Helping Them Find You-How to Be Seen By Employers

Much of looking for work is about marketing yourself. How do you differentiate yourself from the competition (i.e., the other people going for the same jobs you’re going for)? How do you communicate your greatest contributions to a company creatively and concisely? How do you decide what company is worth applying to?

We have some ideas. They aren’t exhaustive, but we’ve walked closely with a lot of young professionals. We’ve hired and we’ve fired. We’ve helped people find their fit. We’ve helped people identify their strengths and we’ve helped them overcome their weaknesses. Our ideas don’t guarantee that your phone will start ringing tomorrow. They don’t get into the weeds. But they will provide you with a few advantages as you look for the right job.

1. Stay Active!

Post articles you’ve written. Share articles written by others. Follow blogs written by people in your industry and keep your followers aware of good information. Follow good conversations and good ideas and invite others to engage with the content. Make connections for people who you think should meet and provide a common ground for them to share ideas. Endorse people and their work. Give others opportunities for new things. The more active you are, the more chances you have to be seen. And the more you’re seen as a contributor to good conversations and good content, the more you’ll establish trust and authority. When your new potential employer inevitably Google’s you, they’ll like what they see.

2. Change Your Language.

Rather than talking about yourself as someone who is looking for a job, position yourself as an expert. Don’t tell the world that you’re interested in construction. Talk about optimum building designs or new construction industry ideas. Don’t exclusively talk to HR managers and think about the potential in each contact. Talk to the technicians…the professionals at a company. If you’re at a job fair where you’re talking to a potential employer, don’t ask about current positions. Ask about what they love and what they are excited about. Ask about company growth within the context of strategy.

3. Show Your Cards.

Don’t be afraid of your weaknesses or of something that looks bad on your résumé. If you had a job that only lasted 4 months, prepare that narrative for the questions that are certain to come. Write a blog on it. Mine that experience and find the value and lessons that it gave you. Candidates that have had negative work experiences can establish rapport by reflecting on lessons and showing growth and self-awareness. And as it relates to your cover letter or résumé, consider including statements like, “Works best with clear expectations and deliverables” when referencing a weakness.

Hiring managers are constantly thumbing through applications. They’re taking risks on new people and trying to find new ways to evaluate them. Remember that a company wants someone who will help them grow; who will be trustworthy and honest. If you can show up on their radar, you’re more likely to show up on their payroll.