3 Tricks To Get Recruiters To Pay Attention To You
It can be hard It is hard to get a job these days.
There are an abundance of workers for a handful of jobs, and the competition is simply awful out there.
The only way to survive and get the job you want is to be different…stand out from the others.
To stand out from the others, you need to have your very own unique brand. A unique personal brand will put you in a favorable position with recruiters who may run a background check on you before calling you for an interview. It could be one of your assets.
Building a unique personal brand can be done in several ways. Follow these steps, and you’ll be called to job interviews even when you are not actively looking for a job!
Infographic Resumes
Unlike the traditional text-based resume, infographic resumes tweak things up by adding the element of visual into it. What’s great about including visuals in your resume is that it increases your chances of standing out from the rest.
Like in the example above, visual resumes put the important details, like your achievements, past experiences and skills that make you an ideal candidate for the position front and center. Its purpose is not simply to be visually appealing, but also to make it easy for the reader to review. Plus, infographic resumes let you showoff your creativity, and if you are applying for a creative job like a designer or a digital marketer, your visual resume itself could serve as an attestation of your talent.
But it may not fit all types of jobs. For example, if you are applying to a legal position, a visual resume may not be in your best interest. And if the place you are applying to won’t appreciate an infographic resume, you can include it in your LinkedIn profile.
If you are doing an infographic resume, then it is important to do it right. To do it right you need to
- Select the correct types of charts, graphs or diagrams to represent different type of data. For example to represent skills you can use a column or bar chart which will allow you to convey your level of expertise in them.
- Keep it simple, concise and easy to read. Or in other words avoid visual clutter and complex visualizations that will require time for recruiters to understand
- Pick a wise color scheme and not to go with a multitude of colors that would be too distracting. Stick to 1-3 colors of which you can use different tones throughout the template and a white background.
- Have a clear narrative to your visual resume. Like with any other traditional resume, have an order to the way you present information.
An Active LinkedIn Profile
Do you know how I got my current job? Yes, it’s through LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is the largest professional network out there, and it is a great platform for professionals to highlight their skills, achievements and expertise, and build their personal brand. And more and more recruiters use it to hunt eligible candidates today.
While many recruiters run your name by LinkedIn before calling you for an interview, it is important to maintain a professional presence within the network.
- Have a completed profile. Don’t leave any field unfilled, especially the basic information. And keep them updated. Some of the details you need to pay extra attention on your LinkedIn profile are the professional headline, your industry, expertise, skills and awards.
- LinkedIn is for professionals, therefore use a professional profile picture. And you can further reinforce your personal brand with a relevant background photo.
- Your summary should expand on what is indicated with your headline. It should also focus on your expertise and your career experience. Make sure it is easy to read and avoid making space for meaningless jargon.
- LinkedIn Pulse, LinkedIn’s very own publishing platform, lets you share your posts with the network. This helps increase your reach, gain more visibility and grow your influence.
- Join LinkedIn communities that are relevant to your field. These communities are made of likeminded professionals – and who knows, your future employer might be a member. Maintain an active presence by initiating discussions or participating in them. You can also share your LinkedIn Pulse posts with the communities to increase engagement.
- Get recommendations from people you have worked with. If there are special skills you want to be highlighted, let them know when you contact them.
Being active on LinkedIn thus can help you land your next job.
Blog/ Vlog/ Social Media Pages
You’ll be able to show off your skills further on any of the platforms above. Whether it is a personal blog, an online portfolio, a channel on YouTube or a Facebook page, remember to focus on your expertise and create something of value to your audience.
A strong online presence can make you appear as a promising candidate. And a strong online presence can come in the shape of a blog or site that gets huge traffic, or a YouTube channel that has plenty of subscribers, or a community page or an account on any social media platform with followers.
If you are expecting to integrate these platforms into your personal brand building strategy, remember to always create something that can highlight your skills and present yourself as an expert in the industry.
Some of these techniques might take time, but in the long run they will serve you well, especially when it comes to building your personal brand and positioning yourself as an ideal candidate for the job you apply to. And it’s never too late to start or try.
About The Author
Amanda Athuraliya is the communication specialist/content writer at Cinergix, the team behind the development of Creately Infographic Software. She is an avid reader, a budding writer and a passionate researcher who loves to write about all kinds of topics.