With thousands upon thousands of layoffs, many people are seriously worrying about their future. I know what it feels like firsthand and have experienced losing my job many times.
I talk to and work with many individuals looking for work, whether that be looking to get hired as a new grad, changing directions entirely, or making a lateral move within the same industry.
No matter what you’re looking to change in your job, you’ll need to focus on these 3 critical tools if you want to get hired.
The process of getting hired is a roadblock that many individuals build themselves. While I agree that there are many factors to landing a new job, the 3 tools I’m about to recommend have been tested repeatedly by myself and always work…
Let’s say you’re looking to apply for a job offering 10 positions but with 500 applicants.
The chances of you landing such a job are slim right from the start. You have about a 2% chance to get hired, along with everyone else. Slim, I know. Your chances will then vary with your experience, training, skills, resume, cover letter, contacts, confidence, and so much more.
While all of these skills must be honed, practiced, and perfected, there’s one thing you can do right now to stand out amongst the crowd - think differently.
If you’re thinking like the other 500 applicants, your chance of getting hired is pretty much the same as everyone else. How will you differentiate yourself if everyone is sending in a resume the same way, with the same look?
This method will look different for every person in each situation, but let’s look at some ways to think outside of the box, so to speak:
The goal is to stand out, to be different, and to get noticed. You must separate yourself from the other 500 applicants with a memorable name. This could be a catchy email title, meeting face-to-face, or providing exceptional value from the get-go.
If you’re doing the same steps as every other person applying, you will get the same result…
Brainstorm ways to stand out, and put them into effect.
It’s not odd for me to talk to a new client or peer and find out they’re applying to random jobs in 10 different fields in 7 other locations.
They plan to “spam out” as many resumes as possible to get an email or call back, hopefully.
This rarely works and is a very ineffective way to get results because your market needs to be narrower. How could your resume and cover letter cover many industries, jobs, and markets?
It can’t.
When you try and focus on everything, you focus on nothing.
This is why narrowing your niche is so important.
By narrowing your niche, I mean to know specifically what roles you’re looking to apply to. This will be very specific and detailed.
What are the strengths of your resume and personal qualities? If you’re in tech, what skills suit what position is the best?
When you narrow your niche and what you’re applying to, you can tailor your resume and cover letter to be a better fit for these exact roles.
Let’s be honest. No one will want to hire a plumber for a job in tech or marketing. Ensure your resume and skills directly match or reflect your target industry.
Here’s another tip - target a specific industry.
So many people I talk to daily tell me they’re ok with any job. Applying to everything that has a listing. This will not be effective.
Know a specific sector and industry you want to get into.
This will take research, time, and energy up front, but it will save you time and headaches on the back end.
The third and final tool is the most important. And the one that has generated more jobs, interviews, and money in my pocket than everything else combined - referrals.
Referrals are responsible for the most jobs I’ve ever landed and instant credibility.
When you’re starting in an industry fresh out of school, generating referrals may be slightly more challenging. That’s because you haven’t invested time or experience to grow your network and expand your contacts.
That said, I’m sure you will still have contacts from family and friends who know who you are and what you’re capable of. So, don’t worry. Referrals are still possible at this stage.
About half of the jobs I’ve ever acquired have been from the power of referrals. These were people I directly knew and had a positive working relationship with, or a friend of a friend, or contact.
These referrals gave me an instant foot in the door, so to speak. I’ve been hired at multiple jobs without even interviewing - that’s how powerful referrals can be. When someone close to you knows what you value you bring, their word can be worth its weight in gold.
Referrals are great because they give you instant credibility, rapport, trust, and value. It’s an all-in-one package that immediately lifts you to a higher level.
Every job I’ve gotten a referral to, I’ve been hired. Either on the spot, with no interview, or through a short hiring process.
The primary way I’ve been able to generate so much traction through referrals is by working hard over years and years. There isn’t a quick hack or fix to get these…
It took me years to be seen and known as an expert, professional, hard-working, positive attitude, reliable, honest, and trustworthy.
But. once I developed these various qualities at multiple companies, it was known.
My goal has always been to do my best in my work and show up with a great attitude no matter what. If you can do this, you will get referrals.
Getting hired doesn’t have to be as challenging as everyone makes it out to be online. It can be pretty easy. By using and applying the 3 tools I’ve talked about, there’s no doubt in my mind you’ll get hired.
Follow these 3 tools and get hired:
These 3 tools have landed me more jobs than I can count. And I’m sure they’ll do the same for you!
If you’re struggling to find a job or want to make your next career transition, I’d love to assist you!
Click here to book a complimentary 45-minute Career Strategy Session.
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Chris M Wilson
Chris Wilson is a keynote speaker, CTI coach, and entrepreneur. Through his Hover to Fly framework, he aims to impact the next generation in their careers and lives.
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