Are you ready to look for your next job? Recruiters are looking for certain things when they interact with job seekers. If you can display these things, you can increase your chances of finding your next job. Here are five things that recruiters want to see from job seekers.
1. Customized Application Materials
Sending the same resume and cover letter to every company may save time, but it’s not an effective strategy. Recruiters can tell that you’re firing off generic application materials, and it doesn’t impress them. To stand out, customize your application materials for every job.
Tailor your resume for every job that you apply to. Highlight your relevant skills and experience, and remove anything that isn’t relevant. Write your cover letter from scratch for each job, and relate your experiences and skills to the job posting. This helps you stand out from other applicants.
2. Specific Accomplishments from Past Jobs
When recruiters scan your resume, they want to see specific accomplishments from your past jobs. If your resume just lists your job duties, recruiters can’t get a good idea of what kind of employee you’d be. It’s harder for them to distinguish between people who go above-and-beyond at work and people who don’t.
To show that you’re a good employee, list specific accomplishments from your past jobs. Accomplishments can include things like getting a promotion or award, being frequently complimented by customers, or answering more calls per hour than others in your position. Think hard about how you excelled in your past jobs, and make sure your accomplishments shine through on your resume.
3. Strong Soft Skills
When recruiters meet with job seekers, they want to see strong soft skills. Soft skills include things like confidence, empathy, and patience. They’re often thought of as personality traits, but these skills can be learned and improved. Your soft skills determine how well you’ll get along with others in the workplace, so they’re essential for many jobs.
You can show off your soft skills when you get an interview. Recruiters will ask questions about your past work experiences, like how you resolved a disagreement with a boss, and your answers will help evaluate your soft skills.
4. Professionalism
Professionalism is essential for success in any job, so recruiters always want to see professionalism in job seekers. Professionalism includes things like not having typos on your resume or cover letter, showing up to the interview in appropriate clothes, and using manners that are appropriate for the workplace.
Your social media profiles also fall under the umbrella of professionalism. Search your full name in search engines to see what comes up, and delete unprofessional pictures or adjust your privacy settings to clean up the results. If you don’t already have one, create a LinkedIn account so that recruiters will be able to find your professional presence online.
5. Honesty
Recruiters always want to see honesty from job seekers. Since there’s so much competition for jobs, it can be tempting to embellish your experience to make yourself look more qualified. This is a bad idea because it’s not hard for recruiters to find out the truth. They can easily call your references or ask you prying questions about your experience to get to the truth, and if you’re caught in a lie, you’ll ruin your credibility.
Instead, always be honest on your resume, cover letter, and in interviews. Draw attention to your experience and skills that are relevant to the job, and put your best foot forward by being professional. By being honest, you can find jobs that are a good fit for your skills without hurting your credibility or your future.
