More Than A Number

The dawning of a New Year also starts the job hunt. Professionals on the general January job search sometimes tend to hold on to age-old practices and resume recommendations, which can sometimes have a negative impact in this process.

Take a look at these general job hunting issues encountered, see if they are relevant to you and then put into practice new and improved ones that can help accelerate your success in 2010.

Failing to evaluate the competition – most candidates make the big mistake of ignoring their competition in today’s wildly competitive market. Your skill is not the only thing that can help put you amongst the top choices for a job. You may have worked on a number of communication campaigns and most of them might have been successful, but so have so many others – they are your competitors. Against them, you might not even make it to the top five. Do not simply present your skills, do something extra, tailor your resume according to each job application – give companies a reason to pick you out of the applicant base.

Being clueless about your online identity – Currently, ignoring social media and online career making elements is a no no. Instead, make the most of it. Your digital presence could speak volumes of you – and ensure that they are all positive. It is one of the most crucial tools in today’s fast-paced world. A recent research indicates that close to 80% of recruiters used Internet searches to find out more information on candidates. Work up a strong, impressive social media profile that will push not only your qualifications but also your experience and your brand.

Ignoring resume trends – At this time, you just have to jump in and list down all duties and responsibilities of each job on your resume. Otherwise, the job market of 2010 is not for you. The achievements-based resume style is a trend that must not be ignored – and is an unwritten requirement amongst employers.