5 ways to stand out from the crowd in the competitive job market

Here is my second IT blog article for x4 recruitment

5 ways to stand out from the crowd in the competitive job market

The difficult balance between talent and quality opportunities has tipped in recent years as the economy has suffered, employers have grown cautious and talent has been released following company closures or restructures. As the job market becomes increasingly crowded, it has never been more important to make an impact. Whilst there are certainly some jobs with bigger talent pools than others, we’re not alone as recruiters in are seeing increased numbers of applicants pretty much across the board. Our clients have been receiving record numbers of applicants for even the most specialised IT industry jobs. This casts doubt on predictions of an impending digital skills shortage.

Skills shortage or no, as an industry professional, here are a few ways you can ensure you put your best foot forward and stand out from the crowd:

1.     Sounds like an obvious one but it’s important you highlight your most relevant skills and experiences at the top of your CV. If you’re a fresh graduate with little experience, seek opportunities in the industry for work experience and gain hands-on, practical experience. Write about the specific companies you worked for, what you did, and how has helped you develop.

2.     Take a tailored approach! Do your research into the company you’re applying for – understand exactly what the company does and express what specifically interests you and how you would add value to their company. Link this to your work experience and skills in your covering letter – give specific examples of what you have done in the past that is similar to the role you are applying for. By ticking the reader’s mental boxes you’re more likely to end up in the ‘yes’ pile.

3.     Show enthusiasm and initiative by showcasing the work and studying you have done yourself to improve your skills. If this is a weak area, why not consider taking a vocational qualifications before your next career step. Whilst the short term may be more pressing, don’t overlook longer term opportunities. If you’ve been taking the initiative and using internet-based resources to further your knowledge and skills, don’t be shy about saying so.

4.     Showcase personality as well as experience - talk about hobbies and interests outside of work. This can also be covered briefly in the covering letter.

5.     Create an online resume/portfolio. Showing a prospective employer specific projects you have worked on in the past can be the difference between being remembered and forgotten. You can link to these from your professional online profile, your CV or from your email signature. It can also be a good idea to include a hard copy with an application.

6.     Think outside the box – it sometimes takes drastic action to be noticed so don’t limit yourself to just writing a covering letter and CV; advertise yourself. Set up social media accounts and link them to your CV, network with peopled on Linkedin, use the internet to show that you know what you’re talking about. Or should you have strong design skills (or a generous friend who does) create an online CV with an appropriate theme. Don’t be afraid to be creative. However remember that creative must always go hand in hand with professional!