Here are some out-of-the-box ideas to help you rise above your competition.
You Can Become a Job-Seeking All-Star!
Job seeking can be very competitive and very challenging. You may feel that you have followed all the advice, rules, and ideas in your job search, seemingly to no avail. Take heart! There are ways you can shine – ways you can become an all-star!
Here are some out-of-the-box ideas to help you rise above your competition:
Go the extra mile: The job search gives you the opportunity to explore new opportunities, but it also gives you the opportunity to show others your talent. As you think about the interviews and informational interviews you conduct, consider the following ideas to guide you:
- Regularly ask professionals for their input on your resume.
- Consider developing a 30/60/90 plan in order to reflect your creativity and insight.
- Create a “leave behind” document for interviewers to further understand your talent and to stand out among your competition.
- Be creative with your personal commercial (also known as an elevator speech) by including a unique statement that will help others remember you.
- Follow up each interview and informational interview with a thank-you note. If you interview for a job you do not get, ask the interviewers for feedback that will help you perform better the next time.
Be purposeful: Contrary to what you may hear, true networking is not meeting as many people as you can. True networking is about intentionally meeting others with a goal and a purpose in mind. As you think about who to meet in your job search, consider the following questions to guide your decisions:
- Am I meeting with those in the field(s) in which I want to work?
- When I meet, do I have clear questions that will give me insight into the field, the organization, and the culture?
- Am I ready at all times to answer the question “How can I help you?”
- Have I refined my personal commercial so others know right away who I am and what I want? Have I included something unique in my commercial that makes me memorable?
- Am I keeping my network updated on my job search process?
Share your ideas: It is time to think outside the box and be confident in who you are. You are creative! You can think, process, create, and speak in a way like no one else. Now is the time for you to reflect on all the work you have done as a professional and show others just what you can do! Consider implementing these out-of-the-box ideas:
- Send your target companies a sample of your work, along with a letter offering to meet to discuss your ideas.
- Volunteer for an organization that can use your talent. Volunteering can help companies see your value, and you will likely be considered for an open position before outside candidates.
- Start your own support group with other job seekers who have similar interests. Together you can brainstorm ideas for helping each other stand out in your field, share references, and exchange networking ideas.
- Make periodic updates and comments on LinkedIn so your network can see how you are progressing in your search.
- Ask yourself what you enjoy doing as a hobby. Explore opportunities to turn your hobby into a career.
If you want to stand out among your competition, it is important for you to be unique, creative, and extraordinary in your job search. Go the extra mile, be purposeful, and share your ideas – your hard work WILL pay off!
