Ways To Standout In A Job Search

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

For many interested in beginning their career in business, they must first develop the skills needed to receive their first job offer. There’s a misconception that certain opportunities to develop these skills are not given to high schoolers, however this is not the case. In fact, many business leaders, owners, and students advise those interested in business to gain experience at a young age. In short, developing your own identity and knowing your strengths and weaknesses can allow you to stand out in your next job search or business internship.

Here are 3 ways on how to leave an impression in a job search!

1. Leverage yourself by networking: In general, networking is the best way to introduce yourself as someone willing to fulfill given responsibilities for positions. Networking allows you to gain more knowledge on your prospective career field and lets everyone in your network that you are open for work. Through networking one can gain insights into a company's culture, values, and hiring processes. Engaging with professionals who work in your target industry can provide you with valuable information that can help you tailor your application and interview strategy accordingly.
2. Personalize your LinkedIn: LinkedIn has become the most prominent platform for recruiting and connects you to more than 1 million jobs across the world. It allows you to network and make connections but also to stand out to recruiters. Making your profile professionally visible and creative enough to develop your own brand to advertise yourself is a way to leave an impression. LinkedIn is not just an online platform where you can share your professional achievements, but also a place to advertise what is meaningful and important to you, creating a unique individual. 
3. Having one resume and one cover letter is not enough: As many businesses have grown throughout the years it has become more evident that when hiring skilled workers it’s important to take into consideration how they communicate and their expertise. One may believe that having a single resume and cover letter can highlight why you are interested in all the job positions. However, personalizing your resume to highlight what you can offer to a company rather than just listing how much experience you have accumulated is more important. Having different resumes and cover letters for specific job positions and only using experiences that correlate with the job, will help to secure a position. 

As young individuals it is best to look for experience as early as possible as it offers the ability to develop your business skills and establish relationships. Internships help by exploring different career paths. They can provide insight into business operations by letting you understand the standard tasks of companies. In addition, internships help build your resume, highlighting the duties and accomplishments you were able to achieve. Similarly, you will be able to understand your own preferences and enhance your skills. This will all give way to a more well rounded individual that will stand out in the job market.