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Competing Against Other Job Applicants In A Competitive Market
Some job fields are fiercely competitive, with several hundred applicants vying for a single job vacancy. Such competition can be frustrating when you know your chances are slim for obtaining your dream job despite your skills and experience!
While you might be up against some stiff competition, that doesn’t mean you don’t stand a good chance of being successful. You might be receiving that ‘you’re hired’ email before long when you take these actions:
Study With a Highly Regarded Education Provider
Depending on your chosen field, some universities, colleges, and trade program providers can be more highly regarded than others. For example, American International University is well known for its School of Business and School of Architecture & Design. If prospective employers see you graduated from a respectable school they recognize, they may be more likely to consider hiring you.
Stay Current in Your Field
Having qualifications in finance, healthcare, and other industries isn’t always enough to help you secure a new job. After all, you’re up against people working in the same sector who likely have the same qualifications. Getting the edge can often require you to stay current in your field.
Employers want to know that you’re so passionate about your work that you’re continually upskilling to benefit yourself and your employer. This can mean completing additional education when laws and best practices change. You might even specialize in a particular part of your industry to perform tasks your peers might not have the skills or qualifications to do.
If it has been a long time since you’ve considered additional study, now might be the right time to explore your options. For example, someone with a bachelor of accounting might look at getting a master’s in finance to provide more value for their customers and employers. It also doesn’t hurt that additional qualifications or training might allow you to earn a larger salary.
Create a Standout Resume and Cover Letter
Cover letters and resumes are standard documents you present to potential employers so they can learn more about you. They typically have basic information like your contact details, skills, qualifications, and educational history.
This information is vital to have, but it won’t necessarily make you stand out from other applicants. Fortunately, you might be able to create a unique and captivating resume that hiring managers notice by:
- Having it professionally designed
- Tailoring it to the industry, job, and hiring manager
- Using the company’s culture and keywords in your content
- Ensuring all information is relevant to the job
- Making it visually appealing
- Keeping it short and sweet
Don’t neglect your cover letter, either. While it can be tempting to download a cover letter template and change a few details, custom cover letters can stand out more. Research the company you’re applying to and write a unique opening paragraph to pique their curiosity.
You can then go on to tell them about why you’re interested in their company and why you believe you’d make a great fit. Don’t forget to proofread it before sending it off!
Join Respected Hiring Platforms
Be where your potential new employers are. If you know your preferred companies to work for are finding applicants on a specific networking or hiring platform, make an account and start building up your presence.
Take advantage of any training or skill tests being offered on those platforms and compete in battles against other students and job seekers. You may grab the right people's attention when you can show off your skills in a public place.
Learn What Employers Like and Dislike
There is no blanket rule for what employers like and dislike. Still, if you know the general likes and dislikes of employers and hiring managers during the hiring process, you might improve your chances of standing out for all the right reasons.
Dislike: Spelling and Grammar Mistakes
Most hiring managers don’t like to see spelling and grammar mistakes in resumes and cover letters. This is especially true if they’ve explicitly stated they’re looking for someone with exceptional attention to detail. Blatant errors may show that you lack the soft skills they’re looking for.
Like: How Your Achievements Relate to Their Role
You might have a long list of valuable skills and qualifications, but that doesn’t mean they’ll all be relevant for the job you’re applying for. When discussing your skills in your cover letter, don’t forget to mention how important they would be for the role. This is something many hiring managers love to see!
Dislike: Overselling or Underselling Yourself
You don’t want to seem like you’re boasting, but you also don’t want to fail to mention all your desirable attributes a new employer could benefit from. Strive to strike a happy balance! Talk about your incredible skills and qualifications, but don’t forget to relate them to the job you’re applying for and how you could be of value to them - not the other way around.
Like: Being Prepared for An Interview
Getting to the interview stage of a job application can be an exciting prospect. Yet, not every applicant is as well prepared as they could be. Many hiring managers love it when you’ve taken the time to understand their business, its morals, and values. They also like it when you come prepared with examples of your work that are relevant to what they do.
Prepare for a Job Interview
You might not yet have a job interview to attend, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for one when you receive that all-important phone call. Start by thinking about the types of suitable outfits you can wear, such as:
- Suits
- Button-down shirts and jackets
- Dark pants
- Blouses
- Polo shirts
- Knee-length skirts or dresses
Once you’ve found your winning outfit, research the company’s dress code to ensure it’s the right fit. It’s also important to ensure you’ve factored in your climate and season. Finally, check your outfit for any marks, pet hair, or defects. Remember, you want to look sharp and professional!
Once you’ve got your outfit sorted, prepare all the materials you believe will be relevant for your interview, such as your cover letter, resume, and portfolio. Finally, think about the questions the average hiring manager will ask you and prepare answers to avoid awkward silences. Among the most commonly asked questions are:
- Can you tell us about yourself?
- Why do you want to work for us?
- What made you apply for this job?
- How do your skills relate to our workplace?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What makes you the best person for the job?
Acknowledge Your Cultural Fit
Culture is a significant part of any workplace. It means you have the values, behaviors, and attitudes that a hiring manager is looking for to help them create a cohesive team. While you might highlight your skills and experience, don’t forget to talk about how you’re a good cultural fit!
You can show you are by researching the company’s core values and learning what they care about. If you care about the same things, don’t be afraid to let them know. For example, if a company you’ve applied to work for has extensive sustainability policies, you might mention how much you care about the environment and value their approach.
Improve Your Online Presence
Most employers screen job candidates’ social media platforms. Over half have rejected applicants based on their discoveries. When you know that potential employers will be typing your name into a search engine and reading everything they find, improving your online presence can be crucial.
Type your own name into a search engine and see what pops up. Make personal social media platforms private if you don’t want strangers to be viewing them. You might also be able to delete posts or pages showing information about you that may no longer be relevant.
You can even create accounts on more career-focused platforms, showing off your skills and talents for potential employers to see. The more positive content they see about you, the more favorable your chances might be of being considered for a job.
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Follow Up
Competing against other suitably qualified people in a competitive job market can be nerve-wracking. There’s always a chance you won’t be successful, but there’s also a chance you will be!
Don’t be afraid to follow up with a hiring manager after applying for a job or even after an interview. You may like to follow up within three weeks of applying for a job. Your email can be short and concise, telling them about your willingness to work for their company and requesting further information about their decision timeline. You can also attach a copy of your cover letter and resume to keep your details fresh in their mind.
If you’ve already had a job interview, consider sending a follow-up email within two days of your interview. Thank them for their time and reiterate your interest in working for their company. If you choose not to send a ‘thank you’ email post-interview, consider sending a follow-up email two weeks after your interview if you still haven’t had any communication from the hiring manager or business owner.
There are no guarantees that you’ll be successful in every job you apply for. After all, you’ll likely always be up against stiff competition. However, you may be in the front running to land the job of your dreams by creating a professional resume and cover letter, improving your online presence, and attending highly regarded educational institutes.
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