How to stand out in a competitive job market
In order to stand out in a competitive job market, it is vital that you not only make a positive first impression but to be confident and remembered for all the right reasons. Learn how to stand out and how to showcase your skills in a competitive job market. As a qualified career coach, here are my top tips to get noticed!
Gain relevant industry experience.
This tip is a bit of a no brainer but in most cases, it is the first consideration your future employer takes into account. If you are pursuing your first professional job, having the right work experience can prove to be very valuable. Look for internship opportunities that can give you the invaluable skills employers look for in candidates. Another great way to gain experience is to search for entry-level roles in the industry or department that you are wanting to work within. This is a great way to not only gain experience but will allow you the opportunity to grow within a business. Your career coach Melbourne can help guide you and give you tips on how to gain an internship or entry-level position.
Customise Your Resume to Showcase Your Marketable Job Skills
Your resume is a great opportunity to give your future employers an insight into your qualifications and experience. Ensuring that your resume is up to date to include your most current skills and work experience, is vital before approaching potential employers. Your career coach can work with you to create a sound resume that includes all the right relevant experiences and skills. Customizing your resume for each job role, it will allow you to emphasise and highlight particular skills and experiences to employers.
Build a Professional Online Profile
Having a strong professional online presence can prove to be a great tool in standing out in a competitive job market and it is becoming more and more common for future employers to search your name online before inviting you for an interview. This is where LinkedIn, one the best social media platforms for professional networking, comes into play. Your careers coach can help you create a profile that stands out, showcasing your skills and experience in a detailed and capturing manner. Your profile should include a professional headshot and up to date work history, skills, certifications, organizations and education. Once your profile is created, you must ensure that you remain active but regularly sharing the latest research for your industry as well as projects you’ve completed and achievements you have made.
Your career coach can help you set job alerts so you know when something matches your experience. Also, your career coach can give you guidance on which companies to follow and what employees to connect with. A tip to help you build a strong profile is to look at the profiles of industry employees and see what skills and training they have. This will tell you what similar employers will want to see on your resume.
Networking
While experience and education can give you a great step in the right direction in standing out in a competitive job market, networking also plays a big role in helping you find the right opportunity. It’s more important than ever to not only have a wide network but to have strong connections with industry contacts and potential employers. Your career coach Melbourne can give you some resources on events in your area that encourage networking such as job fairs and conventions. If you attend these events, make sure you keep in contact with the people you connect with the most, even if you're not currently looking for a new job.
Another great way is to reach out to industry professionals, or even people at the company you’d like to work for, and introduce yourself via email or over the phone. Get active on the right social media platforms, such as Linkedin and act professionally. If you’d like some guidance with how to successfully network, Amelia, a qualified Careers Coach, can help you. Contact Amelia here.
Leadership Skills
Having a sound resume and great connection will allow you to get a foot in the door, but possessing quality leadership skills are in most cases what potential employers are looking for in candidates. Companies will actively seek out candidates who have the ability to lead teams. Candidates who have a demonstrated history of using leadership skills in prior positions are more likely to stand out from the rest. Ultimately you need to demonstrate your fluency in collaboration, decision making and mentoring.
Leadership qualities can be developed over time, so look for opportunities to take on more projects and work with your career coach. Your career counsellor can give you resources and tasks to help you to build on your leadership skills.
Continue to build on your Education
To really stand out from the crowd, continue your education with training. There are so many amazing short courses that can help you further your knowledge. Your careers coach will help you research and select courses that align with your career path.
Standing out from the crowd is also fundamentally about letting people see how great you are. Understanding what makes others take notice of you is about knowing who you are and what you want. This can all sound very daunting but luckily that is what a career coach is here for.
If you need guidance and want to make a splash in the competition job market, Contact Amelia, Career Coach, here.
Amelia McDermott is a Career Coach and Coaching Psychologist, based on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne. With nearly 20 years of training and experience working as a psychologist, Amelia has a strong understanding of how to uncover what makes people tick, and how to help people find an authentic career that aligns with their unique talents and values. If you’re looking for Career Advice or Career Counselling, look no further than Uplift Coaching and enjoy a consultation with Amelia to see if a Career Coach is right for you. Book a consultation here.