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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-
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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.
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An Opportunity to Excel
Excel.
Join for a job. Stay for a career.
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Tomorrow:
Down the road:
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• Vision
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• Wellness
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- A C A R E E R T H AT -
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Learn More: www.lesschwab.com/careers