Getting an interview isn’t always a straightforward process, even if you feel you have the right skills and experience for the role. Employers can sometimes receive a hundred applications for a role so, even if you are fully qualified for the job, you might not get shortlisted.
Here are five things you can do to improve your chances and help you land the interviews you deserve.
Be social
Whatever your age or tenure, you need to have a social media presence. And not just a LinkedIn profile, although that is a must have. Employers are actually less likely to interview applicants if they can’t find them online, so having a strong social presence may even mean you get hired over a candidate that doesn’t.
Be realistic
You might have a goal to submit a CV a day or even ten CVs a day, but are you really qualified for all those positions? Take some time to revisit the jobs you’ve applied for in the last 3 weeks and see if you’re aiming too high. If so, rethink your job search and start again.
Be selective
If you’re abiding by the ten CVs a day rule, you’re most likely wasting your efforts by submitting applications for jobs you don’t really want. Instead of applying to everything you see that you feel you are qualified for, use your time to focus your efforts on the jobs that really excite you.
Be specific
Make sure you match your CV and cover letter to the job description. Identify the three or four qualities that make you a great fit for the role and emphasise them. This way you’ll be aligning yourself to what the hiring manager is looking for. If you’re struggling to match yourself to the position described, it’s most likely not the job for you.
Be recommended
Networking is the best thing you can do when you’re job hunting. An endorsement will go a long way to showing you have the skills and experience needed for a role. Start by reaching out to your existing connections to tell them what you do and what you’re looking for. This will help you get the word out and ease you into talking to people about your job search.
If you'd like more job hunting advice from Aquent, then why not download our ‘Getting a Job‘ Guide. It's free and has all you could ever want to know when searching for your next job.
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