How can you enhance your job search?

In one of the most challenging times, that I hope most of us will ever see in our lifetime. We are clearly seeing the impact of Coronavirus across the economy. With that, sadly the numbers of active job seekers has increased.

I've been reflecting on the conversations that I have had over the last few months and how you can differentiate yourself as a candidate.

I hope my thoughts will be beneficial to those searching for a role.

Ensure your CV is outcome focused.

If you are applying for positions online, you may have already seen the stats regarding the number of applicants for positions. One of the recent direct adverts I saw had 500 + people applying for a CPO role. I can assure you that there will not be 500 people suitable for that role (this will be the same for many other adverts).

So, when you do apply for a role and the employer / agency is screening those CV's. How do you cut through all the noise?

You need to ensure your experience is evident (as silly as this sounds), relevant to the market (think change related) and importantly tangible - Think ROI.

Many of the CV's I see (even at an HR Director level) aren’t outcome focused and can resemble a JD. Think about your achievements. What most employers will want to know in the current market is what is the return on their investment? The easiest way is to think of is I did ‘abc’ and what were the results / outcomes?. Ie, Created an in house resourcing model increasing internal service satisfaction to xyz% in 12 months alongside a reduction in spend of £xyz YOY

Start ‘solution selling’ across your professional media

Definition - "A solution selling process differs from a more traditional processes because, instead of just pushing a product (active job seeker in this case), the seller (candidate) focuses on a specific issue or problem the prospective customer (employer) faces and suggests corresponding services or products to solve that issue"

If you do this, then are already providing potential employers with reasons why YOU can solve their problems.

The LinkedIn posts I am seeing are mainly about what the job seeker is looking for - ie, Immediately available HR Business Partner, Head of HR with x, y, z sector experience. I understand that there is a need to create 'noise' but, there is nothing that makes you stand out from others creating the same posts. I know it’s an exceptionally challenging market but you have to be the one to stand out. Remember cut though the noise...

Again, think - Immediately available Head of Talent Aquisition with experience in xxx, proven success in creating in house resourcing models, increasing internal service satisfaction to xyz% in 12 months alongside a reduction in spend of £xyz YOY.

Finally, be kind to yourself

I have 15 years experience of recruiting HR professionals and this is unlike any crisis I have seen HOWEVER on the positive side we now have more tools available to us such as LinkedIn (which I don't recall during the Financial Crisis?!!) to support job seekers with obtaining roles

But where we now have access to the internet 24/7, you also need to remember to be kind to yourself . I truly do understand when you are needing a role, that the focus is on obtaining a position. But you can’t do this day and night.

For many, finding that next position has now become a full time role so it may even be useful to even block out times for particular activities, ie updating with agencies, revising your CV, searching on LinkedIn / job boards, blogs / LinkedIn posts etc so that you can assure yourself that you have had a productive day regardless of outcome. Give yourself some breaks away from your search - you may even find that when you get to interview you perform better for it.

At Frazer Jones we are starting to see some green shoots appear both from the roles we are actively working on, and from our network moving into new positions. Be positive, stick with it as it it will happen!

Good Luck