- September 15, 2015
- 9:31 am
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Guest Blog: How to Stand Out in a Sea of Applicants! By Sara Bujas
By Sara Bujas, Career Advisor, Business Career Services
It’s a tough market out there, I’m sure we’ve all heard that before. So how does one stand out? How do you find a job in a sea of hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants for one position?
“Using LinkedIn to its fullest potential”
About 95% of students I meet with have a LinkedIn profile. Great. Next question: Do you feel you’re using it to its fullest potential? Approximately 80% will say ‘no.’ So, how does one generate more profile views?
- Whenever your resume is updated, immediately update your LinkedIn profile. Any time you update your profile, it’s typically broadcast under Recent Activity. To adjust this, you can select ‘Activity Broadcasts’ under ‘Settings.’
- Post and comment on relevant articles for your industry. This will both keep you abreast of current trends in the field (something you may be asked in an interview, hint hint), and will also keep you visible.
- Search for professionals in your industry under the ‘advanced people’ search. You can add filters such as school, industry, location, and company. Find fellow Ramblers, current students and alum, to connect with. Most people on LinkedIn are happy to connect and grow their network. I personally reached out to an alum from my alma mater and landed a job I was seeking within higher education. It works!
Most employers are using LinkedIn these days, therefore following the above tips will help keep you more visible and on their radar, increasing your chance of landing a job.
“Informational Interviews – What ARE those anyway?”
Have you ever had a dream company in mind, but there were no positions posted that you could see yourself in? Or have you ever wanted to pick a professional’s brain? Informational interviews are perfect in both scenarios.
The purpose of an informational interview is to gain information and advice about a particular industry, company, and/or position. By sitting down with a professional for a half hour, you can get a “day-in-the-life” perspective as well as advice on how that person landed their job. Informational interviews can also be an indirect way of getting yourself in the door. Employers are usually impressed by those who show enthusiasm and proactivity, and if one day a position opens up and you apply, they will likely remember you.
A few questions you might ask during an informational interview:
- What type of education/training has prepared you for your job?
- What does a typical day look like for you?
- Tell me about the career path that led you to your current role.
- What do you like most about your job?
- What’s the most challenging part of your job?
- What types of professional affiliations can I join to enhance my professional development?
Try to find a professional in the role you’re looking for. How do you set up an informational interview? Ask around! Talk to friends, family members, faculty, or LinkedIn connections to see if they can refer anyone. If you’re part of a professional association, take a look at the roster. Most people enjoy talking about their jobs so chances are, you’ll be able to land one! In the slim chances you get a ‘no,’ don’t take it personally – they may be in the midst of their busy season. Just brush it off, and move on to the next!
After an informational interview, be sure to send a proper ‘thank you.’ Send an email to follow up within 24 hours, and also send a card. Many employers love getting hand-written notes as they are personal.
One of my mentors landed her role as Assistant Director of Career Services because of an informational interview. There was no position open at the time, but she had contacted the office for an informational interview. Two weeks later, they had called and told her they were about to open a new position and wanted to bring her in for an interview because they were so impressed by her professionalism and enthusiasm. Her drive and eagerness paid off in the end.
“Personalization is KEY”
When it comes to cover letters, most will let out an exasperated sigh, but cover letters can be the ticket to your interview. Employers will read your cover letter.
Instead of creating a generic cover letter and sending it to 100 companies, customize each one by using the below tips:
- Include a brief paragraph about the company and why you want to work there. Talk about their history, mission, values, and/or notable awards they’ve received, all of which should be on their website.
- Have more of a focus. Choose two to three accomplishments and tell a story that demonstrates what an ideal candidate you would be. Avoid reiterating bullets from your resume – make it something fresh!
- Know the company and match your cover letter with their tone. If you are applying to a more conservative company, use a more formal tone, whereas if you are applying for a more laid back company, use a more creative, fun tone. A cover letter to Wells Fargo would most likely have a different tone than a cover letter to Google.
- Start your cover letter with a memorable opener. For example, instead of starting a cover letter with, “Please accept my application for the Operations Manager that I saw advertised on LinkedIn,” start with something that will set you apart from your competition, like “With over two years of operations management internship experience and a drive to lead a high performing team […].” An attention-grabbing opening statement will set you apart from hundreds of other applicants.
It’s not necessary to start from scratch for each cover letter, but be sure to tweak each one using the ‘save as’ feature. Cover letters are your chance to tell your story – take advantage of it!
With so many applicants searching for jobs, it’s increasingly critical to make yourself stand out. Any time you have the opportunity to network, take it! The more employers you can get in front of, the better. Looking for a fulltime job or internship is like a fulltime job in and of itself. Invest the time in your search and it will pay off!