Being able to find a new job is a great way to end the summer. The process can be tiring, however, because of the pressure involved and what seems like an endless rat race. When you walk into an office and see three or four other people applying for the same job, it can be intimidating. The qualifications you have are strong, but you may worry about whether the next person had a better GPA, experience or shinier resume. Here’s the good news: There are ways to separate yourself from the pack and gain a real advantage over other job seekers.
Narrow Your Search Down to Your Areas of Expertise
A lot of people choose to apply for jobs that aren’t in their wheelhouse. That’s OK because it helps them expand their horizons. It also can be an advantage for you. How? You can choose to apply for jobs that are firmly within your area of expertise. This will make your application stand out more than those of your competitors. A potential employer can smell someone who’s “reaching” for a position from a mile away. FI the experience on the resume doesn’t correlate well with the job description, the employer is taking a big risk—even if all other qualifications are strong.
However, if you apply for jobs you have a good amount of experience in, or that are comfortable within the bounds of your industry, you will be the less risky prospect. This will help give employers a sense of ease and comfort when it comes to hiring you.
Beef up Your Resume with Temp Jobs
A temp job is usually seen as a means to an end. Very true. But the “end” it’s a means to doesn’t have to just be quick money or short term employment. One of the best benefits of a temp job is you can use it to beef up your resume. Many people perceive the benefits of a temp job as limited to helping pay bills that are coming up quickly or staying on top of mortgage payments. This could not be farther from the whole truth. If you take three temp jobs in your desired industry, your resume will have three related work experiences that you can use to nail your dream job. The key is to think long term. Aim to get the job you really want in the next year or two. In the meantime, score some temp jobs that will make your resume shine in comparison to the rest of those in the pack. Temp agencies will be happy to help you, and if you don’t have a lot of experience, yet, you can start in a lower position in the temp job but still make sure you learn a lot about the kind of position you hope to shoot for. One of the top benefits of a temp job is they are a great way to add substance to your resume and really help you be the one red umbrella in a sea of black.
Customize Your Resume for Each Application
It’s easy to spend a few hours and bang out a hot resume that can be sent to 35 different employers. But will this really be to your advantage? Probably not. Each employer you choose is going to have different requirements—even if the differences are very subtle. You may notice that their product or service is nearly identical to that of other companies but their company vision is slightly different, or their company culture is somewhat unique. Craft your resume differently for each job you apply for. Even if all you have to do is alter your interests, that could make a difference. But 9 times out of 10, you’re going to be able to find something in the job description that compels you to add a skill that’s not on there, yet, or reword or reorder your previous roles at other jobs.
If you use these tips, you will be able to stand out from the pack. The benefits of a temp job include prepping you for future jobs. Tke advantage of this. Use these ideas to get a foot in the door and give potential employers exactly the kind of person they’re looking for.
