It is challenging to self-motivate and apply for jobs after the hiring slowdown over the holidays, especially in a world where AI often vets you before you have a chance to introduce yourself to prospective employers. It can also be a turnoff when positions you apply for note that they’ve already received over 100 applicants or companies ghost you. You are not alone in the frustrating feeling of wondering if your resume even reaches a real person’s desktop. Here are some ideas that offer hope for your job search this year.
While it is difficult to move through job applications and feel like you’re not gaining any leads, you may now start hearing back from representatives for roles you applied for back in November or December. As companies get back into the swing of things, your phone may start to ring. Do not be deterred by the crickets from the year-end hiring freezes and your LinkedIn feeling like a ghost town. Instead, take this opportunity to go over your skills, your resume, and clear your voicemail. Embedding keywords and thoughtful descriptions for prior roles and achievements in your resume is paramount. Keywords are everything for the AI detection systems companies are using for recruitment, especially in the tech industry.
Self-Marketing Your Skillset
Your resume could be perfectly tailored to your future employer’s preferences, but it may never reach their hands if you don’t get descriptive. Companies want to know how many case filings you handle per week, how you contribute to your team’s projects, and what kind of budget you worked with. Paint a picture of yourself, including your daily and weekly duties. When describing ongoing projects, tasks, or client interactions, it’s essential to include the names of software, whether internal or external, down to workflow trackers and your team’s preferred communication app. It might feel trite or redundant to list these out, but AI systems pick up on these keywords.
You can also use this time while waiting for emails or interviews to add to your listed skills on Indeed or LinkedIn. If it has been several years since you were on the job hunt, you’ll notice that LinkedIn has added many new features, including a Skills tab where you can add a variety of skills. It’s important to include every Microsoft Office program you’ve ever used so your profile can appear in searches within your industry.
The Human Touch That Persists in Recruitment
Do not be discouraged by the initial AI scan, as many companies take pride in not relying on AI to sift through applicants and instead prefer a hands-on approach. It is still a good idea to tweak your skills and resume to include all your involvements and office programs you’ve used since fifth grade, but know that your resume will be seen by humans at companies that prioritize a more direct selection process, especially when accompanied by a cover letter or introductory email. The objective at the top of your resume is where you can truly set yourself apart.
Clarifying Objective and Your Cover Letter
In case a hurried recruiter tends to speed-read through resumes, it’s essential to list what you’re looking for and what you bring to the table right at the top within your objective. Just like drafting a cover letter, your objective can be adjusted to adhere to the specific role you’re applying for. If you don’t have an objective listed, try adding one on your resume within LinkedIn or Indeed so that what you’re looking for can be clearly specified. In addition to other helpful tools, many job search apps offer the function of adding a banner to your profile picture that notes you’re on the job search. This will help you get noticed.
Do not sell yourself short and submit a job application or email your resume without a cover letter. A cover letter is the best way to convey who you are and whether or not your resume will be worth looking at. It can also grant a window into your experience and your level of comfort in your current or previous roles. This form of self-marketing is essential, and it’s surprising how often that piece is overlooked in the recruitment world.
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there to inspire new hope in your job search. Text that old colleague “Happy New Year” to check in and keep building those connections on social media, since you never know when friends might post a new job opening. Never underestimate the power of networking and the resources that can come from engaging with your online community and congratulating others on their posts. Just like other social media platforms, job search platforms have algorithms that will bring you new opportunities based on your interactions.
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