You’ve got the experience, you’ve got the degree, you’ve got the skills and the drive to easily thrive in your dream job…..and so do the other 124 applicants who applied for the same position.
The job-hunting situation these days is more like a high-stakes show-and-tell session where your performance and presentation are as important as your technical skills. Whether you’re crafting your resume, stepping into an interview room, or curating your online presence, the way you communicate and convey your abilities could be the make-or-break factor.
As a recruitment agency, our team screens hundreds of resumes and candidate profiles regularly, but what makes the ones we work with truly stand out? Sometimes it’s an immaculate and error-free resume format. Sometimes it’s the glowing testimonials and referrals on your LinkedIn profile.
Working with recruiters can significantly enhance your job search process and boost your chances at the main interview when you know how to take advantage of the complimentary resources at your disposal.
Keep reading to explore some more helpful strategies from our team on how to level up as a candidate.
Polished Resume
Your resume and cover letter serve as the first chapters of your professional story. It can be somewhat of an exhausting task tailoring your resume and cover letter to each job that you apply to, but it does increase your chances of securing that interview. Review some of the tips below to make your resume pop :
- Grab the reader’s attention early. This means putting relevant skills, values, and work experience at the top of the resume.
- Reuse keywords from the job description and incorporate them into your work responsibilities.
- Make the resume user-friendly. If you have clickable links or sections, test them out on different devices to check the functionality.
- Last but not least, ALWAYS USE PDF FORMAT! Formatting on a Word document is as reliable as a paper umbrella in a downpour, not worth the risk if you’re going for that refined look.
And of course, let’s not overlook the basics – steer clear of punctuation or spelling mishaps, make sure all sections look uniform, and keep it concise and clear. Even the slightest punctuation error or misalignment in the formatting of the document can show a lack of attention to detail, which can be an immediate red flag for most recruiters.
Here is some guidance from our recruitment consultant, Andrei, emphasizing the significance of perfecting your resume:
Get some help from AI tools if it comes to it. Use it, but sparingly. While AI can give you a head start, it’s wise to review and customize the final draft yourself, because they might miss the mark when it comes to injecting your unique personality and story into the text, especially in a cover letter. Nonetheless, these tools can be really helpful if you are trying to streamline the process and tailor each resume to different job descriptions.
Regardless of whether you trust AI to do your bidding or not, our team can definitely guide you in drafting the ideal personalized resume for the job you are going for.
Personal Presentation
Dressing the part is an important aspect of making a positive impression. Imagine going to an interview where every candidate present is equally qualified – all vying for the same job opportunity. Your qualifications and skills might be impeccable, but how you present yourself visually plays a pivotal role in the impression you leave on potential employers or connections. Make sure you are looking sharp and presentable. At the same time, don’t be afraid to blend your personal style with your corporate look. We have moved well beyond the times when coloured hair or a couple of extra piercings raised eyebrows. The key is putting together a look that both reflects who you are AND makes for a professional appearance.
Polishing your non-verbal communication is also key. Being a great communicator involves actively listening – give your full attention when others speak and ask questions when you can. Remember that it’s not just what you say, but how you say it. Non-verbal cues, such as eye contact, body language, and tone of voice, play a crucial role in how people perceive you.
As much as it comes down to your technical work experience, sometimes, it’s the little things that can make a big difference in how you stand out. Paying attention to these small details might just be what sets you apart from the rest.
“Be kind and professional to everyone you meet. It’s a small world out there and you never know who knows who.” – Mark Payne, Manager, Recruitment & Business Development
LinkedIn Presence
In an era where first impressions are often made online, personal presentation extends beyond just the traditional handshake and interview attire. It now includes how you curate your LinkedIn profile, engage with industry trends on Twitter, or communicate your personal brand through a thoughtfully written blog post.
Here’s our guideline on how to spruce up your LinkedIn –
Profile Makeover: When it comes to your LinkedIn profile, try to match your work experience with your resume as much as possible, and make sure to incorporate industry-specific keywords and terminology to increase searchability. This plays an important role in attracting the right people to your profile.
Making Connections: Start by sending out connection requests to professionals in your industry. Accompany the requests with personalized messages to let them know why you’d like to connect. LinkedIn has a 300-word limit on connection request notes, so make sure to keep your message to the point. Another great way to make connections is by engaging with other people’s content and virtual events. The comment section can be a great place to spot a recruiter or vice versa – have them scout you!
Content Sharing: You want your network and potential employers to see you as an essential resource. Share high-quality, industry-specific content to position yourself as someone who adds value. The more consistently you share with the right caption, keywords, and hashtags, the more visibility you will gain on other people’s feeds – including hiring managers.
Recruiters and companies WILL check your LinkedIn profile, and at times, other social media platforms, so always be mindful of the information you share online to maintain a clean digital footprint. A recognizable online presence and personal brand isn’t a one-and-done deal; it takes consistent contribution and content creation to keep the social media wheels turning.
Impress in an Interview
After crafting a solid resume, acing the interview is the next big move in making a lasting impression. Before the big day, dive deep into the company’s background and do sufficient research. Aside from knowing the basics such as their mission and values, also scan their social media and find out about recent projects or topics you can weave into the conversation. Get yourself in sync with the company’s values and aesthetics to convey that you can be the perfect fit.
Needless to say, be on time. If you are attending online, check your equipment and environment in advance to ensure everything goes smoothly. If you are interviewing in-office, hitting the road early will save you from scrambling to find the location or battling last-minute jitters. Arriving ahead of schedule gives you a chance to settle in, gather your thoughts, and mentally prep for the interview.
If you have a preliminary interview with a recruiter, approach it with as much importance as the main interview. It’s crucial to keep in mind that your recruiter’s impression of you will impact how they present you to the hiring manager.
When interviewing for a fully bilingual role, chances are you’ll have to answer elaborate questions utilizing your second language. Showcase your confidence right off the bat by incorporating a few lines in French while introducing yourself. This can make you stand out and will set a positive tone for the rest of the process.
At the end of the interview, you will probably be asked if you have any questions for them and you will probably say something along the lines of – “Will I receive training for the role?” or “What would a regular workday look like?”. Generic questions like these won’t do much to set you apart. Remember that the last impression that you make is as important as the first. Instead of asking the same old run-of-the-mill questions, prepare with some of these questions – recommended by our recruiters.
Also, when the interview wraps up, take a moment to express your gratitude. A sincere “thanks for your time” can go a long way! Try to follow up in the next couple of days with a thoughtful thank you email. Take this chance to reiterate your interest, demonstrate your professionalism, and keep the conversation going.
Balancing Goal-Oriented Job Searching with Flexibility
“Get your foot in the door; AFTER good tenure, you can move around.” – Jason Dunn, Account Manager
To facilitate the job search process and make it easier, it is crucial to have concrete goals in mind, in terms of what you are looking for in your future position – which industry, what salary range, and what type of work model. At the same time, it is important to understand that you might not be able to check off all the boxes of your dream job when you do receive an offer. Try not to dismiss a job just because it doesn’t match the exact vision of what you wanted.
Of course, you don’t want to settle, but be open to taking a chance – you never know what rewarding opportunities might be waiting right outside your comfort zone.
As tempting as it might be to just hit the Easy Apply button and send out the same resume to 50 positions in a row, there are a lot of moving parts to take care of in the job search process. With the right approach and a bit of persistence, you can definitely find your way to the job you want.
Put the tips discussed above to work when you are job hunting and watch your chances go up. If you are looking for more personalized strategies and want to put yourself in the front row of the job market, reach out to our team of recruitment leaders and we can connect you with some amazing bilingual opportunities!
