Dear Job Doctor,
I am a current college student seeking a part-time or paid internship for summer 2015. I have applied for hundreds of positions over the last two months; I notice many people that have been unemployed long-term are my competition for the same jobs. How do I market my skills?
Signed, Sasha
Dear Sasha,
Never before have job seekers had such a difficult time getting the attention of recruiters. In the growing job market, the requirements and needs of employers are changing daily. Job seekers must use “marketing” to win an interview and grab the attention of employers. Great candidates can get lost in the shuffle of emails and paper resumes. Here are a few marketing tips to help you get noticed by employers.
Create a public resume website. Use Blogger.com to create a professional website to post your resume, then invite hiring companies on social media sites to review your resume. Make it easy for recruiters to find you, include a 30-second video about your skills and experience on your website. Visit our sample resume site at http://www.myresume.jobfairgiant.com
Include company logos on your resume. Consider adding two familiar logos as a powerful statement to grab the attention of employers.
Expand your job search. Many candidates are focused on working for specific companies and often overlook executive search firms, temporary employment agencies, and contract placement firms. Companies have come to recognize that, when a position requires a somewhat unique set of skills and experience, it is best to hire a recruiting service to find the perfect candidate for long-term or short-term jobs.
Be an expert in your career field. You can become recognized and branded as an industry expert by writing and producing a newsletter. All you ready need to do is create a simple two-page newsletter, summarize a few topics related to your industry and print. Be sure to mail the newsletter with a copy of your resume and cover letter to employers you want to work for.
Forget to send your resume. Find a company you want to work for. Write a dynamic cover letter describing why you are the best candidate for the position available, pointing the recruiter to review the enclosed resume. Don’t seal the envelope and don’t insert the resume. The recruiter will assume your resume fell out of the envelope. Wait for the recruiter to call you and sell yourself as the best candidate. Be sure to include your telephone number on the cover letter.
Start a job club for your industry. The best way to find employment is through networking; job clubs can enable candidates to expand their network of contacts and serve as a community support group for other job seekers. Launch a job club for your specific industry such as Healthcare Professionals Job Club or Management Professionals Job Club, then invite local companies in your industry to meet and greet potential new hires. Partner with church or community centers to promote your club, they may donate meeting space.
Good Luck, Happy Job Hunting!
CJ Eason is The Job Doctor. She is a recruiter, resume repair expert and director of community outreach for JobFairGiant.com. Email jobdoctor@jobfairgiant.com.