Anyone with a weather eye on the job market knows that things are really heating up this summer. The economy looks like it’s (finally) starting to crawl its way out of recession, and the resultant optimism has stimulated a sudden surge of job applications that’s simply overwhelmed the paltry number of open positions currently available.
As a result, securing a well-paid job that offers genuine opportunities for advancement is slowly becoming harder and harder, particularly if you’re applying in a way that doesn’t stand out from the sudden glut of competing applications you’re contending with.
Luckily, there are a few simple things that can really help you to beat the summer job rush and stand head and shoulders above the oncoming wave of applicants. I like to think of them as my secret cheat sheet, but I guess they’re posted online now, so they’re not much of a secret anymore!
All of these tips are very, very easy to put into practice; they’re simple, and I’ve picked them out specifically because they can be used to generate genuine results in a very short amount of time.
1. Pick Up the Phone!
I can guarantee that 90% of the competition are simply firing off application forms and resumes, hoping that someone (not a robot) at the other end is actually going to take the time to read through the same routine boilerplate they’ve read 30+ times that day before sending off an invitation to interview.
Newsflash: they’re not!
Don’t be lulled into thinking that hitting the “apply” button actually counts as applying for a job. (Tweet this thought.) In this day and age, you really need to do something to catch your potential employer’s attention, and it needn’t be a big thing, either — simply call up to ask a question about the application, or inquire about whether experience with this system or that application might help.
Chances are, the person at the other end will really appreciate the fact that you’re not just drumming out resumes like a mindless automaton and, providing you’re polite and friendly, you’ll probably make a positive impression, too. Win-win.
Of course, I wouldn’t advise doing this 24/7. Reserve it for the jobs you really want, and make sure your questions are relevant; otherwise some people might start to take umbrage. It’s one thing to try to stand out, but another thing entirely to start wasting people’s time.
2. Don’t Be Afraid to Reach Out to Any Agencies in Your Area
Funnily enough, a lot of agencies go quiet at this time of year. Certainly in my experience, the summer season seems to drive people into applying directly, and while we’ll still pick people up on forums and websites, this can be a great time of year to actually pick up the phone and go hunting for a good agency yourself.
I know several agencies in the UK (where I work) who respond particularly well to inquiries, and they always enjoy it when people reach out and contact them for opportunities.
So don’t be afraid of the somewhat daunting agency “machine” that seems to scare of most clients at this time of year — the majority of recruitment professionals are still people, albeit very driven people with a real focus on placing candidates as fast as possible. They’ll do their best to help.
3. Learn a Small, Tangentially Related Skill
There are, in my experience, often a variety of small and relatively uncommon skills that are needed to do important day-to-day jobs in most industries — like using touch screen cash registers in the service industry, or editing a photo for your company’s blog if you work in marketing or journalism.
Most of the time, you can teach yourself these skills well in advance of applying for a job, just by doing a little bit of research or by finding a free how-to guide.
Now, I’m not suggesting you learn a new language here, or find out how to repair motorbikes before applying for that job at the tire shop. Think small wins, like mastering a content management system you know you’ll be using, or practicing with WordPress if you know that might be part of your daily routine.
Employers really love this because it shows that you’re dedicated to being the best you can be, and because it cuts down on the training time they know they’ll need to invest once you actually start the job.
So, if you’re looking for a quick way to stand out from all the other candidates with similar qualifications to you, have a quick look at tools you know you might be using on the job, and make sure you cram them onto your resume!
4. Got the Interview? Make Sure You Don’t Go Dehydrated
This might sound like a strange one, but I promise you it’s important. It’s easy to let interview stress interrupt your normal eating and drinking habits, but forgoing essentials like a glass of water can really take a toll during the summer months when the intense heat and constant sun can quickly dehydrate you
Dehydration has a number of very negative consequences — it can cloud your thinking, make your responses seem sluggish and, worst of all, make you look very tired.
I distinctly remember one employer telling me a promising client I’d recommended looked “very tired” after an interview that really should have gone better, and I’m sure that she’ll always look back at a missed opportunity like that and think, “If only I’d taken better care of myself that morning…”
5. Stand Out, But Don’t Go Overboard – You’re Not a Peacock!
Some more interview advice: I know it can be really tempting to show off a bit, particularly in the summer when you can actually wear slightly more daring styles without running the risk of being frozen en-route. But it’s important to remember that you’re attending a professional interview.
Generally, it’s okay to wear something that’ll help you to stand out as long as it’s recognizable business attire, but I’d always recommend that you err on the side of caution, since you can never tell what attitudes or preconceived notions your interviewer will have.
What’s on your plan of attack for finding a job during the summer? Share in the comments!
Image: Photobucket
