Many job seekers have started to feel a lot of pressure in finding employment these days. There seem to be fewer jobs being listed and when they finally do find something that matches their qualifications and send in their resume, they are rejected or receive no reply at all. Yet, they know there are people out there getting hired, so what is going on?
There is no denying that the job market has evolved greatly over the years. Employers are expecting more out of their potential job candidates. A four-year degree is no longer enough to let someone walk into a desirable position. They want to see that “something special” that sets one candidate apart from the rest. As a job seeker, that means having to figure out just what that something special is and making sure it is a part of their repertoire.
There are two powerful factors that make an impact on today’s job search, making it more difficult to land the right job.
The New Networking
Ask anyone who has been working for more than ten years and they will say that networking has changed greatly from when they first entered the workforce. It is less about the number of business cards picked up at a conference and more about the size of a person’s social presence online.
Being part of a networking site like LinkedIn means more valuable connections for job seekers. Having the right people in a social network can open doors easier and even take a job seeker in unexpected- but fruitful- new directions for their search.
A Wider Selection
Many companies have made changes to their organization and have slashed the number of employees, sometimes by half. This means that there are a lot more candidates flooding the marketplace.
There are companies that are less concerned with having a high employee count and instead look to having the people on board who are going to drive the company branding in the right direction. They want a team that can carry the same workload with less people and will be looking for the people who can do just that.
What To Do
The first step is to acknowledge that landing that job is not going to be a walk in the park. It is competition and each job candidate has to bring their A-game if they want to have a chance.
Next, work on the network. Build bigger circles. Spend time cultivating those relationships so that there are more opportunities to move forward in the job market. Cultivate a strong, professional online presence through social networks, blogs, and industry-related content.
Shake up your resume. Look for the keywords that a company looks for when they are combing through looking for the best candidates to bring in for an interview. Trim the fat off and be sure to include only the achievements that matter to the company because it will help them with present challenges. Also, create a great cover letter that makes it eager to bring you in for a meeting.
Finally, gather information. There is so much available out in the world that there is no excuse for a job seeker to walk into an interview without knowing more about a company than the name over the door. Know who the key people are. Find out what direction the company is heading. Look for valuable information that will make you shine by comparison to the other candidates.
The job market has changed along with the job candidates. Spend time understanding the challenges that many job seekers face and work to overcome those challenges. Cultivate yourself to be an ideal candidate and grow your network to help smooth the career path.