Recruiters adhere to an exhaustive hiring process for attracting the right candidates that fit the job and company’s requirements.
They need to reach the most qualified applicants that will help in achieving their business goals. So, you need to showcase yourself as the ideal candidate if you wish to get hired.
In this guide, we will look at the must-follow steps that will help you land your dream job.
Let’s begin.
Make a stellar resume
A good number of companies have been using applicant tracking systems to screen resumes. It is a software application that helps in shortlisting candidates according to the job-related keywords.
Moreover, recruiters spend seconds to track valuable information in a resume. So, in today’s job market, resume writing can be a daunting task.
Here is how you can make your resume better:
- Resume template: Use an ats-optimized resume template that helps you ensure proper formatting and a traditional outline.
- Readability: Avoid long paragraphs to write your job duties. Keep it in crisp one-liner bullet points to improve the overall readability of your resume.
- Length: Restrict your resume to one page. But, if you possess more than 10 years of experience, you can extend it to two pages.
Revamp your LinkedIn profile
In 2021, LinkedIn is one of the most important platforms for a job-seeker. It is not just another job searching tool. You can use it to find like-minded professionals and ramp up networking efforts to get in touch with recruiters.
To achieve this, you need to optimize your LinkedIn profile by updating the headline, summary, work experience, and cover picture.
The idea is to showcase your skills in a manner that improves the credibility of your expertise and an optimized profile will help you achieve that.
Leverage the job description
Leveraging the job description can help you stand out from the crowd. Let’s say the company requires a candidate who can “create dashboards and generate reports”, then highlight these in your resume.
Recruiters spend a lot of time designing a job post and look for ideal candidates as per the requirements. If you add these keywords to your resume and cover letter, you can significantly increase your chances of getting the job.
But, avoid adding keywords or skills that you cannot substantiate during the interview. The idea is to make the job application specific to the company and profile you are targeting.
Write a cover letter
A cover letter can be a great addendum to your resume. But, you need to make sure that it is impeccably written without any grammatical errors. If you do not have strong writing skills, look for help from your peers.
Moreover, it should be specific to the company you are targeting. So, avoid using one cover letter everywhere.
But, what should you write in it?
Keep the document restricted to 2-3 paragraphs covering your strongest skill set and achievements. In the first paragraph, talk about your strengths and what you can do for the organization.
Be specific about your achievements in the second paragraph, add numbers and performance figures to validate them. The third paragraph should be about the company’s profile and why you are interested in the job.
Interviews questions
All your efforts will go in vain if you cannot ace the interview. Here are a few pointers that will help you pass it:
- STAR Format: It stands for situation-task-action-result and it can help you answer the recruiter’s question in an unparalleled manner. For instance, most candidates go off the track and start discussing other matters and it can be frustrating for the interviewer to repeat the question again.
- Job post: Learn about the job duties and responsibilities through the job post or company’s website. You can go through the profile of the company’s existing employees on LinkedIn as well. The idea is to learn everything about the target profile and what the company does.
- Ask questions: Almost every interviewer asks this question “Do you have anything to ask us?”. Do not sideline it as it can be of paramount importance. You need to question the interviewer that compels them to think that you are genuinely interested in the profile. For instance, you can ask, if you were to start working tomorrow what would the tasks be, do you think I would be an ideal fit for the position, do you like working here, etc.
Key takeaways
Here are a few key takeaways from the article:
- Write a resume with proper formatting and prioritize the readability of the document.
- Revamp your LinkedIn profile and write a cover letter to showcase your skills.
- Leverage the job description to highlight specific skills in your resume and cover letter.
- Ace the interview by learning about the company and job profile, not derailing from the conversation, and asking questions.
