Golden nuggets: How to be more hireable
You’re hunting for a new job, but despite all efforts, you haven’t landed a position. Perhaps it’s time to take stock of how you can become more hireable.
Becoming more hireable benefits from thinking outside the box about how to present yourself and your career. It can also mean talking to an independent expert, such as an experienced, caring recruiter.
This week’s expert article shares questions to ask to become more hireable and gold nugget answers from our Managing Director, Kate Prior, who has more than 30 years in recruitment.
Are you really prepared?
It’s easy to be lazy when searching for work. Do you tailor your resume and cover letter to each position or just use a generic approach because it’s faster and easier?
If you take the time to tailor, you’ll be more hireable. If you don’t tailor, you could be missing opportunities.
Kate says shaping your resume to each job description is essential: ‘A prospective employer will look for key words so weave these into all application material.’
Is desperation driving content?
Sometimes, jobseekers exaggerate skills and abilities, desperate to get noticed by prospective employers.
While it’s essential to highlight your skills and experience against specific job criteria, it’s also essential to be 100% honest. Avoid claiming you have skills or experience you don’t have.
Kate says, ‘Shine by thinking laterally and showcasing your attributes, but never push the envelope if it means stretching the truth too far.’
Are you accurate?
Many jobseekers resort to artificial intelligence to write job application material, impressed by how AI pitches them. But AI doesn’t know you as a person and can therefore only take you so far with what and how it writes.
‘If you use AI to prepare material, read through generated content carefully for accuracy and fairness,’ says Kate. ‘The last thing you need is to be asked to expand on something AI has claimed when you genuinely don’t have what it takes.’
Have you pitched your soft and hard skills?
In today’s work world, prospective employers look for more than what you’ve recorded in your written resume. Sure, they want to know about your education, technical knowledge, previous roles, and experience (these are teachable, measurable hard skills). But modern employers also scout for soft skills. These are behavioural or interpersonal traits related to your personality.
‘It’s a major advantage to highlight both hard and soft skills in your application,’ says Kate. ‘Soft or “people” skills are in hot demand by employers.’
Recommended by LinkedIn
Are you leveraging your transferrable skills?
Incorporating transferrable skills into your job application is a bonus. These are core skills that go beyond one role, organisation, sector or job.
‘Transferable skills are more important than ever and can be transferred to almost any role,’ says Kate. ‘They provide a competitive advantage and make you a more attractive candidate.’
Read:
Do you think about cultural fit?
Another way to gain a competitive edge is to focus on cultural fit. Switched-on employers understand the value of recruiting for this. So research the culture of the organisation you’re looking to work for and highlight how you fit in.
‘The phrase “hire for cultural fit and train for skills” is so true,’ says Kate. ‘Employers know this is important for high performance, retention and even profitability.’
Is preparing for interview a key priority?
Never walk into an interview cold. Learn in advance about modern interview techniques. This includes practicing possible questions and answers, learning how to stay calm, and avoiding common interview mistakes. Also, most employers will ask behavioural questions. Respond to these using the STARR method.
Kate says it’s essential for everyone about to be interviewed to put in the hard yards. ‘Preparation is the only way to nail it,’ she says.
Read:
Have you registered or talked to a recruiter?
Sometimes a fresh perspective helps with job searches. Recruiters are immersed in supporting jobseekers every day and have a detailed understanding of what employers are looking for when hiring.
If you’re not registered with a recruitment agency, do so. This will expand your opportunities and give you access to positions you may not know about through other means. face2face’s services are free to all jobseekers, no matter what level, sector or part of Australia. It takes less than 5 minutes to register online.
‘Our recruiters get to know your story and can provide valuable tips and advice on how to strengthen your position in today’s competitive job market,’ says Kate.