In a competitive job market, it’s crucial to stand out, so we’ve gathered invaluable advice from career coaches and hiring professionals. From documenting your success with reports to investing in continuous learning and networking, explore the diverse strategies in these fourteen expert responses to elevate your job search today.

• Document Your Success with Reports
• Engage with Recruiters Proactively
• Develop ATS-Friendly Résumés
• Upskill in Human-Centered Communication
• Embrace Resilience 
• Confidently Ask for the Job
• Customize Your Resume for the Role
• Create a Distinct Career Narrative
• Take Time Deciding on Job Offers
• Gain Career Clarity Before Applying
• Target Companies Aligned with Your Goals
• Directly Message Hiring Authorities
• Draft a T-Style Cover Letter
• Invest in Continuous Learning and Networking

Document Your Success with Reports

Salespeople, recruiters, and anyone else in a production-based role: Save or print every production report you ever get (on your personal computer, not your work computer), especially if it’s a report that shows you are crushing it. 

Without some means to validate your alleged success in future job hunts, you are just another one out of 10,000+ that tells potential employers, “Hey, I’m good at sales or recruiting; you can trust me. Don’t worry about why I’m looking for a job; I’m certainly not unemployed because of low production… trust me.” This does not fly in a world where literally every employer has been burned 10,000+ times before by people who had that exact logic/approach. 

I, like many recruiters, salespeople, HR people, got let go by my former employer two weeks before Christmas. This was a time when there were more recruiters, salespeople, and HR people looking for work at the same time than ever before. I remember seeing new openings posted on LinkedIn literally seconds before I hit “Apply,” and after refreshing the page, I would find out I was the 4,000th person to apply for that role, if it was even still accepting applicants two minutes after it was initially posted. 

The only, and I mean only, reason I was able to stand out enough to find work quickly was because I had five years’ worth of reports that validated my consistent top-three production monthly over five years (as well as annual billing of $2.5 – $3.5 million, annual gross profit of $1.2-$1.7 million, 80-133 average annual hires, filled order ratio of 37-55%, average time to offer for my candidates of 15 days with the shortest time being one day and the longest of well over a month). 

Nothing says “hire me” like reports showing that after what they pay you, they will still have made $1 million+ profit from you. Put yourselves in the hiring manager’s shoes and pretend it is your neck on the line and you cannot afford to make a bad hire. 

In terms of overall risk, would you rather hire the guy that can quantify and, most importantly, validate/prove what they have produced in the past, especially if it exceeds expectations, or hire one of the 10,000 people that says they can do it and want you to blindly trust them? 

Pro-tip: When possible, let the job poster/hiring manager know via a message on LinkedIn that you can do the one thing that literally not one other person in their pipeline can do (unless I’m on the job hunt): you can validate all of your production. You’ll get interviewed for at least 10x more opportunities than you would without those reports.

Matthew Jones, Senior Technical Recruiter, Deacon Recruiting

Engage with Recruiters Proactively

Recruiters are your best friend. If a recruiter reaches out, always reply to have a conversation. If they’re looking to fill a role that you think isn’t quite a match, let the recruiter know and explain what you are looking for. 

Ask if they’re filling roles that would be a better match. Likewise, if you’ve heard from recruiters months, or even years ago, you can circle back to them now. If they were once interested in you before, they may be interested in you again.

Adam Ross Nelson, Author, Career Coach, Data Scientist, Up Level Data, LLC

Develop ATS-Friendly Resumes

The old cliché “Finding a job is a job” is very true. Looking for work can be exhausting. It is important to not only stay positive but also to work smarter, not harder. Job seekers should learn about Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and learn how to develop ATS-friendly resumes. 

Keep the formatting simple; do not use pre-made templates, and remember that the keywords in the job description are key to landing interviews. Beat the ATS robot and land the job!

Laura Brown, Career Coach Coordinator

Upskill in Human-Centered Communication

My advice to job seekers right now is to upskill in the soft skills of interpersonal and intercultural communication. The world of work is becoming more globalized and borderless, and there is a fear that AI will make some job roles redundant. However, the one thing that AI can never replace is the need for human-centered communication.

AI has automated, and is automating, the workplace, which means humans are becoming increasingly needed to do the things AI can’t do, such as people management, persuasion, and creative thinking. These tasks require soft skills like adaptability, communication, critical thinking, workplace ethics, and emotional intelligence, which are what hiring managers are currently looking for.

Emily Maguire, Career Consultant and Managing Director, Reflections Career Coaching

Embrace Resilience 

As the founder of MyTurn, my parting piece of advice for job seekers is to adopt a mindset of resilience and continuous learning. The job search process can be daunting and, at times, disheartening. 

It’s important to remember that every rejection is not a step back but a learning opportunity. Stay curious, be open to feedback, and always look for ways to improve your skill set. Whether it’s through formal education, online courses, or self-study, make learning a lifelong commitment. 

This not only enhances your employability but also equips you with the versatility needed to adapt to changing industry trends. Remember, your career is a marathon, not a sprint; dedicate yourself to personal and professional growth, and the right opportunities will come your way.

Amit Doshi, Founder & CEO, MyTurn

Confidently Ask for the Job

It may seem obvious by the fact that you are interviewing that you’re interested in the job. Add extra power by summarizing why you’re the ideal candidate and ask for the job. Summarizing is easy if you already have notes you’ve taken in your meeting that highlight your qualifications.

Preparing to ask for the job starts before your interview, beginning with notes you’ve prepared ahead of time that highlight both your resume and the job description, where you are a qualified and excellent match for the position. Any advancement opportunities you bring are also a must. The interview is the perfect time to communicate what makes you the ideal candidate.

Make sure you take a moment to pause while you gather your thoughts and quickly review your notes, then share why you are the best choice by asking for the job.

As a former hiring manager, my experience was that candidates rarely went out of their way to actually ask for the job. When the choice came down to two candidates, the fact that someone took that extra step was often the necessary point in their favor.

Sharon Rose Hayward, Founder and Coach, Sharon Rose Hayward

Customize Your Resume for the Role

The current job market, with unemployment quite low, lends itself to very selective employers. This means that they will be very specific when identifying candidates, and they are willing to wait for the perfect candidate to come along. Job seekers should do their best to customize their resume and interview responses to the role that’s open. 

For example, if the position is for a Project Manager but you’ve been a Program Manager in the past, be sure to pull the more relevant details (sizes, budgets, and types of projects) about the specific projects you’ve led.

Theresa Balsiger, Vice President of Candidate Relations, Carex Consulting Group

Create a Distinct Career Narrative

Distinction is paramount in the modern employment market. Create a one-of-a-kind story about your career thus far, highlighting the ways in which your experiences have helped solve problems for previous employers. Despite coming from an unconventional background, a candidate I helped secure a management position did so by skillfully incorporating his volunteer work into his professional narrative.

You can’t discount the power of networking. Think of it more as a means to a goal than a technique to get others to connect with you on a deeper level. A colleague of mine followed up on a conference connection, which resulted in a recommendation for a position that was never posted publicly.

Last but not least, flexibility is key. Being open to learning and making changes is much appreciated. I helped a professional who was seeking a new position in a rapidly expanding business switch gears by taking online courses to improve her skills and stay current with industry trends.

Volen Vulkov, Co-founder, Enhancv

Take Time Deciding on Job Offers

As much pressure as you might feel, don’t feel like you need to jump into the first role you see, especially if you’re looking at a complete change of industry or role. And, more broadly with your career, take the time to make decisions. You have time; there’s no need to rush!

Tracey Beveridge, HR Director, Personnel Checks

Gain Career Clarity Before Applying

If you’re struggling to get hired, you may have forgotten the most important step in your job search: knowing what you want. When you don’t have career clarity, you’ll spend valuable time applying to random positions you don’t really want. Instead, take the time to reflect on your desired career path.

Once that’s clear, create a resume highlighting the skills you have for the position you want. Prepare for the interview by focusing on your relevant accomplishments, and network with people who are working in your field of interest. That’s how you’ll get noticed. When you know what you want, you can conduct a focused job search, apply to positions you genuinely want, and stand out from the competition so you can get hired quickly.

Priscilla Jabouin, M.A., THE CAREER PLEASURE COACH & DREAM CAREER EXPERT, My Map to Happiness

Target Companies Aligned with Your Goals

Creating a targeted list of companies is a key strategy for job seekers. By researching and identifying organizations that align with your career goals and values, you can focus your job search efforts more effectively. This approach allows you to tailor your applications and networking efforts to specific companies, increasing your chances of finding the right opportunity. 

Additionally, targeting specific companies improves your ability to find and receive referrals into the company, which often have higher conversion rates for job seekers. It’s a proactive way to concentrate your resources and maximize your chances of success in the job market.

Suzanne Ricci, Chief Success Officer, Computer Coach Training Center

Directly Message Hiring Authorities

From my observation, many professionals binge-apply to 40+ jobs daily and still don’t get anywhere. That’s because they send out generic applications and use the easy way most candidates use, failing to stand out from the crowd. If using LinkedIn’s Easy Apply isn’t getting you any interviews, chances are, your application is getting lost among hundreds. While platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed are made for convenience, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to go the extra mile.

A better option is to dig a little deeper and directly message the person in charge of hiring. As a recruiter, I always interview professionals who message me about jobs posted by my recruiting agency, as long as their profile seems genuine and relevant to the position. Your message can be two to three sentences long, introducing yourself and expressing your interest in the position you came across, along with your resume. As long as you’re not spamming their inbox, a brief DM with your CV attached isn’t something to overthink.

Joe Coletta, Founder & CEO, 180 Engineering

Draft a T-Style Cover Letter

Once you have developed a solid base resume, you should tailor your resume to each and every job application, highlighting how your skills and experiences directly align with the job description. Analyze the job description for keywords to incorporate into your resume, and weave in relevant key phrases. 

Make sure your accomplishments are quantifiable with numbers, dollars, or percentages, sharing how you helped a company make money, save money, and save time. The goal of the resume is to land an interview. If a cover letter is required, you can customize a T-style cover letter that includes what the company is looking for on the left side of the T and how you match on the right.

Lynne Williams, Resumes & LinkedIn – Executive Director, Great Careers Groups

Invest in Continuous Learning and Networking

In today’s job market, we are seeing many people looking for their next opportunity. Even people who are currently employed might be looking for their next opportunity, which is continuing to make the job market all the more competitive. 

One piece of advice that I have for today’s job seekers is to be a lifelong learner. Focus on your own professional development through continuous learning. Find ways to continue sharpening your skills and adding to your tool belt. Many employers are looking for those who have a growth mindset and who are resilient and adaptable. When you are investing in yourself and learning new skills, you are demonstrating your commitment to your personal and professional development. You are showing the employer that you are staying up to date on your skills and industry trends, which can translate well into your role with the company. By taking part in continuous learning, you will be able to showcase this during interviews. 

Whether you are job seeking or not, this next piece of advice is something everyone should be doing, and that is networking. This is especially important when you are job seeking, as building meaningful connections can open up doors. You can network through attending industry events (both in person and virtually), joining professional associations in your industry, and leveraging online networking platforms like LinkedIn. It can be uncomfortable to put yourself out there, but take it one small step at a time! Networking is a valuable tool to increase your professional circle. You never know when someone you are connected with might have an opportunity that is a perfect fit for you.

Mary Krull, SHRM-SCP, PRC, Lead Talent Attraction Partner, Southern New Hampshire University