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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2017)
2 C SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2017 GET NOTICED IN A CROWDED JOB MARKET Employ a few tricks of the trade to stand out above other people applying for the same jobs inding a new job is never an easy task. That task grew even more difficult over the last half decade, when a struggling economy forced many companies to lay off workers and institute hiring freezes. As a result, unemployment numbers rose, and many out-of-work men and women found themselves searching for ways to stand out among a crowd- ed pool of applicants. Standing out in a crowded job mar- ket has always been tough, but many professionals find it even more diffi- cult to get noticed now, when many companies request prospective employees apply for job postings via the Internet. That process can be frus- trating, as even the most qualified applicants can easily get lost among the myriad of workers all applying for the same position. But as daunting as finding a new job may seem to those looking for work, there are ways to stand out among the masses. • Go the extra mile when sending your application. Many online job postings provide a link or an email address where applicants can fill out an application or send their resumes. This is a necessary step, and appli- cants should follow the directions in the posting. But applicants who really want to get noticed can take the extra step of finding the contact information for the company’s hiring manager and sending their resume directly to that person’s email address. Include the title of the position you’re applying for in the subject line of your email, and cut and paste your cover letter F COURTESY PHOTO Stand out in the applicant field by practicing some skills that make you come across as a tech-savvy, well-written and competent addition to a company. into the body of the email. In addition to sending your email to the compa- ny’s hiring manager, consider CC’ing the person who might be your boss if you were to get the position. • Tighten things up. Your resume should reflect your work experience, but you want to focus primarily on the experience and skills that are rel- evant to the position. You can list past positions or internships you’ve had, but keep the synopsis of those posi- tions brief if they bear little relevance to the position for which you’re applying. The main focus of your resume should be the things you have done in the past that make you the best candi- date for this job. This might change as you apply for various positions, but tailor each resume to each specif- ic position. • Make your resume download- friendly. Applying for positions but getting little response despite your qualifications? Chances are your resume might not be download- friendly. Bullet points and boxes might look good to you, but if the hir- ing manager on the receiving end of your resume does not have the same version of the program you’re using, that resume might look like a scram- bled mess by the time the it’s down- loaded. In such instances your resume is almost certain to end up in the scrap heap, no matter how qualified you might be. When uploading your resume to a company Web site or emailing it to a hiring manager, choose a format they can easily download. A PDF, for example, is a format that’s easy to download and unlikely to scramble. • Beware of hyperlinks. Adding hyperlinks to a resume can be hit or miss. When it’s a hit, a hiring manag- er can click on a link in your resume and be taken directly to samples of your work. However, if you’re asked to submit your resume via an online application instead of sending it directly to a hiring manager’s email address, then those same hyperlinks might be relegating your application to the trash bin before it’s ever seen. That’s because the database may be programmed to associate any docu- ments with hyperlinks as spam, in which case the hiring manager will never see your application or resume. Hyperlinks can be useful and help you stand out, but only when they’re employed under the right circum- stances. • Include social media profiles. More and more companies want employees who are familiar with social media, which can work to an applicants’ advantage or prove detri- mental. If you have been responsible regarding your use of social media, conducting yourself in a professional matter and even benefitting your existing employer, by all means share these profiles with potential employ- ers. But if you have traditionally used social media purely as a social tool and not in a professional manner, then it bears little relevance to your job search and likely won’t help you stand out for the right reasons. Standing out in a crowded job is rarely easy. But savvy professionals can employ a few tricks of the trade to stand out as they search for their next jobs. — Metro How to build a strong professional network Networking is often seen as a means to further one’s career, but developing a group of pro- fessional contacts can also be a great way for professionals to stay abreast of the trends in their particular fields, along with job openings, available raises and other opportunities. Networking also can benefit small business- es as they look to connect with vendors that can help them grow their businesses. A strong professional net- work is not built overnight, and many professionals spend years nurturing relationships with people in their networks. Individuals and business own- ers can take several approaches when building professional net- works they will rely on for years to come. • Ask around. Some individ- uals may hesitate to seek net- working advice out of fear of appearing opportunistic. But successful professionals under- stand the need to network, so your colleagues will likely be glad to offer referrals if they are in a position to do so. When receiving a referral, ask if you can use the person’s name, which should help you estab- lish a connection during the introductory process. Once the introduction has been made, it’s up to you to do the rest. • Get active in your industry. ly a built-in connection. You also won’t have to worry about the awkwardness that might come when meeting a profes- sional contact with whom you have less in common. Alumni organizations and local chap- ters can introduce you to people who earned your degree at your school, and many people love to help out their fellow alumni. • Employ social media. Social media is not just for kids. In fact, social media is a great way for professionals to make and maintain professional contacts. LinkedIn, for exam- ple, makes it easy to connect with fellow professionals who are looking to do the same. Twitter can be used to promote professional events such as seminars or workshops you are working with. These platforms can be used to grow your net- work quickly and easily, but be sure to vet each person you connect with to make sure you are affiliating yourself with the right people. Building a strong profession- COURTESY PHOTO Connect with people in your field to find mentors, build relationships and place yourself in a position to grow and thrive when the opportunity presents itself. Referrals are not the only way to develop professional con- tacts. Being active in your industry by joining professional organizations and attending seminars and other industry events is a great way to expand your network. Volunteer to work with professional organi- zations when possible or offer to host information sessions or educational workshops at your business. • Reconnect with your col- lege or university. Another great way to build a profession- al network is to reconnect with your college or university. When meeting people affiliated with your alma mater, the ice has already been broken in a sense, as the school is essential- FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST NEWS /S IUSLAW N EWS ❘ @S IUSLAW N EWS WWW .T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM 'JOE:063QBUIUPTVDDFTTBU-BOF $PNNVOJUZ$PMMFHFJO'MPSFODF Visit us at the Florence Community Job Fair on 5IVSTEBZ.BSDISEBNQN, in the Three Rivers Casino Event Center, to see what we have to offer! 0BL4USFFUtQIPOFtXXXMBOFDDFEVþPSFODF al network takes patience and hard work. But the right net- work can pay dividends for years to come. Seasonal & Extra Help Work! Lane County Public Works seeks seasonal & extra help employees for the Florence area. Both Roads & Parks will hire soon. Seasonal Jobs pay $13.69/hr. Extra Help starts at $10.63/hr. To apply, visit www.lanecounty.org/jobs. x Parks Seasonal work: Apply for 201700051. x Roads Seasonal work: Opens soon. x Extra Help (Parks & Roads): Opens soon. EOE / ADA Competitive Pay. Health Insurance. A Real Career Path. An Opportunity to Excel Excel. Join for a job. Stay for a career. Today: Tomorrow: Down the road: • Medical • Profi t sharing • Life insurance • Dividend bonus • Dental • Retirement Plan • Holiday & vacation pay • Retiree health benefi ts • Vision • Tuition reimbursement • Disability benefi ts • Wellness • Training • Maternity program - A C A R E E R T H AT - • Adoption Assistance Matters Learn More: www.lesschwab.com/careers
