Setting Your Clients Apart In a Competitive Job Market

by Melissa Martin

As a bilingual career coach and job search expert, I meet with clients who encounter difficulty in landing a satisfying job that matches their talents, motivators and work personality.

Most job seekers engage in a “passive” job hunt, which rarely brings successful results. “Blasting” resumes endlessly and spending time exclusively on job sites does not constitute a successful job hunt.

Job openings are concentrated in the “hidden job market,” because employers do not want to incur the expense of advertisements or to wade through up to 500 resumes from one job posting.

In a fiercely competitive job market, how do you stand apart from other job seekers?

1. Establish your personal brand.

In a word, this means what makes you unique? What are you known for by past employers and customers? What do you do better than anyone else? Why were you hired at the last job? For more on personal branding, go to www.carolemartin.com

2. Limit your electronic job search to 1 hour a day.

Most job boards only have a 1-3% success rate. Use “aggregates,” which are sites which take job postings and combine them, such as simplyhired.ca and indeed.ca. You save a lot of wasted time using aggregates. In October, ad revenues for www.workopolis.com fell 26% and www.monster.com by 36%.

3. Make your resume visual and non-conventional.

Entice employers with logos, numbers, accomplishments and testimonials from past employers and supervisors. Testimonials originate from performance evaluations and from letters of reference or recommendation. They are a powerful tool to convince employers that you demonstrate value and uphold a professional reputation.

4. Use social media.

Recent studies show that 69% of Canadian recruiters used linkedin.com and 44% used Facebook to source to search “passive talent,” screen candidates and check for references. By using social media, you show employers that you have expertise in your field and are conversant with technology. Open a free account on linkedin.com or use your friends on Facebook to get help in your social network.

5. Be irresistable to employers.

Mail a handwritten, follow-up cover letter saying that you have prepared a slide of what you would do in 30 days. Presentation slides are free on www.interviewbest.com)

Or prepare a few before your interview to really “wow” employers.

Follow-up up with employers by convincing them that they can hire you at a discount (hiring you will cost less because you offer value in your area of specialization). Employers have a one-track mind: “make or save me money.”

Do competitive intelligence (what the competitor is doing).Impress employers with this “insider” information.

For more innovative job search techniques, make an appointment with Melissa today!

A leader in employment/career services, Melissa is a Certified Solution-focused Career Specialist.  She diligently tracks cutting-edge trends for which she has held sway amongst colleagues and employment/service providers. Recently, she became an “approved job search expert” on the reputable career site, www.careerealism.com and contributes her articles regularly. As the owner of a career coaching firm, Melissa offers strategic job/career coaching and counselling, personal branding, interview coaching and salary negotiation. She has empowered and motivated clients from the military, police, education, nursing, health, sales and retail fields. Clients who are in career transition, and who are undecided or confused are a specialty for Melissa.