Looking for a New Position? Here Are 5 Ways You Can Outshine Other Job Candidates

When trying to find a new job, it can feel as if you’re in a competition where the qualifications are made up and the rules don’t matter. Not only can this be frustrating, but it can also take a toll on your mental health, especially when you put in what seems like hundreds of resumes only to hear radio silence in response. If this has been your experience, it may be time to switch up your approach so that you can stand out from other candidates and finally land the job of your dreams.

1. Show Off Your Knowledge

Showing off your knowledge is exceptionally important if you want to stand out to potential employers, and you don’t want to leave anything out even if you think it may not be relevant to the position you’re applying for. For example, if you have experience inspecting and testing fire protection systems, which need to undergo specific inspections and tests in monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually, and at five and 10-year intervals according to the NFPA25 Code, you’ll want to add this to your resume. The same rule applies to any specific software that you may be proficient with that could potentially be beneficial.

When showing off your knowledge, you’re not going to want to hold back or downplay your skills to make yourself seem humble. The main point of your resume is to highlight and emphasize the things you are good at, so be sure to give yourself credit where it is due to help set yourself apart.

2. Rewrite Your Resume

To help outshine the competition, you should also consider updating your resume regularly to ensure that it is up-to-date and easy to read. Hiring managers will gravitate to resumes that are well-formatted and with easy to find information. If you need help coming up with a good resume, it may be worth having a friend, mentor, or teacher that you trust to read through it. This can give you a good source of feedback that you can use to find areas that need the most improvement.

3. Network Efficiently

Networking can also be an invaluable tool that can help give you an edge over other candidates. LinkedIn, a social media site hosting over 500 million business and career professionals, can be a great tool for this, and it can help you connect with many professionals and opportunities that you might not have known about otherwise. Networking can be a great way to help yourself outshine other competitors, as it can give you the benefit of connecting and building a professional relationship with others who can help you get your foot in the door in the field you want. If someone has knowledge of your abilities and trust in your ability to perform well, they will be more likely to extend a job offer to you rather than someone else.

4. Don’t Forget the Cover Letter

Cover letters are a dying art, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook them as they can be a great way to introduce yourself to a company. Your cover letter should be personalized to the company you’re applying to, and you should make it a point to do some research prior so that you can tailor your letter to stand out. For example, if you know the responsibilities that your potential position could entail, make a point to mention skills you have that make you the best candidate. Be as specific as possible as to how your skills can benefit them, and emphasize that you are invested in making their company the best it can be.

5. Be Confident

Lastly, displaying confidence in your abilities can be yet another way to help yourself stand out. Hiring managers want employees who are sure of their abilities, as they will be more likely to succeed in their positions. Take care to never downplay your skills, and instead, proudly take credit for your previous accomplishments and skills.

If your appearance is causing you to lack confidence, you may wish to take steps to improve the areas that you feel insecure about. For example, teeth are a major sore spot for many people, and crooked or missing teeth can not only impact your self-confidence, but they can even impact your overall health. The Foundation for Oral Rehabilitation estimates that about 69% of adults aged 35 to 44 have lost at least one tooth due to gum disease, an accident, or decay. Moreover, 25% of those over 75 have lost all of their teeth. Getting problems like this fixed before heading in for an interview can help improve your self-image so that you can show up confident in your abilities.

Struggling to find a new position can quickly wear away at your mental health. However, by keeping these five tips in mind, you can start standing out to hiring managers and outshining the competition. While these may seem like simple changes, they can have the biggest impacts when it comes to landing the job of your dreams.