Business
18 September, 2020
Job Hunting - Stand out from the crowd
In early April over 700,000 Australians lost their jobs in one week alone and statistics now show unemployment to be around 11% with approx. 1 million job losses since this all began
These figures do not show employees on JobKeeper or temporary visa holders, so the actual figure will be much higher.
On top of all of that we are now officially in a recession. So how do you stay positive and keep up that ever-evolving search for a job?
No doubt many of you are stressed, tired and fed up with not hearing back from the majority of companies that you have applied to.
I understand and I get it. It is exhausting, however, have you made sure that each and every application is tailored towards the job you are applying for? Yes, it’s a lot of work but you MUST do this if you want to stand out from all the other job seekers out there.
Here are a few tips that will help you secure that interview: Is your resume up to date? Most professionals don’t have a current resume and tend to ‘throw something together’ when they are job hunting. If you are not up to date on resume formats, cover letters, etc. then get a professional to update yours for you. It’s worth it. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up immediately.
The majority of businesses will check your background via LinkedIn. Again, get a professional to help if you are unsure how to do this. Be prepared! Have you researched the company you are interested in? If applying via a job site, have you addressed the key criteria in your cover letter?
Follow up on applications. Yes, do. This will make you stand out. I recommend a phone call a few days after you sent your application, just to ensure it has been received by HR. Consider temp or contract work or even volunteering. This will help you to gain exposure and sometimes permanent job offers come from contracting.
Acquire new skills. Learn new software or update/expand on your skills. Perhaps start that degree you always wanted to. Last but not least, are you prepared for an interview? Do you know how to present yourself? Make sure you are ready for that call.
Eva Grabner Managing Director Elite Executive Pty Ltd
