Candidates want to stand out from the crowd as much as possible when they look for a job. Most people think that grades matter greatly for being able to land a “good job”. According to HuffPost, “colleges are the first to tell you that you need more than a degree to get hired.” This means having a unique resume and a strong job search strategy in order to stand out from the crowd of applicants. Building a resume that showcases who you are, and strategies for finding the jobs that best fit your experience and work style, are the two best tips we can give for looking for jobs.
Components of a Resume
One of the major questions employers ask potential candidates is “Why should we hire you?”. This is when a well-designed resume comes in handy. You want to update your resume every chance you get. There is no limit to the frequency. Major components of a resume include the following:
Education
Understanding what expertise applicants have is key for recruiters to know which applicants will be prepared for the job they’re applying for. Recruiters give priority to candidates who have at least received their undergraduate degree. Candidates who have received their advanced degrees are a bonus for organizations, as those people demonstrate an even higher level of specific and expert knowledge in their fields of study. However, that’s not always the most important aspect when it comes to fitting a job description. Not all candidates go on to advanced studies, but gather experience through work or other education or certification programs. As a potential employee, you want to show that you have the skills and knowledge for the job you’re applying for.
Extracurricular Activities
Education may be a strong foundation and priority for gauging applicants’ abilities, but it should not be the only priority when it comes to applying for a job. Recruiters want to be reassured that there is more to an applicant than just their studies and degree. Education isn’t the be-all-and-end-all for applicants. It should only define a part of your resume. Recruiters want to see the other sides of the people they’re hiring in order to gauge whether they’ll fit the company culture.
Examples of such activities to highlight could include college clubs, spiritual activities, volunteer work, athletics, and other common interest or skill groups. Partaking and sharing the activities you participate in outside of your education and work experience will not only boost your resume, but it will also give the recruiter a more positive impression of you. Such activities also help you grow emotionally and spiritually, as they teach you how to work in a team, handle tough situations, and prioritize your time between all of your activities.
Previous Employment Experience
Having prior work experience shows that you’ve worked to get the skills to be a powerful candidate in the applicant pool. This allows the candidate to feature the most important accomplishments in their work life. Highlighting tangentially related prior experience especially helps when it comes to standing apart from other candidates applying for the same job. Employers want to hire candidates that can bring a fresh perspective to the organization. Similar past work experience can help candidates get ahead in the job they want to pursue, since they already have relevant knowledge for the work at hand.
Internships are a great gateway to exploring employment opportunities, but only if they’re feasible for you financially. Many people start partaking in internships and apprenticeships in high school to build a story for their application for higher studies or jobs after graduation. These short but impactful experiences give you the opportunity to explore the working world. These short-term jobs provide basic foundational skills that participants might like to pursue in the future. Gaining this work experience helps you build a network as well. Connecting with other interns and apprentices will give you an inside scoop on the variety of employment opportunities available and the vast spectrum of people who might work in the same field as you.
What Do Candidates Look for in a Job?
Location Preference
Location and any moving or travel requirements for a job are crucial to understand during the application process because they could impact your work-life balance and job satisfaction. Job location is one of the key elements employers highlight in the postings because new hires will be either be moving their whole life to a new area or working remotely for a company. This is a great opportunity to look for jobs in places that you’re interested in learning about or exploring. If the office location is in a major city you’re unfamiliar with, you might want to move there in order to work for the organization while also experiencing and learning about a new area and location. On the flip side, you might want to look for organizations that allow you the flexibility to work remotely as well. This way, you can work from the place you currently live, or have the option to move somewhere else, and continue keeping up with your employment and work.
Work-Life Balance
When it comes to the overall job, job applicants are always trying to gauge the work-life balance. We all know that there is a life beyond the office. But finding that balance between what you do for work and what you do outside of work is always a delicate process. Work-life balance indicates knowing yourself and the work you have to do in order to find a happy medium based on your limits and work style. Looking at employee reviews for a workplace can show the variety in experiences when it comes to work-life balance and workplace culture. Reading these during the application process can help you understand what individual, team, and management supports exist at the workplace to support you in the position you’re applying for.
New hires and established professionals alike want to be able to leave work at the office and not bring it home at the end of the day. Building good work habits take time and experience, as well as a supportive management and company culture. According to Forbes, “maintaining work-life balance helps reduce stress and helps prevent burnout in the workplace.” Mental health is just as important as physical health in work productivity and focus. There are several ways to encourage work-life balance as an employer, such as encouraging mental health days, supportive management and HR structures, and gathering feedback from employees for addressing any gaps in their support.
Career Growth
A new job means a new career path. People change jobs for a variety of reasons, one of which is a desire to work on something different. Employees want to accomplish goals that can help them grow both personally and professionally. Otherwise, they may feel stagnant in their current work. It is crucial for an employee to have opportunities to broaden their horizons so that they can continue to grow at the place they currently work, or they might find new opportunities outside of their current workplace. The key is to speak up about interests and opportunities you might be interested in. When a candidate applies for a new job, they want to ensure that the company values match up to their own professional goals.
What Makes a Company Stand Out from its Competitors?
All businesses want to be unique and different, despite being in the same field as their competition. According to Forbes, the best practices for making your business stand out include providing outstanding customer service, admitting to mistakes and being willing to fix them, being honest about your products and services, having the ability to be creative and come up with something new, embracing the idea of giving back, offering incentives and writing a blog. All of these methods make an organization stand out to customers and potential employees alike, so make sure to review all of these when deciding where to apply and work.
Conclusion
Employers want to understand what exactly candidates are looking for in a job. PxidaEX can help you create surveys to gather feedback along the hiring and onboarding process in order to understand how new hires are responding to your company and organization’s culture and systems as they learn them.