It’s a whole new world out there! The national unemployment rate is high but companies are still hiring.

Prior to Covid-19, the low unemployment rate meant the job market was less competitive.

Today’s job seeker faces a fiercely competitive job market and companies and recruiters alike are being inundated with resumes!

How do you stand out from the pack and get the job you want when everyone else wants it too? Here are 5 things you must do to stand out and get the job:

1. Follow The Rules!

When you come across a job you like, do you actually take the time to read the instructions to apply? Or do you just click the apply button and forget about it? 

Many companies use sites like Linkedin and others to get exposure but the real application instructions are listed at the bottom of the ad. Usually these are directing you to an internal job board used by the company or it has detailed requirements such as a cover letter and salary requirement. If you ignore their requests, consider your application deleted because if you aren’t conscientious enough to follow directions, why should they hire you?

2.  Get Educated!

During the shutdown time many furloughed or laid off workers have been doing home learning with their kids or binging on Netflix and wine (maybe a mix of both? YOU MAY NEED IT) 

Have you considered spending some of that time bulking your knowledge with education?  Using the available time you have to add to your skills can be a valuable and desirable addition to your resume that can lead to a higher pay range and even a higher position than you previously held. Employers will admire that you used your free time to build your abilities and knowledge. Consider taking online classes, certification courses, and reading books that can sharpen you and keep you productive. 

 3. Research is Key

Your time is better spent applying for positions that match your qualifications and past employment/education.

If you were the manager of a restaurant, don't waste your time applying for a management position in a field that you have no experience in. Just having been a manager is not enough to qualify you.

I know this advice may sound a bit silly to some of you but you would be surprised to know how many applications I have to reject every day because the candidate had no experience even remotely close to what the job is. Your time will be better spent applying for jobs within your current field or at companies that do not require prior experience and are willing to train. So narrow your search down to the best matched jobs and focus on applying for as many of them as possible.

4. Invest In A Professional Resume Service

You may be a great candidate with amazing qualifications and experience but employers meet your resume before they meet you. If your resume doesn’t 100% reflect your greatness, you won’t stand out. You’ll be another name in a stack that doesn’t get replied to.

You may feel that you are good enough to write your resume and for some of you that may be true but the biggest benefit of using a professional resume writer is that you get to have someone who specializes in this and knows what today’s employers are looking for in a resume. 

My company, Get A Job is a permanent placement staffing and recruiting agency. My team and I are in front of thousands of resumes every single month so we know exactly what companies are looking for because we are usually the first ones to see resumes. 

We offer resume packages as low as $35 so you can get a brand new resume even on a budget. Check it out here: https://www.getajob.us/shop

5. Nail The Interview!

Nailing the interview means you have to practice and anticipate how things will go before you get there. Preparations can be done by researching everything possible about the company and then try to embody what the culture of the company is all about. If you match their culture, this will not go unnoticed by the interviewer. Do a run through of a mock interview, anticipating some of the questions you will be asked.

Still not sure where to start? Check out my interview coaching sessions that will prepare you for the live interview specific to the field you are interviewing in and learn the secrets of the trade from an actively working staffing recruiter. Check it out here: Interview Coaching

Following these 5 things will get you closer to where you want to be. You will stand out from the crowd and win the job of your dreams even in a Covid-19 world.