Almost everything we do nowadays – from having fun to conducting a job search – has gone digital. It’s no surprise then that being tech-savvy is considered a trait everyone should have in order to effectively deal with day-to-day tasks and fulfill even the basic 21st century needs.
As expected, technology has dramatically changed the hiring process as well. Recruiters and HR specialists are developing and implementing new methods of finding the best candidate for any given job opening (not just locally, but worldwide) while speeding up the selection process to recruit the best for their companies in a fiercely competitive field.
To put it simply, printed resumes and face-to-face interviews just won’t cut it anymore.
Because of that, one could argue that new generations of job-seekers have a head start over their older peers. They’ve grown up using the latest tech tools and by the time they’ve finished their education and started their job search, most of them have already mastered using various social networks, mobile apps, online tools, software, and gadgets. Right?
Well, it’s not as straightforward as it may see. What was once a problem of discovering the tool for solving a particular issue, is now a problem of choosing the right one from the overwhelming number of offerings. And when you’re looking for your dream job, the ability to stand out from the crowd can be a game-changer.
Keeping in mind how today’s recruiters are doing their job, we’ve compiled the best and most useful tips to raise your chances of being noticed and ultimately selected no matter how old or tech savvy you are.
Here are 4 tips you can put into practice to make technology work for you when seeking employment.
Search Engines Are a Great Source of Information
If you know what you’re looking for and have a list of companies you’d like to work for, run a search on websites such as Google or Bing. Google Alerts can also be helpful if you want to be notified via email about all the news related to the keywords of your choice.
You can find out all kind of information about a certain employer – news announcements, company culture, issues in the industry, salaries, etc.
Armed with this knowledge, you’ll shine in an interview by showing genuine interest in the company and readiness to go that extra mile to achieve your goals.
Social Media Networking
From the HR manager point of view, your overall social media presence can be more valuable than a formal resume. That’s because we tend to share our interests, passions and everyday activities on social networks. Getting a glimpse of your personal life can be a decisive factor when you and another candidate are neck to neck.
If you’re job hunting, we suggest you review all of your accounts, remove anything that can be a red flag to a potential employer, and think twice before posting publicly.
You can also use social media proactively. Create new contacts on Facebook, follow interesting companies or industry professionals on Twitter, join groups on LinkedIn and Google+, and engage in conversations with like-minded people.
Even if you’re not too fond of social networks, we strongly suggest that you have at least a LinkedIn profile. This network basically consists of online resume profiles where you can integrate all of your professional experience and gain an edge over the competition. Furthermore, you can get recommendations and endorsements from the people in your network that can provide solid proof of your skills.
Video Interviewing, CVs, and Cover Letters
One thing you should definitely consider when trying to impress employers is becoming proficient in front of the camera.
Recruiters are increasingly using easy-to-schedule video interviews because it allows them to cut down on the time needed to select the right fit for the job. Make sure you’re prepared:
- Select an appropriate Skype profile picture
- Test the camera and the microphone beforehand
- Adjust the lighting and dress accordingly
- Isolate yourself from any sounds that can interrupt the interview and lock the door
- Write down a few key points you would like to address and have them behind the camera for easy reference
Once you become more relaxed in front of the camera, you should consider making a video resume, cover letter, or both. That way you can show your personality, demonstrate your skills creatively, and make a good impression that can get your job application to the top of the pile quickly.
And since YouTube is so popular, you can upload one of your more generic videos that you can easily share when the opportunity arises.
Take Advantage of Applicant Tracking Systems
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) were invented to help prospective employers automatically filter out CVs because appealing job postings attract a lot of job seekers.
You can raise your chances by formatting your resume text in such a way that any ATS will like it. Headings need to be easily recognizable, so there’s no room for being creative. Most importantly, read the job ad multiple times and pay attention to the keywords appearing more than once or that stand out in any way – then use all of them in your resume exactly the way they were written in the job ad. By doing so, the ATS will most likely choose you during the next selection round.
Conclusion
Because the evolution of the job search process speeds up with every new network, tool, and platform, it’s crucial that you stay ahead of the latest tech developments and use them to your advantage. If you follow the suggestions above, you’ll raise your chances to be spotted by prospective employers.
We wish you the best of luck in looking for and landing your dream job! If you have additional job-seeking tips to share, please do so in the comments below.