Get a Job by Going Above and Beyond the Competition

Tips on Finding a Job >> Go Above and Beyond

Layoffs continue at a disturbing rate across the United States, and there simply aren't enough new jobs to go around for all of the newly unemployed. What does this mean to you, if you find yourself unemployed in 2009? It means you must go above and beyond to get a job in this economy.

Therein lies the theme of this blog post. In this lesson, I'll give you some ways to go above and beyond with your job search, thereby getting the attention of potential employers. Because let's face it ... with so many people looking for work, and relatively few jobs to go around, you'll need to work harder to stand out in 2009. The sooner you realize this, the better your chances of getting a job.

Here are three ways to stand out from the competition as you try to get a job in 2009:

1. Beat Them to the Punch

When I was a hiring manager, I paid the most attention to the resumes I received first. There are obvious reasons for this. When an employer first announces a job, there's a lag time before the first resumes start pouring in. This is true even in times with high job-loss rates, like we are seeing now. The first few resumes, therefore, will typically receive the most attention by the hiring manager. After that, the flood of applicant makes it harder and harder to stand out.

So by sending your resume as soon as possible after a job has been posted, you stand a better chance of being noticed. Of course, getting noticed is only the first step -- you still need to be qualified for the job and do well in the interview. But every little bit helps, and this includes being prompt with your resume submission. So keep a sharp eye out for new job postings, and have your resume ready.

2. Have a Better Resume

Volumes of advice have been written on the subject of resumes. So I won't belabor the point here. But I will say this. If you want to get a job in 2009, you need to have a resume that stands out from the competition. This means many things. Here are some of the more important things to keep in mind:

Make sure your resume offers a list of accomplishments (things you've done) and not just responsibilities (things you were expected to do). Employers don't want to know what your previous job descriptions were -- they want to know what you did in those jobs.

Also, make sure your resume is well written and organized in a logical way. The exact format you use is not as important as the readability. I have received resumes in the past that simply contained huge blocks of information with not organization to speak of. These went straight into the trash or the "deleted items" folder of my email. Regardless of what format you use, your resume must be easy to read and organized in some logical way.

3. Communicate More Effectively

Nobody gets a job based on a resume alone. Employers use the resume to narrow down the initial field of applicants into those they want to interview. In other words, they use the resume to check the basic skill and experience of applicants, in order to weed them out or move them along to the interview group.

Keep this in mind when you communicate with a potential employer. Whether it's by email, over the phone or in person, your communicate in a professional and intelligent manner. You probably think that this goes without saying, that it's an obvious point you already know. But you'd be surprised how many people can't communicate effectively anymore.

I think it has a lot to do with the instantaneous nature of modern communications. Text messaging and hastily written emails have changed the way we talk to each other. But don't let this affect the manner in which you speak to employers. Be too casual or to terse with your initial communications, and it could cost you a job. I've received emails from job applicants who opened with such greetings as "Hi guys" and "Hey there." Too familiar, too soon.

Tailor your correspondence for each job. Avoid sending the same "boilerplate" email to every employer. Mention the specific job you are applying for in your first correspondence, and use your resume to show why you're qualified for that particular job. Open and close your email correspondence with a proper greeting and closing. Don't be overly casual this early on -- another bothersome trend I've seen among job applicants.

Whether or Not You Get a Job is Up to You

Can you get a job in 2009? Sure you can. Is it going to be easy? Probably not. There's going to be a larger pool of job applicants in 209 than we've seen for many years. So you'll have plenty of competition. But if you get your resume in early, and you outshine the competition in other areas of correspondence, you'll stand a much better chance of being the "chosen one."

Nobody else can do this for you. Websites like this one may offer advice and guidance. But when it comes to the hard work involved with getting a job, that part is up to you. Work hard at it. Treat the job hunting process like a full-time gig. Come up with ways to outshine the competition. Go above and beyond in every aspect of the process, and you'll get a job in the end.

Learn More: This blog post is part of an ongoing series of lessons. Visit the table of contents page to get more tips on finding a job.