On a Job Hunt? Here’s How to Stand Out From the Competition

The return-to-work job hunt is rough. You’re competing against desperate, minty new grads, as well as some of the most experienced candidates in your industry.

It can seem hopeless at times when you know just how many qualified candidates are out there. How do you get hired when you’re constantly competing against hundreds and thousands of applicants for one job opening?

You need to stand out.

Read on to learn how.

1. Master the Online Job Search

Did you know Google has an in-depth guide to mastering its job search tool?

It turns out it’s not as simple as typing in “remote copywriter job.” Google offers tools to refine and narrow down your search. The job hunt is like dating; it’s all about finding the right match for you.

If you know what to search for, suddenly, it gets a lot easier.

The same tip goes for using LinkedIn. You should be using this tool to leverage all the connections you have; and if you don’t have LinkedIn, it’s time to make an account.

Not only is the site a great way to connect with people that currently work at your target company, but it’s also a way to get in touch with your entire network. Who knows what opportunities might turn up?

Another tip is to subscribe to job posting newsletters so you can be the first to know when something comes up. Indeed and LinkedIn all provide real-time job postings to your email so you’re never out of the loop.

2. Use a Resume Generator

You can also try out a free resume generator. In your search for jobs, you should be refining and editing your resume.

Find out what kind of resume is successful in your industry, and then search for a template to work with. These tools often have extensive libraries that come in all different formats. Using a generator will help you save time and open up the possibility to apply to industries that require different resume formats.

If you find resume formatting a head-scratcher, definitely get on board with a resume generator. Many of the templates have interesting designs that are anything but generic, which could help you stand out while job hunting. You never know.

3. Network

Networking is extremely powerful. But how do you do it?

It’s all about leveraging whatever human capital you have.

Your aunt that happens to be in town? Your past manager?

All fair game.

When you’re surrounded by successful professionals, the worst mistake you could make is not tapping into their experience.

You’ll never know what could be until you really put yourself out there. And while you’re already unemployed, you won’t be doing this at a loss.

Just stay in contact with people or reach out to people who are working on interesting projects. There won’t be an immediate payoff, but networking is always a worthwhile investment for any professional at any stage of their career.

Upgrade Your Job Hunt Mindset

Tell you what: the best resources for a successful job hunt are out there. These will help you stand out and get an edge over your competition.

It’s all about how you capitalize on these resources, so your best bet is to just toss your reservations to the wind and get started!

For more professional tips, check out our business section.