Here’s a couple of tips sourced from educational influencers and TikTok creators, that will help you stand out when applying to jobs!
First, let’s take a look at the style of resume that you chose and decide what’s best for your goals. On one hand, we have the traditional style that almost everyone starts with and uses. There’s nothing wrong with this style, in fact many jobs will prefer that you have as much detail, with the simplest layout in the resume as possible! On the other hand others may argue that a colorful, modern-styled resume will help you stand out from the bunch, especially when applying to more creative careers in the communications field. The most important part in your decision is to make sure that your resume reflects your professional vision! Once you have your main points solidified, you can always change your resume slightly to fit the job you’re going for. Remember to keep it organized, keep it clean, and highlight your skills!. You can find templates for different styled resumes on Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and you can even find some free ones on Canva.com.
The next step is to take a closer look at the content on your resume. Sometimes the vocabulary that’s used can be repetitive for the employer. Just imagine how they must feel reading the same phrases over and over again! So how can you differentiate yourself from other candidates by using just words? Elevate the language that you use to describe the skills you already have! For example, if you are looking to get your first entry-level position in your professional field of choice, but are worried about a lack of relevant experience, the best thing you can do is re-word your skillset! For example, according to @erinmcgoff these are some lines that can help you take your resume to the next level;:
- Did you ‘work the cashier’, or did you master the POS (Point of Service) system to handle payments ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 per shift.
- Did you ‘make food’ or have you prepared raw food materials to cook over 30 menu items to feed 1,000-3,000 customers per day.
- Did you ‘follow covid protocol’ or did you uphold all local COVID-19 safety protocols including increased sanitization, enforcing mask policies and ensuring a limited capacity.
Although we may have started with jobs not necessarily in our field of choice, that doesn’t mean that the work that we did should go unnoticed! All of these skills and more lend themselves to customer service, being front-facing and able to handle crisis’ under pressure, as well as showing strong leadership; all of which are important skills to have in the communications industry.
Finally, let’s talk about the end of the interview. A lot of times an interview will end with the employer asking you if you have any questions for them – and YES, it’s always important to ask questions. Asking a question is a great way to gauge whether or not the interviewer is interested in you, and show your passion for the position. It can be about the interview itself, competitors, or company environment/requirements. One great question suggested from @allifromcorporate0 on Tik-Tok asks “How would you define success for this role within the first 30, 60 and 90 days?” Another question that can help pinpoint what the employer is looking for in an interview round comes from @johnsfinancetips, ”Based on the conversation today – what hesitation do you have for me moving forward in the interview process?”
Here’s a bonus tip on answering the infamous “Why should we hire you” question – to which you should respond with whatever their requirements were for the position. So if they were looking for someone with specific skill sets or experience in a certain area you can reiterate that information directly from your resume and add some of your own ambitions into the mix.
Now that you have an idea of how to prepare and showcase your skills , it’s time to apply it to the real world and see if the job hunt ends a little earlier!
