Candidates without professional references do have some options, though it takes a bit more creativity to satisfy this requirement without solid recommenders at the ready.

While it may seem odd to be job searching without professional references to recommend you, the situation is more common than you might think. You could find yourself wondering who to use when you don’t have professional references at the start of your career, as a college graduate or young professional. You could also find yourself without these valuable references if you didn’t perform well in your prior positions or failed to cultivate solid relationships at your former employer.

“It’s true that candidates see more job searching success when their applications are supported by a professional reference,” says Max Wesman, Chief Operating Officer at GoodHire, which offers employment background check services for companies. “But if you’re new to the world of work, finding someone to vouch for you is no small feat. Fortunately, there are other options if you can’t reach out to a former boss or supervisor.”

Here are some alternative solutions to help get you over the reference hurdle.

Think Outside the Box

There’s almost always someone who can vouch for a job seeker’s desired work behaviors, according to Nance L. Schick, Esq., an employment attorney-mediator based in New York, New York.

Schick recommends that when job seekers don’t have professional references like prior employers to ask to speak to potential employers, they can ask others who have supervised their work behaviors in some way. “For example, teachers can speak to behaviors such as attendance, timeliness of assignments, and quality of work,” Schick explains. “Likewise, athletics coaches can give insight regarding reliability, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.”

Other innovative reference ideas include asking an academic advisor for a club in which the job seeker served on a committee, or even a neighbor whose pet and home the job seeker cared for while the neighbor was away.

“Think about the job duties of the position and select references that can attest to your abilities to do the job,” Schick says. “That’s really what the employer wants, not necessarily to know whether you are popular or ‘a good person.’”

Use Internal References at Your Target Company

You have to start somewhere when it comes to building your professional references, particularly if it’s early in your career. With this in mind, Wesman believes that some of the most compelling references come from internal contacts who are already working for the company that you’d like to get hired at.

“To get a written recommendation from an existing employee, start by reaching out to them on social media or getting in touch via email,” Wesman suggests. While it may seem like a long shot to snag a professional reference from someone you don’t know personally yet, Wesman recommends focusing on building a genuine connection, withholding your request until you’ve had a few solid conversations to build rapport.

“Avoid making ‘the big ask’ immediately, but be clear about your intentions,” Wesman says. “Let them know that you’re interested in working alongside them, and that you wanted to reach out to learn more about what it’s like.”

By focusing on building an authentic rapport, it gives the internal employee a chance to learn more about who you are and what you do, so that when it comes time to ask them for a reference, they’ll be more likely to go out of their way to help you land the role.

“As an added bonus, you’ll already have a great contact at the company if you are accepted for a position,” Wesman says. “This should make onboarding an easier and even more exciting experience.”

Get Personal

A truly “professional” reference—meaning from someone who knows your capabilities in a work context, such as a former boss or manager—is understandably preferable to most employers as a business reference.

That said, desperate times may call for desperate measures, and using a personal reference may have to suffice. If you can’t drum up a solid professional reference, or even a teacher or professor who’s familiar with your work style and accomplishments, then it shouldn’t hurt to request references from personal acquaintances.

Eran Galperin, who is a marketer and Founder of Gymdesk, which provides bespoke software for management solutions, suggests that you might ask a family member or family friend who may work in a similar industry to the one you’re applying for.

“If you’ve volunteered with a local community group or [nonprofit], they may be able to provide a reference on your good character and work ethic,” says Galperin, who employs contract remote workers and freelancers worldwide.

“If you’ve done some work on Fiverr, helped a friend fix their computer, or have an Etsy shop with great reviews, all of those examples of your dedication, creativity, and professionalism can help you convince a potential employer that you’re a hard worker who is worth their time to hire.”

The post Who to Use When You Don’t Have Professional References appeared first on Job-Hunt.

If you have substantially more work experience than is required for a position, some employers may count you out, assuming you’re “overqualified” or have too much experience for a particular role. 

Who’s Considered “Overqualified”?

More senior-level employees may be the ones who most commonly find themselves in this conundrum, particularly when applying for a role that’s more junior than their current title.

For example, if someone who has management experience or an executive title on their resume applies for a position that’s staff or line level, they may find themselves being labeled as overqualified and taken out of the running for the job.

In some cases, “overqualified” label can be related to age bias, since older workers are more likely to have the depth of experience that worries hiring managers who are concerned about bringing in someone who has done far more than the job requires. Younger candidates usually won’t have enough time in the career trenches to be considered overqualified, which can put more seasoned candidates at a disadvantage when applying.

Why Do Employers Worry About Overqualified Candidates?

It may seem counterintuitive that some managers would shy away from hiring the person with the most experience in their industry. But one reason that hiring teams can sometimes be wary of what they perceive to be overqualification is that they may assume a highly qualified candidate will demand a higher salary.

Again, this assumption can carry overtones of age bias since younger, more junior workers with fewer qualifications may be willing to take a job at a lower salary, leaving people who are industry veterans at a disadvantage. 

Another reason why some employers may turn down very experienced applicants is that they may fear such candidates would be bored in the job. While it’s not necessarily true, the hiring manager may assume that if you’ve already ascended above and beyond what the position requires, it wouldn’t interest you for long, and you could end up a short-term hire that leads them to have to fill the role again in short order.

How to Overcome the “Overqualified” Label

What can you do to demonstrate that being overqualified doesn’t mean you aren’t a great fit? Try these strategies to successfully override the “overqualified” label.

Explain Your Career Goals

Not everyone who has made it to management level wants to stay a manager forever. If an employer is concerned that your past experience in more senior roles means you’ll be bored in a line-level job, then communicating about what your goals are at this stage of your career can help.

For example, maybe after spending a phase of your career as a manager, you’ve discovered that you actually prefer being an individual contributor, which can allow you to hone in on more creative or technical projects in your industry, instead of coaching others to do this.

By explaining why you want the job that you’ve applied to, and how it matches your current career goals, you may be able to provide the reassurance that the hiring manager needs about your passion for the position. 

Emphasize How Your Deep Experience Can Help

The “overqualified” label assumes that someone with “too much experience” in a certain area won’t be a good fit for the job. Your goal as an experienced candidate is to prove to the manager how your depth of knowledge and insight in a specific role can be a huge asset to the team and company.

Draw parallels between what you’ve done in the past and what the employer described in the job listing. Share examples and specifics on how your longer range of experience makes you the best person for the position.

Reassure the Hiring Team

Knowing that the employer may be concerned that your price tag to hire you may be too high for them, it’s smart to reassure the hiring team that you understand the salary range for the position and are comfortable with it, if you really want the job.

While you may be able to command more money in a different role, it’s important to be competitive with the other candidates and not price yourself out of the market if you think your experience label may brand you as overqualified. A candid conversation about salary can clear the air.

Also, be sure to emphasize your keen interest in the duties that the job entails to assuage the hiring team’s trepidation that you might get quickly bored with the role.

Being labeled as overqualified isn’t always fair, and may be based in age bias. But if you take the initiative to address the employer’s trepidations upfront, you can give yourself the best chance to convince the hiring team that your qualifications are actually just right.

The post How to Successfully Fight the “Overqualified” Label appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Read on for advice from an informal panel of marketing experts, entrepreneurs, and executives about what really works when it comes to marketing your freelance services.

Launch a Website

Although it may seem like a no-brainer to start a website as a mainstay of your freelance marketing strategy, many independent contractors fail to follow this basic guideline, according to Robert Smith, Head of Marketing at Psychometric Success, which offers free practice aptitude tests.

“As an industry insider, I can tell you that this is a fantastic strategy for promoting your freelance business,” says Smith. “For those that work independently, a website or blog can serve as a portfolio, resume, and calling card all in one.”

Among the marketing tactics you can use on your business website include: 

• Explaining your freelance offerings
• Providing examples of your work
• Enticing potential customers to request a price 
• Keeping a blog, where Smith suggests “you may write freely about things that interest you and where you can come up with interesting, timely themes to write about that will attract a wide readership”

Use Blogging and Guest Posts

Speaking of blogging, this is another effective method for promoting a solo venture and can help you get the word out as a thought leader in your freelance niche.

Once you’ve started your own blog on your freelance website, try getting others to post on it in addition to writing your own blog posts. “The practice of having visitors post on your blog is an excellent method for promoting a solo venture,” says Andrew Priobrazhenskyi, CEO of the ecommerce company DiscountReactor.

Priobrazhenskyi adds that a practical way to reach new audiences with smart, useful, and entertaining content is through guest blogging on other blogs. “You may also use guest blogging to market your business in a positive light,” the CEO notes. “Yet this is not merely a chance for blatant self-promotion. Articles should be structured to provide readers with useful information.” 

Develop Your Pitch and Sales Skills 

Improving your sales acumen and pitching skills are two of the most important things you can do to promote your freelance business, according to Travis Lindemoen, Managing Director of Nexus IT Group, who has built and managed a multimillion-dollar IT staffing agency and has 15 years of recruitment and career consulting experience.

“Your sales pitch isn’t perfect unless you’re successfully closing 100% of your potential customers,” says Lindemoen. Since he believes that freelancers frequently overestimate the success of their business pitches and proposals, Lindemoen recommends starting by keeping tally of your proposal submissions, interviews, and project wins. 

Increase Your Online Profile Activity

In addition to your own website, you can strengthen your online identity as a freelancer by expanding your sphere of influence, sharing more content, and introducing your freelancing services to the online community, suggests Michael Hess, Ecommerce Strategy Lead at Code Signing Store.

Hess believes this can be as simple as taking initiative, starting some conversations, and disseminating useful information. “You’ve probably heard numerous anecdotes about freelancers successfully finding business via social media,” Hess says. “Using social media effectively is the key to unlocking a flood of new customers and expanding your company’s online presence.”

He adds that establishing a robust social media presence by always keeping your accounts current, publishing frequently, and interacting with others can be the key to effective advertising. “In terms of expanding your customer base and fulfilling your business goals, you can’t beat the use of social media management solutions,” Hess says. 

Don’t Be Picky About Clients

While veteran freelancers with established businesses have more leeway to be selective about which jobs they take and which clients they work with, Priobrazhenskyi advises freelancers who want to grow their influence and promote their freelance work to “constantly accept everything.”

“The digital sphere is ripe with prospects,” he explains. “You can’t afford to turn down work as a freelancer, especially from a potential new client. There is a risk of losing future freelancing business from the same client if you turn down a current assignment because it is too little or you are too busy. Furthermore, you could lose a prospective repeat customer.”

Priobrazhenskyi emphasizes that by always saying yes, you’ll maintain a satisfied clientele. He concludes: “They’ll stick by you and possibly even spread the word about your business.”

The post How to Market Your Freelance Business appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Here are four steps that can smooth your trajectory to the top.

Find a Mentor

Meeting and exceeding career goals usually doesn’t “just happen”—it’s a process that builds over time (or doesn’t) depending on your choices and actions.

One of the most prudent professional decisions you can make early in your career is to benefit from key workplace relationships with people who know more and may be willing to help you out. In particular, intentionally finding and forging business relationships with a mentor can help you achieve success in your company and industry. A mentor is a senior-level colleague who agrees to coach and advise you on issues in your job, company, and industry.

Sean Nguyen, Director of Internet Advisor, explained that when he first started out in the world of online work, he found it quite daunting—he didn’t know where to start, how to manage his time effectively, or even what jobs to look out for. A mentor changed that for him.

“Luckily, when I found my first online job, the CEO of the small business was willing to mentor me and help me to grow my knowledge and skills,” Nguyen said. “I used the knowledge that he taught me to improve not only in that company but in all the other businesses that I ended up working for.”

Seek Sponsors and Other Advocates

While many are familiar with the concept of mentors, sponsors and advocates can be even more instrumental to your career growth.

Sponsors and other advocates are generally even more invested in your career progression than mentors are. They use their own executive connections to help open doors for you while also helping to promote your strengths to others in the organization to create new opportunities.

Sondra Sutton Phung, Marketing General Manager at Ford Motor Company, recommends that young professionals secure a well-respected advocate, which she explains is very different from a mentor. “Advocates must believe in you enough to break down barriers that will inevitably exist in a large corporation,” said Sutton Phung.

Join a Career-Related Community

In addition to the individual relationships you create early in your career with senior-level mentors, sponsors, and other advocates, finding a community of like-minded professionals at different levels of their career can help fuel your own growth more quickly—while helping you enjoy the process more too.

“It’s really difficult to grow your career if you’re off on an island by yourself—you need other people and they need you,” said Jo Harris, a Conversion Copywriter and Business Coach who has over a decade of experience as a remote digital marketer.

One of the easiest ways to seek a professional community is to join an online group that caters to your industry, either through a social media site like LinkedIn or Facebook, or through industry-specific associations and organizations.

Apply Your Passion

Having the best advocates and community in the world won’t advance your career if you don’t do your part to excel. Sponsors will only want to recommend you if you stand out as exceptional, and colleagues in your professional community won’t think of you for opportunities if you come across as bored or negative about your work life.

“However tempting it may be with remote work, forget about quiet quitting and doing the bare minimum,” advised Nathan Brunner, CEO at Salarship, a job search engine for candidates who want to find low-competition employment opportunities. “Pay some time to research the industry and be aware of its latest changes. Take extra time and extra projects, if it’s possible. Remember that good things never come easy, and hard work always pays off.”

Brunner believes that another smart thing you can do to grow your career is to find something you’re truly passionate about. “If you don’t love what you are doing, you will never be able to work at your full potential,” Brunner concluded.

The post 4 Steps to Grow Your Career as a Young Professional appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Keep in mind these key points that executives need to be prepared for and plan for when job searching.

Search With Clarity

Linda Shaffer is Chief People and Operations Officer at Checkr, a leading HR technology company, where she handles the people and legal teams. Based on her extensive experience in hiring and doing HR for hybrid teams, Shaffer believes it’s important to have a clear understanding of what you’re looking for in an executive position.

“What are your goals and objectives? What are your top priorities?” Shaffer said. “Knowing this will help you to narrow down your search and target positions that are a good fit for you.”

Consider Hiring a Coach

As you think through the answers to those questions, it may help to have a guide.

Bonnie Whitfield, Human Resources Director of Family Destinations Guide, suggests that if you haven’t had any professional coaching before, the executive-level job search would be a good time to start.

“A coach can help you polish up your resume and cover letter so they’re ready for prime time,” Whitfield said. “They’ll also help prepare you for interviews with questions like, ‘What is your greatest strength?’ or ‘What is your biggest weakness?’ The answers will come more easily after working with a coach because they’ll give you examples of what other people have said in similar situations, so that you can use those same words to answer questions during an interview.”

Know Yourself

Another area where a professional coach can help is in understanding what you bring to the table as a job candidate.

Senior-level managers have a career’s worth of experience and skill-building under their belts, and as an executive job seeker, you need to be able to distill your background down into key selling points about your expertise and offering.

With this in mind, Shaffer emphasized that it’s important for executive job hunters to have a strong understanding of their most significant qualifications and experience. “What makes you stand out from other candidates? What are your key strengths and weaknesses? Be prepared to highlight your qualifications and sell yourself to potential employers,” Shaffer said.

Research to Align Your Skills With the Company

In addition to knowing yourself, you also need to understand what the hiring manager is looking for—and ensure there’s a fit.

Kimberley Tyler-Smith, an executive at the career tech platform Resume Worded, reminds executive candidates that not every company operates the same way or requires similar skill sets from their employees.

“Some companies may want executives who are more focused on strategy,” Tyler-Smith said. “In contrast, others might prioritize people who can get things done quickly and efficiently—it all depends on the company’s needs. This is why it’s essential to do some research before going in for an interview, so you can be sure that your skills and experience align with what the company is looking for.”

Grow Your Network

When you’re at the executive level, it’s not just about what you know—it’s also about who you know, according to Whitfield.

“It’s important to be aware of that and make sure that your network is as strong as possible when you’re searching for a new position,” Whitfield said.

She added that exec job seekers should keep in mind that networking isn’t only about reaching out to people who may be able to connect you with opportunities—it’s also about being open to connecting with those who may not have a job opening directly related to your current career path at the moment but who could still become valuable mentors or contacts down the road.

Be Prepared to Negotiate

At the executive level, you have ample experience in the last stage of the job-search journey: negotiation. Leverage your career learnings about advocating for yourself and what’s important to you in an offer.

“When you do finally receive a job offer, be ready to negotiate salary, benefits, and other important factors,” Shaffer concludes. “Don’t accept the first offer that comes your way. Try to negotiate for the best possible package.” 

However, as experienced as you are and no matter how well you advocate for what you want, it may still be necessary to have a backup plan.

Tyler-Smith pointed out that while many companies are interested in having experienced executives on their teams, not all are willing to pay top dollar for that experience. “If you’re looking for a new job as an executive, it’s essential to be prepared for this possibility and create a plan B if it turns out that your salary expectations are too high for the role,” she concluded.

The post 6 Executive Job Search Strategies appeared first on Job-Hunt.

If you just jump into job seeking with zero planning or preparation, though, you’ll be selling yourself short and hurting your chances to land a new opportunity. Here are some critical steps to help you thoroughly prep for a job search.

Review and Revise Your Current Resume

While online applications have become standard, the traditional resume is not dead and will still be required for the foreseeable future as a key part of most organizations’ hiring practices.

If it’s been a while since you’ve read your resume with a critical eye, be sure to do so as you prepare for a job search. At a bare minimum, you’ll need to add your current position to your resume, noting not just start and end dates but your responsibilities, key accomplishments, and numeric stats that help quantify your success in the role.

Beyond that, though, use this as a time to improve your resume by tailoring what you emphasize on it to the new job and company that you’re applying to. For example, maybe you’re keeping the same role but switching industries, which requires that you review and revise your current resume content to best highlight your specific experience that’s most relevant to the new industry.

Visit and Vet Your Social Media Profiles

The number of recruiters and hiring managers who rely on candidates’ social media presence as part of their evaluation process keeps rising. A recent report from SourceMob found that practically all recruiters (94%) turn to social profiles to help them with their recruitment efforts. That means it’s essential for any job seeker today to ensure that all of their social sites showcase them in a professional light.

Since many social media sites are truly social and not oriented toward creating a professional presence, you should take some time to comb through your profiles and see what’s there. Review them with a critical eye, trying to step into the shoes of a hiring manager, and ask yourself, would you hire you? If you don’t feel you can be objective, ask a mentor or trusted friend to look over your social content. Consider archiving or deleting any posts that might turn a recruiter off and cause you to miss out on an opportunity.

Refresh and Reinvigorate Your References

Rare is the organization that doesn’t ask for professional references as a step in the hiring process, so you want to be sure your references are up to date. This means not just noting the names who you’ve listed as references, but making sure to touch base with those individuals to reestablish your connection with them if it’s been a while since you’ve connected.

Let your references know you’re starting a job search, and confirm they’re willing to remain as one of your references. Double-check their current contact information and their preferred method for a recruiter or employer to contact them. And remember to ask if you can reciprocate by helping them with a professional goal.

Consider Creating Other Online Content 

Besides online applications and resumes, other types of online materials can enhance your job search if you prepare them as part of your background materials. Some industries, like graphic design and advertising, prefer that candidates have online portfolios of their work or campaigns.

Depending on your role, you might also benefit from creating a professional website on which you can feature sample projects, client lists, and testimonials or positive reviews from previous managers and colleagues. You can also boost your career credibility by getting an article published in an industry magazine or on a website for your profession.

Boost Your Professional Skills

In addition to freshening your job search materials and references, also consider whether you might want to strategically boost your professional skills by taking an online course in your field. This can help with both hard skills, like learning new apps and software programs, and soft skills, like presenting and communicating more effectively.

It may seem like a lot of work to prepare for a job search on top of actually looking for a job, but the effort can pay off with the results. By ensuring that your job search materials, references, and skills are up to date before your hunt for employment begins in earnest, you can position yourself much more competitively in the marketplace.

The post How to Prepare for a Job Search appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Consider these basic pointers on steps that can help you stand out and get noticed by your boss for promotion consideration—as well as a few actions to avoid.

Confirm What a Promotion Requires at Your Company

If moving up to the next level is on your radar, it’s smart to find out what it generally takes to be in contention for a promotion.

You may not want to broach the subject of a promotion during a job interview, since the employer might feel that you’re not interested in the current role.

A better time to bring up the subject with your boss is during your performance review. Your review offers a built-in opportunity to share with your supervisor your objective of earning a promotion; you can then request specifics about what it will take to reach your goal. 

Here are some questions you can ask your boss:

• What steps should I take in the next review period to position myself competitively for a promotion?
• Are there any stretch assignments that I can take on to prove my readiness for the next level?
• Is there anything that you would like to see me change in order to better prepare myself for a leadership position?

Put What You Learn Into Action—and Document It

Once you know what your boss expects to see from you in order to be promotion-worthy, start putting wheels in motion to deliver.

If you found out during your review that you need to be comfortable presenting to teams, then line up some speaking opportunities, either formal or informal, to gain experience. If your supervisor pointed you toward a potential stretch opportunity, carve out some extra time to take it on. Develop and practice any leadership skills that your boss suggested, and if you need training in specific areas, consider taking an online course to boost your skills.

As you execute on the action items that your company recommended, be sure to document your progress, noting dates of completion and milestones reached along the way. Be prepared to share your write-up with your manager at your next review, pointing out that you’ve followed through on the suggested steps toward your next promotion.

Ask for a Timeline

Once you’ve checked all of the items off the list that your boss outlined for promotion readiness, don’t be afraid to investigate what a potential timeline for advancement might look like.

While you don’t want to be too pushy about this, since it can backfire with your manager, it’s fair to request a general sense of timing. Your boss will let you know if it’s too soon to identify ballpark dates, but asking may help you find out whether a move up could be in the cards within the next review period, year, or multiyear period.

If you’ve done your best putting the steps above into action but still haven’t been promoted, don’t give up. There’s no predictable timeline to identify when someone might be due for a promotion, and it rarely happens overnight.

If you’ve played your best hand toward earning a leg up and feel stymied in your efforts after a year of trying, talk to your boss, or perhaps human resources, about your goals. Point out the strides you’ve made and ask again for clarification of what’s required to earn a promotion in your department and company. And remember, if you feel that you’ve proven yourself promotion-worthy, yet your current employer has repeatedly failed to recognize it, you can always seek a career boost outside of the company.

The post How to Get Promoted: 3 Important Steps appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Below are some strategies to use when planning your response to this classic interview question.

Get Real About Your Reasons

Formulating an effective response should begin by considering why you actually are interested in the job you’ve applied for. Assuming that you really do want the job, answering sincerely will make a better impression on the hiring team than saying something that doesn’t ring true. Think about what stood out to you in the job listing and what elements of the opportunity attracted you to the posting—and then frame your answer around those specifics.

For example, if you liked that the job ad emphasized working with a fully remote team and you have experience with success in a remote role, you might start your answer by emphasizing that.

A possible opener might be, “There are a number of reasons why I’m excited about the potential of working with your team, one of which is that I appreciate that you’ve kept your entire team fully remote, showing trust in your employees. I began working remotely when the pandemic started, and my productivity skyrocketed—I’d love to bring my experience as a successful remote worker to this position and help your department and company reach their goals based on what I’ve learned about effective remote working.”

Wrap the Company, Team, and Position Into Your Response

Once you’ve hooked the hiring manager into an initial reason for your interest in the job, don’t stop there—be sure to incorporate details about why you want to work for the company and team, as well as sharing your thoughts about the position.

This will require research on the front end to identify specific aspects of the organization that appeal to you, whether it’s the company culture or how the company stands out among competitors in the industry. If you would be working on a team, think on your feet about points you heard during the interview or anything you’ve gleaned from your initial conversations with the manager about the team’s dynamics, and address those in explaining your interest. Finally, hone in on the specific position and what intrigues you about it.

A sample answer might be, “I’ve admired your company’s culture from afar for a long time and have always felt that I would be a great fit for it. Also, from everything you’ve shared about the team I would work on, I know I could make a strong contribution based on my background to help round out the group with my skill set. Additionally, the job itself is right up my alley—as you may have seen on my resume, I have extensive experience in this role and feel that the way you’ve structured the position is a perfect next step for me to share what I’ve learned to benefit your group.”

Make It More About Them Than You

As you may have noticed in the answer above, it’s a smart strategy to bring your points back to what’s in it for the employer, rather than for you.

While you may have personal reasons for wanting the job, the hiring team will care more about how your expertise can benefit their department and company than about how the job will benefit you.

Avoid saying something like, “The benefits in this job are incredible, and that’s really why I want to work at the company,” or “I live right down the street from your headquarters, so it’s an easy commute for me.” By making your answer more about the manager’s, team’s, and company’s needs than your own, your answer to this question will be much stronger.

If in doubt, think about what you’d like to hear as a hiring manager about why a candidate you were interviewing wanted the job. If you can provide a genuine answer that addresses the needs of the hiring team and organization while showing how your career background can help the employer reach their goals, you’ll wow your interviewers.

More: How to Answer “What Can You Bring to the Company?”

The post How to Answer “Why Are You Interested in This Position?” appeared first on Job-Hunt.

What is it exactly that allows your job application to make an impact in all of this noise? Is there something extra you can do—a one-page resume, an objective on your resume, or a specially formatted cover letter, for example—that will grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers?

According to certified Career Coach and Resume Writer Dawid Wiacek, Founder of Career Fixer LLC, these kinds of bells and whistles aren’t what it takes. “The truth is, you don’t need any of the above for (many) job applications,” Wiacek said. “I have clients who come to me asking for a one-page resume because their two- or three-page resume wasn’t working. But when we really examine their longer resume, it’s not the length of it, but it’s the quality of the resume that is lacking.”

The same concept holds true for other parts of your job application, including your cover letter.

How to Get Noticed by the Hiring Team

Here’s Wiacek’s expert advice on how you can increase the chance of your resume and cover letter being noticed by the hiring team.

Get the SEO Right

On both your resume and cover letter, be sure you incorporate the right phrases, skills, and keywords—meaning they must be relevant to and match the job description of the job to which you’re applying.

Make Your Case Early On

Don’t save the best for last in your cover letter and resume—share what’s most important for employers to see in the top third of page one of your resume and cover letter.

“Make it abundantly clear at the top of your resume (the headline, the marquee, if you will) that you have already delivered value to prior employers, and that you will do the same,” Wiacek said.

Include Numbers, Not Just Words

The job applications that pack a punch are those that include metrics, percentages, and concrete, quantified accomplishments.

“Instead of writing ‘Improved efficiency of creative workflows,’ consider ‘Achieved 30% efficiency boost by implementing system upgrades and introducing weekly, cross-departmental check-ins.'”

Polish Your Social Media Presence

Make sure you have a complete, updated, and polished LinkedIn profile that matches the details you share in your resume—at least mostly.

Wiacek maintains that if there’s too much delta between the resume and LinkedIn, this could be a red flag in the eyes of the recruiter.

Build Your Thought Leadership

Do you post relevant content and innovative ideas on LinkedIn, or are you a passive professional? Do you attend conferences (whether online or in-person) and speak at them?

Thought leadership—sharing your expertise through publications and speaking about industry issues—can help you stand out.

“Recruiters will be snooping around on LinkedIn,” Wiacek explained. “They will be impressed if you’re a thought leader.”

Network, Network, Network

Arguably as important as what your application materials and social sites look like is your skill at networking. It’s making connections with others in your industry that might be what helps get your job application into the right hands, which can move it to the top of the pile.

“Before, during, and after applying, reach out to current or former employees,” Wiacek said. “Do so tactfully and gracefully. Ask politely for a finite amount of time: a 10-minute phone call within the next week is a more realistic ask than, ‘Do you have an hour to speak tomorrow?’”

Leverage Informational Interviews

Wiacek believes that informational interviews are one of the best ways to get your application noticed because you can then ask for tips and referrals.

You can also make note of who you spoke with in your cover letter: “After talking to several of your employees, including [name], I am confident I am a strong culture fit and can deliver tangible value [XYZ].”

Take the Time to Get Noticed

The steps you take on the front end to get your job application noticed take longer but will be time well spent.

By being intentional in how you prepare for and present your candidacy, your resume, your cover letter, and your other job materials, you will rise above the fray.

The post How to Get Your Job Application Noticed appeared first on Job-Hunt.

That said, landing your first job out of college can be challenging in any job market, so it helps to be prepared with some best practices to improve your chances of success. Here are four tips for new grads to land a job they want. (And be sure to check out our sister site, FlexJobs, to search for remote entry level jobs and learn more about the top high paying entry level jobs).

Approach Your Job Search Like a Job

Your first job hunt as a college graduate presents a perfect opportunity to set a schedule and structure that mirrors the work environment. Don’t just send out a few resumes haphazardly and call it a day—take the time to organize your job search systematically, and block out specific hours of the day for each task that you’ll do.

For example, while you may not want to spend a full eight-hour day seeking work, it’s not unreasonable to earmark four or six hours a day for this process. Your schedule might look something like this:

• 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Peruse job search sites and targeted company websites for opportunities. From this review, make a list of three to four positions you can apply to.

• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Draft one to two cover letters based on the job ads you’re interested in. (See the step below on how to tailor each cover letter.)

• 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.: Take a lunch break.

• 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Submit one to two applications via online job portals or company websites.

Rethink Your Resume

If you haven’t updated your resume since your high school days and it features jobs you did as a kid, then it’s time for an overhaul.

While you may not have significant professional work experience yet, there’s likely more relevant, college-level experience that you can replace this with, which will be more impressive to employers.

Have you taken on internships, held positions in school organizations, or volunteered in ways that showcase your leadership skills? If so, list these on your resume. Online classes and certifications, conference attendance (either virtual or live), or business experience gained through college coursework are also legitimate to include.

Tailor Each Cover Letter

A poor habit that many job seekers of all ages develop is “boilerplating” their resume and cover letter—in other words, simply replicating the identical copy for each employer, changing only the date and the name of the hiring manager. This is a mistake, since the cover letter is your best chance to show the employer why you’re a good fit for their position specifically.

Instead of just duplicating the language verbatim in every cover letter you send, use the job ad to help you customize the language you use when applying to each position.

For example, if one position calls for project management skills and another requires strong communication skills, be sure to address these points independently in their respective cover letters. That way, the employers receiving them will know that the experience you describe in your cover letter is particularly relevant to them.

Don’t Quit Too Soon

It may be tempting to ease up on your job search—and quit approaching your job search as a job—once you land your first interview. But don’t confuse the victory of jumping through an initial hoop as scoring the opportunity.

An interview is a positive sign that the employer is interested in your experience, but you may still have a long way to go before you learn whether you’ve been offered the job or not. There may be a large pool of other candidates who are also being interviewed, so don’t count your chickens at this stage.

Instead, keep the pressure on your job hunt even while interviewing for a position. For one thing, if you get an interview at another company and a competing job offer, you may be able to use this as leverage with the first employer. Informing the company that you have an offer on the table can lead to a counteroffer, a higher salary, and a quicker resolution to your job search. 

More: How to Find Entry-Level Jobs: A Complete Guide

The post 4 Tips for New Grads to Land a Job appeared first on Job-Hunt.