From my recent LinkedIn poll (see picture below), most respondents shared that their biggest challenge in job searching is standing out in the fierce competition of today’s job market. That’s why I’ve dedicated this newsletter issue to sharing a few clever strategies to help you stand out and make your job search easier and less frustrating.
Become a Superstar Candidate
As a general rule, you shouldn’t apply for a role unless you meet at least 80% of the job criteria. However, in today’s competitive market, even meeting 100% of the requirements might not be enough. To truly secure an interview, consider having a few extras up your sleeve.
Analyze similar job advertisements, consult senior professionals in your industry, or, even better, work with a seasoned career coach to identify additional qualifications, certifications, or skills that could give you an edge. Tailor your resume to clearly demonstrate how you meet all the criteria, emphasizing your extras and how they can add value to the company. Use active language to describe your experiences, provide concrete examples, and quantify your achievements wherever possible.
Read Also:
- The Law of Attraction: Become a Highly Sought-After Passive Job Candidate
- 5 Easy Tweaks for Maximum Resume Impact
Find Your Blue Ocean*
I firmly believe that everyone deserves a job. However, not everyone can be a superstar candidate as described earlier. When a role attracts an abundance of highly qualified applicants, the likelihood of securing an interview becomes slim. On the other hand, applying for positions where competition is weaker—and where none of the candidates may fully meet the job criteria—greatly improves your chances.
If you’re tired of sending out countless applications without hearing back, I recommend focusing on opportunities where competition is limited. This approach can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview.
One Man’s trash Is Another Man’s Treasure
One approach you can try is to target companies that may not be as popular or desirable as employers. In this case, steer clear of the FAANGs and other well-established enterprises that often attract hundreds of applications for each vacancy. Instead, search for companies with negative employee reviews and low rankings on platforms like Glassdoor or Indeed. These companies usually struggle to attract candidates and chances are you will be one of a few applicants for the role.
In the job advertisement, watch out for red flags such as unrealistic expectations, excessive use of “family” terminology (“We are a happy tribe,” “We work hard, play hard,” “We are like a family”), and an emphasis on startup status. Pay attention to quirky or amusing job titles, especially for senior management, and inflated job titles or salary ranges compared to market standards. These factors usually indicate a specific company culture and challenging working environment that is not for everybody.
Additional signs may include a brief tenure of your interviewers, turnover in the advertised role, and the overall staff fluctuation. You can find it out by checking LinkedIn profiles of current and former employees of the company. Also take note if the job posting has been active for an extended period (several months) or if it’s been reposted multiple times.
While working for such a company might pose challenges and is generally something I advise people to approach with caution, it’s essential to weigh all the pros and cons. Despite potential difficulties, the experience, exposure, and the record in your resume can be pivotal for your career.
Read Further: How to Spot and Avoid Low-Quality Job Opportunities
Become a Rare Species
Another proven strategy is to cultivate a rare combination of skills—something unusual yet what employers may eventually require—and focus on roles that demand such unique expertise. This could involve mastering another foreign language, becoming proficient in a niche technology, gaining in-depth knowledge of an industry, or developing a distinctive blend of technical and soft skills.
Start by identifying your interests and strengths. What are you naturally good at, and what are you passionate about? Evaluate your existing skills, both technical and soft, and consider leveraging transferable skills from past experiences or hobbies. Decide on a combination of skills to focus on and develop further (limit yourself to three, unless you’re a genius—then maybe five or more).
While it may take some time to find a job opening that perfectly aligns with your unique skill set, when the right opportunity arises, you may find yourself as one of the few (or perhaps the only) candidate. This exclusivity enhances your chances of being hired significantly.
For example, if you can play golf, are proficient with computers, and speak German, you could qualify as an e-shop administrator for the foreign subsidiary of a major German golf retailer. Such a unique combination of skills is likely to be rare outside Germany, giving you a strong advantage if such a role becomes available. With the guidance of an experienced career coach throughout the interview process, your chances of success could approach 100%.
Read Further: Skills You Need to Learn to Earn High Income and Achieve Great Career Success
Networking
If you still want to apply for a job where you can expect a tough competition and worry that your application might get overlooked, having someone in your network who knows the hiring manager personally and can recommend you for the role can be invaluable. In some cases, it’s the only way to bypass the competition and secure a spot on the shortlist.
Read Further: The Power of Networking
Don’t Forget the Basics
I recently came across a LinkedIn post from a hiring manager sharing a real-life example. She had reviewed over 110 applications for a marketing role and found that most candidates made very basic mistakes. The key takeaways from her post are:
- Use a professional résumé template that is well-designed and properly formatted.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific job description.
- Maintain a complete LinkedIn profile, including a compelling headline, a detailed summary, relevant skills, recommendations, and, ideally, a few posts to showcase your expertise.
- Complete all fields in the application form.
Just following this simple advice alone can place you among the top 25% of candidates.
Read Further:
Conclusion
Today’s job market is highly competitive, and finding a new job isn’t easy. I hope the strategies above help you rise to the top of the application stack and land an interview soon. Once you get there, discover the secret psychology that will make you stand out in the interview.
Good luck!
You May Also Find Useful:
- Why Your Job Search is Taking So Long—and How to Speed It Up
- Should You Reach to the Hiring Manager Directly?
- How to Stand Out from the Crowd and Win the Job
*Blue Ocean Strategy is a book published in 2004 written by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, professors at INSEAD, and the name of the marketing theory detailed in the book. You can also learn more about it here.
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Do you need my personal assistance? Simply send me your resume and a link to your LinkedIn profile at vaclav@getyourdreamjob.co and I will come back to you!
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