How to get the job, faster (part 1): 6 ways to stand out in a crowded job market

7 mins, 9 secs read time

Recent graduate, switching careers or re-entering the workforce? Literally hundreds of applicants are wondering how to get the job in a fiercely competitive job market. Many job candidates are overwhelmed with brainstorming new and clever ways to stand out.

Nothing’s working.

Don’t worry – we’ve rounded up six practical tips to help you stand out and land your next job fast.

1. Leverage your network

Whether you’re a new graduate or have an established career, you likely have a network of professionals around you. And, as we have all been told for years, your network is your most valuable too when trying to figure out how to get the job. Here’s why.

Even with a small network, you can access a wider network through your connections. They may know someone hiring, work somewhere looking for your skills or connect you with mentors who can get your name in front of the right people.

The people in your network can also fast-track your resume to the right person within their organization or refer you directly to the hiring manager. Referrals are one of the best – and fastest – paths to “Offer accepted!”

Another benefit of a strong network? Public recommendations. Ask trusted connections to leave recommendations on your LinkedIn profile so recruiters and hiring managers can quickly see that other people value your unique abilities.

Pro tip: When asking for recommendations, be specific about what you want – like any data tied to your performance – and offer to write a recommendation for them.

2. Build your personal brand

Imagine a sea of people, all in black suits. Now imagine that you’re wearing a vibrant pink suit. Your personal brand is that pink suit – what makes you stand out among the thousands of other job candidates.

And when strategizing on how to get the job you want, your ability to stand out as a job candidate is crucial. The best way to do that? Create an unforgettable personal brand that’s a mix of professional skills, work and life experiences and personality traits that define you – like being quirky, bold or wildly creative.

Here’s how you can do just that:

• Be authentic. You want to show up professionally but remain true to who you are. There’s no one like you, and your personal brand should reflect your uniqueness and be grounded in your core values.
  
  

• Differentiate yourself. You may be a designer, but do you take a novel approach or specialize in illustrative design? Identify what makes you different and showcase that.
  
  

• Show up consistently. Create a consistent brand across all your social channels, but don’t forget to show up consistently, too. You’re always building your brand, which means engaging with others and posting content regularly.
  
  

• Be visible. Recruiters scour the internet, especially social media, to get a sense of who you are. If you’re not visible online, it’s much harder for them to find and get to know you. Your personal brand doesn’t do much if no one can see it.
  

Greenhouse’s very own Kaylee Chappelow has built a solid personal brand, highlighting what she does, her passions and her fun personality.

Pro-tip from Kaylee: “Videos often perform well on LinkedIn, because they’re engaging and break up the monotonous feed of text and static posts. Your posts don’t have to be focused on your specific job – let your authenticity shine by providing advice that resonates with your audience.”

Remember, your personal brand is how you market yourself to potential employers (like a giant billboard). It should reflect who you are and tell recruiters what they need to know about you, from what you do and who you are to what makes you unique.

3. Showcase your data-driven accomplishments

While professional soft skills (or what some would formerly refer to as “soft skills”) like teamwork and communication are vital to job success, most applicants already have these skills. They don’t necessarily stand out or help recruiters understand why they should interview you.

But hard data, like stats or dollar amounts, can.

Jessica Delorenzo, Vice President of Global Human Resources at Kimball Electronics, recommends including specific “details about projects, accomplishments and value added by your qualities and strengths.”

Make these skills clear on LinkedIn and on your resume. Applying for content marketing roles? Did you create and promote an ebook that increased email signups by 34%? Stats like these show the value you bring – instantly.

4. Let your personality shine

Organizations don’t hire resumes – they hire people. Put you back in your resume by adding personal details, like:

• Hobbies that relate to the job you’re applying for

• Business-related books or podcasts you love

• Volunteer work or community involvement

You’re a bit limited by your resume because it’s a document primarily to summarize your experience. But your cover letter? This is where you can connect with the company on a human level. Balance professionalism with your personality through:

• Your tone

• More conversational language

• A strategic dash of color (depending on where you’re applying)

• Personal stories that relate to the job also give the hiring manager a better idea of who you are

• Showing that your life experiences are connected to the work you’ll be doing

And yes, we know there’s a debate on whether the cover letter is really necessary. The short answer is no, it’s not. But when done right, it can be an opportunity to get a leg up on the competition.

5. Incorporate keywords throughout your resume

As if job searching wasn’t tough enough, we’re living in the world of artificial intelligence (AI). Now, you sometimes also have to battle with applicant tracking systems (ATS) that parse resumes – when algorithms extract information and store it in a searchable database.

Some people-first ATS platforms like Greenhouse don’t do this. Why? Not all systems parse data accurately, leaving qualified candidates behind and making figuring out how to get the job all the more challenging.

But that doesn’t mean keywords aren’t important. Keywords help hiring managers find candidates with relevant work history and expertise quickly. They also show that you can clearly tie your experience to what they’re looking for.

At Greenhouse, recruiters manually scan your resume to ensure a human determines whether you’re qualified. But keywords make it easier (and faster) to determine if you’ve got the necessary skills to do the job. Use the keywords you see throughout the job description.

6. Create a strong online portfolio

Online portfolios give companies an idea of the work you’d do if you were hired while showcasing your most successful work. To create a portfolio that truly stands out, include:

• Real projects you worked on

• A personal introduction that goes beyond your education and experience

• Samples of your best work – don’t include every project

• Awards you received or credentials you’ve earned to prove your skills

• References that speak directly to your talents

How to update your resume quickly

Instead of doing a complete resume overhaul every time you apply, create a resume template you update periodically. It’s easier and more time-effective to make small changes as they come up. Make updates when you:

• Get a new job, certification or degree

• Want to add new skills

• Have updated contact information

• Want to change the format or how you present information

Once you have a strong template, consider using AI or resume builders like Resume.io to make job-specific changes, like your summary or adding keywords. Both will speed up resume updates.

Figuring out how to get the job can feel incredibly challenging – the job market is unbelievably competitive. But there’s hope if you find a way to differentiate yourself from the sea of applicants. Use these tips, and, once you get that interview, read our next blog to see how you can nail it and land the job!

Want more actionable tips about getting a job fast? Read this blog to get advice – straight from recruiters.

See the advice