck! ❤️
