Secrets for Getting Employers’ Attention

Last month we addressed Secrets to Attracting Top Talent, but what if you would like to be that top talent? Would you like to know the secret to being a sought-after employee? Why some resumes go to the top of the pile and others get tossed? Look no further than our Secrets for Getting Employers’ Attention:

1. Highlight your strengths through the employer’s lens. The best way to structure a cover letter (and, yes, a cover letter is a must-have) is to highlight your strengths and experience based on the job description the hiring company provided. Use this as your roadmap to apply your specific skills. This means every cover letter you will send should be customized, but this is a crucial step to standing out from the crowd. The basics of a good cover letter are:

• Salutation/date
• Attention-grabbing introduction (here’s your time to shine!)
• Summarize your skills
• Address specifics from the job posting
• Conclusion/tie back to opening
• Call-to-action: How you plan on following up

2. Put together a job search plan. Searching for a new career is a serious investment in your time. If you already have a job, then squeezing an hour in of searching each day and some significant time on the weekends should help. If you aren’t currently employed, you should be making your job search your 9-5. Need some help? As a job seeker, working with an agency helps you rise above the masses with a seasoned professional on your side that has a direct line to the hiring company. And, even if you choose not to work with a recruiting agency, it’s a good reminder that the hiring manager is most likely a very busy person, so don’t leave it to chance: Be sure to follow up with the contact for the position to be sure your resume packet has been received. Be proactive, not reactive.

3. Form relationships, not contacts. Asking someone if they are hiring isn’t as appealing as asking someone to meet you for coffee so you can learn more about their company. Will you get some no’s? Absolutely, but most people will be flattered that you care enough to get their insights and don’t just want to push your resume on them. Here are some tips to do it right:

• Whether you call or email, you have to be willing to ask for their help
• Be clear in what you want out of the meeting
• Get specific about what they can provide you (industry insights, what it’s like to work at the company, etc.)
• Be respectful of their time–ask for just 15-20 minutes to grab coffee and pick their brain
• Don’t say you want a job…even if you do
• Follow up with pleasant persistence

4. Remember proper etiquette. Even if the hiring company isn’t playing by the rules—you should. Go the extra mile. Send a prompt thank you note after any interview. To score the interview, you might even consider sending your resume along with a small gift or portfolio that will require a package to be delivered. This will help your resume stand out.

5. Don’t try to please everyone. Hiring companies are looking for what makes you unique, so don’t try to conform to whatever the job description is asking for—it will make you seem generic. Instead, effectively communicate how your skills apply directly to the open position. Infuse personality at every opportunity and ask tough questions. Remember, you’re interviewing them, too.