Helpful Hints That Will Help You to Get Hired

By Brian Jackson

Job losses in the US have now surpassed 40m, and now it looks like there could be a second wave of job losses as the US tries to recover from what could be one of the worst recessions the country has ever seen. We once lived in a world where employees had the upper hand, as jobs were openly available and opportunities were abundant. In a very short space of time, the job scene has flipped. Right now, the market is flooded with employee resumes and this is creating a very difficult situation. As the co-founder of BurstIQ, I’ve done plenty of hiring over the years, but right now we live in a very different world so it’s important to adapt. During this pandemic, BurstIQ has hired, and from the employers’ side the competition and quality of resumes were abundant. Like nothing I have seen before. Here I’ll share some of my tips that will help you to get hired quickly, by telling you what I look for when interviewing potential employees.

Have a Clean and Consistent Resume

It’s very easy to write paragraphs and paragraphs about yourself, hoping that something you say will resonate with your employer. Right now, you should be doing the opposite. You have to remember that every potential job opening is getting double, or even triple the amount of resumes. This essentially means that you have double the amount of competition. If you want to get the edge here, then you need to try and list your biggest assets. Sometimes, I would receive resumes that had so much text, it was hard to see what someone was actually good at. It’s very easy to overlook one or two essential key skills when everything is jumbled in a big mass of block text. I speak from personal experience when I say that it’s very easy to overlook some of the big benefits of hiring someone when the CV is not formatted properly, or when information is not condensed well enough. I’d also like to make a point of saying that one resume should not fit every job. Tailoring your resume is vital if you want to try and stand out from the crowd.

Stay Positive- Even in Uncertain Times

In previous years, it was the job of the employer to attract the talent. In this day and age, it’s your job to make yourself look like the best option. There’s a high chance that, even if you have all the right skills, you will still get rejected. This can be disheartening, and it can lead to you having a negative attitude. Although this is understandable, it can come across when speaking to potential employers so keep a positive mental focus and remind yourself that everyone is in the same boat here. Company culture is a big thing in smaller companies and no one wants a negative attitude in the team. The least you can do is hold your head high and know that the right opportunity will present itself. The sooner you can adopt this mindset, the sooner you’ll find a position you can be truly happy in.

Take your Time and Do your Research

Make sure to do research on the company and have a list of questions to ask that shows you know details of the company. Show some interest in what the company is doing. It’s also helpful to know who your interviewer is going to be, as this can give you an edge when it comes to making conversation. All of this combined, will give you a level of confidence in the interview as well, which can work wonders for your employability and professional image. When the market is so competitive, a personal connection might be the one thing that sets you apart.

Put Yourself Out There and Push Through Your Limitations

There’s a fine line between being egotistical and being confident in your abilities. Instead of rambling on about how good you are, show your potential employer how you are going to make a difference to the company, how you are going to help the business to push boundaries and also tell them why you are the right person for the job. Employers don’t want to know how they are going to help you, they want to know how you are going to help them. Remember, we are living in unprecedented times right now, so a change in approach is most certainly required if you want to achieve your true potential.

Be Honest

It’s easy to tell if someone is truly interested in a position, or if they just are looking for a job. I can personally tell in the first 5 minutes if someone is serious, and in that moment, I make the decision as to whether or not to carry on the interview or whether to shut the whole thing down. So, the first 5 minutes are very important. Keep a positive mental attitude and know that there may be other, high-qualified candidates applying for the job. The one thing that you can do is try and stand out by resonating with the employer on a personal level while basing your answers on a foundation of honesty, integrity, and passion.

The world has changed what seems almost overnight. No one planned for any of this or ever expected any of this. What is certain, is that times have changed. Over time, some things with change back and other things are here to stay for good. That being said, the job market has changed, and employees need to adapt with this change.