- to have a great resume.
- to have a solid, focused resume cover or introduction letter.
- to know people who know people.
1. Have more than a resume chronology. Your resume must tell a story.
This can’t be a story that only tells the who, what, where, when, why and how. It also must be focused in on the reader’s needs very specifically.
For example, if you desire to be an accounting manager and your story winds down a path that never mentions any experience managing people or processes or your specific accounting expertise, then the story is under-developed and will not resonate.
Instead, you must quickly communicate that not only have you managed individuals or teams (even if you weren’t officially in a management capacity), but that you also were successful applying accounting principles and processes through your team, with measurable results.
2. Provide cover letter snippets and brief intros that introduce your resume in addition to a full cover page.
Modern media channels mean you may be attaching your resume to a text, email, LinkedIn or even through Facebook, etc. Often, message boxes are limited by character counts, so brevity matters, and is particularly crucial when reaching out to recruiters.
“When reaching out to a recruiter, it’s very important to be concise and quickly make your agenda known,” advises Shelly B. Goldman, Executive Recruiter + Founder, Goldman Group Advantage.
“It starts with using the ‘subject matter line area’ of your approach email or InMail on LinkedIn to succinctly make your agenda clear,” continues Goldman. “From there … continue to keep it short. Address who you are, what you do and what you’re looking for. If you do all the above, you have a better chance of making a favorable impression on the recruiter.”
3. Leverage your network, on- and offline.
According to TMobile’s Executive Sourcer + recruiter, Rob Dromgoole, “Apply and pray is not a search strategy. Because referrals are the most common source of hire at many companies, the key is to become a referred candidate. How do you become referred? Network.”
You can capitalize on Dromgoole’s advice through in-person networking as well as a variety of social networks. Strategically and naturally engage to build warm, professional relationships.
Be visible online. A robust online presence is becoming increasingly important for many careerists. Images, photos, uploads of reports or articles, presentations, videos, etc. energize your story beyond bottom-line narrative.
According to Job Search + Career Strategist Hannah Morgan, CareerSherpa.net, “From this point forward, it is imperative that job seekers and careerists enhance their online visibility. Build a robust [online] profile that looks and feels like an online portfolio – rich with images, photos and samples of work. But don’t stop there,” Morgan continues.
“Choose one other social network to highlight a blend of your personal and professional interests or better yet, buy a website domain which includes your name and create on online portfolio to ensure you own digital terrain. Social networks will come and go, but owning a website ensures you will always be in control of your online visibility.”
Bear in mind that these job search strategies + tools only remain useful if they are well maintained, regularly sharpened and strategically leveraged.
If you feel your career is stagnating and your job search process outdated, start anew. The availability of information at careerists’ fingertips enables you to move faster, go further and aim your arrow with more accuracy. Focus and stay the course!