Ninety-seven percent of people looking for a new role simply apply online using a cover letter, resume and references. The basics get you into a pool of candidates who meet the exact same requirements. With those percentages, it’s incredibly difficult to stand out. Here's how to get yourself noticed.
Stand Out Using AI & Human Connection
Using newly enhanced AI to help with resume templates, re-writes, grammar or researching keywords for LinkedIn is a dream come true for kickstarting editing your job-hunting basics. Writer’s block can hit the hardest when you are trying to create dynamic bullet points on your experience. Using ChatGPT, you can request a summary of your jumbled brainstormed set of experiences to use for a resume and cover letter. AI is a great way to begin writing an email or a note to Human Resources or the hiring manager.
Resume templates on various platforms help you stand out and reduce your time spent pecking through resumes. You can outsource this formatting work further on upwork.com.
If you get time back in your day using AI, allocate that time to creating a connection to a person who works at the firm you are looking to hire you. Become one of the small percentage of applicants to apply for roles online and additionally connect to a human being currently working at that company to rise to the top of the hiring pile.
Are you more likely to go to a restaurant that your friend or Yelp recommends? I love personalized recommendations by a trusted source, like a friend or colleague. The same applies to making connections to move along your career journey. When you are referred by an existing or former associate in good standing, the hiring team will take a much longer look at you to fill that role. I work with clients to send thoughtful and specific requests to employees on the inside to advance a hiring process.
How Google Helps Stay Ahead of the Competition in Interviews
Perhaps this original search engine is not considered AI, but its efficient information downloads are unsurpassed. Consider using my Google Alerts tip that I give all of my clients when they are looking for new roles or a career edit. Google Alerts can be created on any topic, curated in your inbox at the schedule you select. You can have industry information, job postings or trend alerts hit your inbox every day, week or month. Gathering a comprehensive list of trends in your industry makes you sparkle in interviews. When you are up to date on regulations or big changes and deals, hiring managers know you are motivated and intelligent. You can quote or send articles when you reach out via InMail on LinkedIn. Google Alerts track journalists who specialize in your areas of interest to simplify your information gathering over time.
Google’s search engine optimization is your personal news feed to your inbox with no limitations. Confidence is key and Google can be your best friend to supercharge your process.
Avoid Doomscrolling on LinkedIn by Meeting People
Rather than scrolling on LinkedIn for eight hours wondering who is out there wanting to hire you, simplify your search here similarly to using Google Alerts. Follow companies, industries and hashtags on LinkedIn for trends and industry experts. It’s easy to become active on LinkedIn by reacting to posts, re-sharing and commenting on articles you love or even posting accomplishments on your feed. Set a timer, no longer than 40 minutes, to thoughtfully interact on hiring sites.
HR professionals are everywhere on job platforms. Look for details HR directors share about their hiring processes. If they share a company email address where you can send your resume and cover letter, quickly hit send to them directly in addition to the online application process. Showing initiative humanizes a robotic process.
Reaching out to alumni of any organization you were a part of through InMail is flattering to the recipient. Be patient on replies, as it’s not always the platform people check constantly. You can find connection through alumni magazines published or tagged on LinkedIn. Use any tidbit to strengthen your reach-out strategy and leverage it to get a referral to a hiring manager or college. This is a process that takes time but is fulfilling when the networking works in your favor.
How to Meet Professionals on LinkedIn
Like dating, job searching is about sorting through the job-frogs before finding the right Cinderella shoe fit.
Using information you’ve sourced through alerts and follows, create connections by messaging employees in the department you want to work in. Sometimes email addresses are listed on their profile. I recommend purchasing LinkedIn Premium while you are in search mode to get access to messages from just about anyone.
Warm connections through any platform can kick off a new relationship. I counsel clients to use detailed language to kick off an InMail conversation with a one-sentence bio, another on why they are interested in an industry or company and concluding with what they have in common. Be certain to end your InMail/email with times you have open to Zoom or have a call. Open-ended requests to strangers will die on the vine instantly.
These details show effort and do the work for the person you want to meet.
Edit All AI Outputs Before You Hit Send
An AI-generated graduation announcement was delivered last week to our mailbox. The stiff language was easy to spot and its lack of voice from the graduate felt incredibly disappointing. If someone cannot thoughtfully edit the ChatGPT note, hiring managers notice instantly and tag you as lazy.
Take a moment to edit anything that AI generates on your behalf. Your career brand is depending on your authentic interactions with the human beings who will be working with you day in and day out. Embrace the benefits of AI, but remember that your unique qualities and human touch are what will ultimately set you apart in the job market.
