If it has been a while since you searched for a new career, you might discover that the job search process has become much more aggressive, and also more competitive due to the number of individuals seeking employment.

A job seeker must now be aggressive about the job search which means doing more than just sending off an application or your CV. Of course, you need to ensure that you have a strong cover letter and CV as a HR professional typically only spends seven seconds scanning each resume. Therefore, tailoring your cover letter and CV to each position you apply for will help the chances of land you the next step, the interview.

That said, sending a strong cover letter and CV is integral BUT it is not the only steps you should be taking during your job search. Since you can assume that there are at least ten other individuals applying for the same position, you need to find ways to stand out from the crowd. Once you have applied for a position, follow up with the company to see where your application stands. However, this requires a balancing act, and as a guide you should only follow up once unless otherwise told to, as calling too much will put you in the pile of “bothersome” applicant. Following up and speaking to a HR representative shows that you are truly interested in the position, and going the extra step. When all of the applicants who have applied have similar traits or experiences, calling after submitting your application might help you get into the “to interview” pile.

Another way to follow up after submitting your CV is checking your professional network and seeing if you have connections directly to the company you applied for, or if anyone in your network knows someone in the company. Word of mouth and networking events will help achieve this, but also using social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook will make the process even faster. Look on LinkedIn to see if the company has a company page, and look at the profiles of HR representatives for the company you are interested in, and see if you are somehow linked and connected to any of them. Use these social media advantages to find some sort of link or connection to the company that you want to work for, and ask your network for an introduction.

In conclusion, these days a job search requires an individual to spend a fair amount of time researching and following up with positions that they are interested in receiving. A CV explains what you did and what you are capable of, but personally following up and using your networking skills to make connections shows why you are the one that should be selected for an interview and offered the job!

Need Career Advice email us careerhelp@signaturestaff.com.au

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