Don't get lost in the crowd
20/06/12
One of our candidates approached us with this dilemma:
“I recently applied for a Marketing Controller which had over 225 applications – how do I make myself stand out from the competition?”
There’s almost a sense of desperation in the air when it comes to finding employment. We hear so much negative press about the job market many job seekers have begun applying a shotgun approach and applying for every job they find no matter how unsuitable. This has led to the extreme situation of job postings receiving extraordinarily high application numbers. Out of the 225 applicants that applied for the Marketing Controller the large majority of them were not suitable, don't have the right qualifications or experience, live too far away or when it comes down to it don't really want the job. This has made it very difficult for prospective employers and good candidates can get overlooked.
When applying for jobs you need to be more selective and really tailor your application to the job description. Many applicants simply read the job title, salary, location and click apply. Then their standard CV already saved in the system goes out to the employer or recruitment agency. If haven’t shown in your application process that extra attention to detail that employers are after your not going to be successful.
So how do you get around this problem?
Stop being a sheep and start being a wolf. Be smart, clever and strategic in your job hunting. Firstly move away from the big job boards that everyone uses. Instead spend some time finding more niche and specialised boards that are specific to your skills and experience. At first it might not seem like they get the same amount of jobs as the other sites but you’ll be better represented and in with a better chance of finding work. Secondly try to find a recruitment agency that specialises in your industry and will work hard to represent you. Thirdly go direct – if a company isn’t advertising vacancies on their website speak to them anyway, try connecting with them through networking or other means.
In short the reason you’re getting lost in the crowd is that you’re being part of it.
Every week we aim to answer a common career question - if you have one you would like answered then ask in the comments below.