Have you ever thought to yourself why you are not getting callbacks from the companies you’ve applied to? The reason is quite simple; the competition has gotten fierce and the job markets are saturated. To get noticed by employers, you simply have to stand out from other job candidates you’re competing against. Hundreds of thousands of graduates with different skills enter the world economy, but only a few remain successful in getting a good job.
The famous adage, “First impression is the last impression,” stands true to the test of time. Job applicants need to make an impressive first impression on their employers. Usually, the first thing is the resume or CV of the candidate, then the interviews and screening tests depending upon the company’s protocols.
But in today’s cutthroat job market, the candidates need to stand out from the crowd. Hence, this blog by the best recruitment agency in UAE, RFS HR Consultancy, tells you 6 ways to separate yourself from other job candidates you’re competing against.
Good Job Candidates Craft a Compelling Resume
Companies receive thousands of job applications and resumes when a vacancy is open for any role. A CV acts as the identity of job applicants because it tells the employer who you are, your qualifications and whether you have the required skills for the job.
A compelling resume makes or breaks any potential candidate’s case in front of the company. There are a few tips and tricks for making the CV tailored to the jobs you’re applying for. For instance, if you are applying for a company that is located in Dubai; your CV must reflect that you live in that region or you would be willing to relocate for the job.
Highlight your skills according to the requirements of the role you’re applying for and underscore your past professional achievements aligned with your employer’s expectations. According to Jobvite, 83% of recruiters say they’re more likely to hire a candidate who has tailored their resume to the specific job they’re applying for.
Instead of sending the same generic resume to every company or role you’re applying for; do the research. Understand what the employer is looking for and make your skills stand out from the crowd.
Research about the Company
Before submitting the company their CVs, job applicants need to do thorough research about the company’s goals, vision and most importantly the requirements for the role. Executives or hiring managers are always impressed by those candidates who know details about the company and the position they’re applying for.
Job candidates need to know about the company’s details and bring up those details in the interview to stand out from the crowd. Furthermore, try connecting with the employees of that company to know about the culture inside the company. It could also give you insights about the organisation and what they’re looking for in the job applicants.
Create a consistent online personal presence that reflects your brand, your skills, and your achievements through a good LinkedIn profile, and active social media profiles. It’s how job candidates can separate themselves from those who don’t receive a call back from the employer.
Develop Market In-demand Skills
In a rapidly evolving job market, job candidates must showcase and master those skills which have good demand in the market. The basic rule of economics applies here which is supply and demand. Every era has in-demand skills, for instance, in the 90’s experts in engineering and finance were well sought after. Today, the skills have shifted to the digital era, those who have excellent IT skills, coding, programming, AI etc are going in the right direction.
Job candidates have to stay current with industry trends and continuously develop their skills to ensure that they’re not meeting but exceeding the company’s expectations.
Ten or twenty years ago, investing in learning skills meant going into an apprenticeship or struggling to find mentors but now with the internet, you can conveniently take online certified courses, and invest time and energy in that which would give you rewards. For example, this study by PWC shows that nearly 70% of those surveyed anticipate generative AI will increase competition, drive changes to their business models and require new skills from their workforce within the next three years.
Job candidates must possess outstanding technical and soft skills in order to stand out from other competitors in the market. Importantly, job candidates also have to research their regional job market because it depends on the country as well which skills are more in demand. For instance, in an energy-hungry country, engineering experts are more in demand instead of AI professionals.
Network, Network and Network
We cannot stress enough how networking is important for getting on top of the job market. It remains one of the most effective ways in which connected job candidates can separate themselves from others. Investing time in building relationships with professionals in your field can easily open doors to opportunities.
Some of the opportunities that are not even advertised publicly can be provided to you through professional networking. If you maintain good relations with industry professionals and build a rapport with them, you will get much better opportunities than others in the market.
Use LinkedIn to connect with other professionals in your field, and reach out to others for help or mentorship. Because a strong network can provide support, advice and referrals that give you a competitive edge in the job market.
Never underestimate the power of professional networking; reach out to professionals in your industry just for informational interviews. It helps you get your foot inside the door. One of the biggest reasons why networking is beneficial is that 70% of the jobs are not even advertised on job websites and 85% of the vacancies are filled via referrals.
Prepare for Interviews
Put yourself in the tole of the interviewer and ask yourself what kind of skills and answers you would look for if you were hiring someone. Leaving a good impression during an interview can set you apart from other job candidates. Thorough preparation is required to showcase your skills, knowledge and personality; it ensures you’re a good fit for the company.
Your technical knowledge should be sound, but apart from that, you need to wholly understand the company’s mission, values, or current news. That can be achieved through extensive research; familiarize yourself with the company’s role, what it requires and what you have to offer that is different from other job candidates.
Another tip to prove that you are different from other candidates is to ask the hiring manager thoughtful questions. This showcases your initiative and genuine interest in the company’s role. Employers want to hire people who are passionate about their work and, most importantly, eager to learn. Job candidates need to shine through in the interview.
Conclusion
Standing out from other job candidates requires a combination of crafting a compelling CV, tailored applications, learning in-demand skills, networking, researching about the company and good preparation for interviews. At the end of the day, you need to show the hiring managers how you are different from others in the difficult job market.
By adopting these strategies, you can set yourself apart from the crowd and increase the chances of securing the job you’re after. Highlight what makes you unique from others; with dedication and hard work, it is not difficult.
For further updates and information, visit our website at www.rfsonshr.com
