Job Hunting

Today’s job hunting process is simply brutal to say the least, thanks to globalization, recruitment has evolved from a local search to a global one; where everyone can apply with a few clicks a CV and a cover letter. Giving the employer hundreds and in some cases thousands of applicants for a single job and therefore the power to choose and, to dictate terms. In my opinion, the most crucial stage of the recruitment process is the application stage; since you need an invitation to enter the party. Candidates are judged based on what they can show professionally and educationally through their CV and their cover letter. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to showcase through a CV essential qualities such as passion or critical abilities. This makes what is on that sheet you are submitting in the application stage even more important. It has become crucial to stand out, to make the recruiter stop and take a longer look at your candidate profile, to showcase something unique that you bring to the table. We tend to think that the best way to accomplish it, is to have a different CV, filling it with extra information or having an original cover letter. Don’t get me wrong, I believe these things help, but not as much as other ways that we may overlook and that I indeed failed to take advantage of during my first months of job hunting.

We all have gone through the tedious job application process, received the numerous condescending rejection emails, read countless articles on job hunting, the dos and don’ts. Attended numerous lectures on recruitment, having your CV and cover letter revised and polished by human resources experts. Having gone through the emotional roller coaster, the ups and downs, over exceeded the job requirements, but still got a rejection. I started to have the common doubts most applicants experience at some point: Who gets selected for this particular process? What do they have? After maybe four months applying for every job out there and not succeeding, I began to question the foundations of applying for a position, from the advice I got from established HR professionals to the “proper way to apply for a job”. It all began with a simple question. Everyone has attended, at some point, a recruitment seminar and has heard the same advice that I have, so if everyone is implementing that advice in their application process, how can I stand out from the rest? How can I gain an edge over the other candidates?

 Six months of job hunting has taught me how to stand out by using what is at hand and what other candidates may overlook when applying for a position.

1.     CONTACTS & NETWORKING:

I know that this is not something new and is one of the usual advice given in the recruitment seminars, but I am amazed at how many friends have an “inside man” in the company they want to work for and fail to take advantage of it. Primarily, they fail because they want to be self-accomplished individuals and want to find the job they want without having to go to that friend or even family member. At the end of the day, who cares how you got the job, what matters is what you do with the opportunity that you have been given and frankly not being unemployed at graduation day.

Basically, before starting to sending CVs and applying to every company out there, sit down and make a list of the jobs and the companies you would like to work for. Then go to your phone book, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and find friends or friends of friends that work at that company and meet them and use them, I know it sounds awful to some, their knowledge of the business, tips, and internal network to get that job.

2.   REFERENCES:

One of the most undervalued and underused tool in the applications stage and one that can make a difference whether you get that initial interview or your application gets rejected. Try to look at it from the recruiter’s perspective. They see hundreds of CVs a day, and they know that they are basing their decision on what you put on a sheet of paper. They would like to have a way to validate, not only what is on your CV, but also who you are and if you fit the criteria for the job they are trying to fill. However, most of the time they don’t have that option, so they judge and make their decision based on what you submitted. Therefore, the importance of reference which is non-less than a validation of a peer, work colleague or boss!

Personally, when I started to include two references, one educational and one professional, to the application stage, I always went through to the next stage of the process. Remember, a reference is a validation of you as an individual and from the recruiter’s point of view it reduces the risk of letting you through to the next round, especially when you have applied for jobs outside of your scope.

3.   BE A PAIN!

A total recruitment process takes, on average, sometimes longer, depending on the company and job, three months from the moment you send your application to receiving that gratifying acceptance email with your financial offer. I have found that after applying, an effective way to stand out is to be a pain in the right way to the recruiter. After a couple of weeks of sending your initial application, if you haven’t received a reply don’t be afraid to directly call the company and ask to be transferred to the Human Resources department and respectfully state your case. On the other hand, use LinkedIn to track down the recruiter of the company you have applied for and send in an Inmail with the relevant information.

Most people don’t like to be a pain. They don’t want to seem desperate, even though that what they are when they are job hunting. I have found that what may seem to you as desperate, to the recruiter it may appear to be determination and drive to get that job, which is important since it is one of the things recruiters look for and ultimately could land you an interview or that dream job.

4. BE UNORTHODOX 

In order to get to the party, you need an invitation to do so you need to stand out in the first stage of the process. I have found that the best way to stand out is to be unorthodox, but smart. Combine the solid advice from HR professionals with a unique and personal touch. Having a particular CV adapting it to each position that you apply for. When doing a Cover Letter try not follow the same structure as everyone else. Tell them why you want to work, showcasing the passion and the drive that you have and the added value that you will bring to the job, besides all your skills that you already possess. Don’t be afraid to be bold, to put your toe over the line with bold statements on your cover letter or with a unique presentation and style on your CV. In my opinion, it shows personality and stands out from the rest, which ultimately is the point at the early stage of the recruitment process.

Finally, my personal reflection on these past six months. The first job is never the dream job; only a few have that fortune. It’s difficult to accept a position that’s not the one you wanted, or at the company you desire to work in or even in the area in which you want to develop your professional career. Nonetheless, personally, I see every job and every position as a stepping stone to my ultimate objective, both professionally and personally. The key is to define what is the ultimate end goal and to start working towards it, taking advantage of every opportunity available and as always, the most difficult step is the first one.

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More articles by Kevin Gabriel Cabrera Miranda (LION - Open Networker)

  • RH

    RH

    RH ❗️Mientras esperabas tres semanas para conseguir que ese último socio se reuniera con el candidato ..

    1 Comment

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