You have an impressive résumé, great interpersonal skills and relevant job experience, but why aren’t potential employers scrambling over themselves to hire you?
The truth is, there is a large group of candidates who share your traits and qualifications out there, and they are all vying for the same position you are after.
Here are 5 steps to help you stand out from the job-hunting crowd and land that dream job!

Step 1: Clean up your social media profiles

For a start, be careful what you post on your social media profiles. All it takes is a few seconds for savvy employers to Google your name, only to find photographs of you in a drunken state on your latest night out. Those, along with inappropriate remarks tweeted by you last week. Often, employers turn to social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook to obtain details of a potential candidate which would otherwise not be revealed in a regular résumé. Sure, you can configure your privacy settings, but can you control the amount of information your friends share about you?

Even if you are not on a job hunt, chances are, with inappropriate information posted on your social media profiles, you may even lose your current job. So think twice before clicking that share button! You should also ensure that your profile photo looks appropriate – ideally, you should be fully dressed and not engaged in any activity that may make the potential employer think negatively of you.

Step 2: Network, network, network!

When it comes to job hunting, networking plays an important part. After all, it is not simply what you know, but also who you know.

If you are already participating in traditional networking activities such as industry-related events and gatherings, good for you. Make your presence known amongst your peers – give out your card and at the same time find out if the others are hiring.

Those of you who prefer to network online, know that social media is a double-edged sword. Whilst it can ruin your chances of being hired by the company of your dreams, it can also effectively land you a job. Popular professional networking site, LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/), allows you to connect with friends and co-workers, and explore the possibility of a new career opportunity. Meet other professional individuals within your industry – even better, specific individuals from the company you intend to work for! In addition, if the company has an established online presence, all it takes is a few simple searches on Facebook or Twitter for relevant pages or accounts. You would be surprised at the amount of information available.

If somehow things do not work out the way you want them, there are always job portals such as JobStreet (http://www.jobstreet.com.sg/) and JobsCentral (http://jobscentral.com.sg/) offering thousands of job vacancies daily. Be proactive, and you will find what you are looking for.

Step 3: Be creative – Visumé vs Résumé

Have you heard of the video résumé? Also called visumé, a video résumé gives you an edge over the other candidates who choose to submit their application via the traditional paper résumé way. A visumé is basically a short video which lasts about a couple of minutes, starring you. Introduce yourself as you would on your paper résumé, and show off your pleasant disposition to the potential employer! To get your foot in the door before someone else does, you have to create a brilliant visumé.
Try these tips when attempting to make a visumé:
(a) Dress for the job you want (at least from the waist up, in this case). It may be a video, but it certainly does not mean your potential boss would appreciate seeing you clad in pajamas. Wear a nice shirt, just as you would to a proper interview. Girls, wear makeup!

(b) Make sure you have a good camera. You do not need a multi-thousand dollar camera to make a good visumé; you just need one that takes a video clear enough for the potential employer to identify what you look like, and how you sound.

(c) Speak clearly and loudly, and maintain eye contact. Enunciate your words! There is no point in creating a visumé if you mumble your way through. No one is going to understand what you are saying. Maintain eye contact by looking straight into the camera, the way you would look at your interviewer.

For those of you who are interested in exploring the possibility of creating your own visumé, check out PreVView (www.PreVView.com) for more tips on how to get started.

Step 4: Know your target, sell yourself

As cliché as it sounds, knowing your enemy is indeed half the battle won. It is therefore important to know enough about the company of your dreams. For example, if you are interviewing for a position at Messrs White & Desker, make sure you know the workings of the organization and who the top people are. When the interviewer asks you to name the current partners of the firm, don’t be quick to reply, “Isn’t that obvious? Mr. White and Mr. Desker, of course!” They may in fact be the late founding partners. It may seem a minor blunder on your part, but your lack of knowledge on the firm will likely not reflect well upon yourself.

Now, redeem yourself by selling yourself as the perfect match for the company while remaining completely honest. It is crucial that you do not lie your way through the interview, because you will be found out. Compile all your strengths and market them well – you may be a problem solver, a team player and a great coordinator, but you should also back these qualities up with actual accomplishments. Obviously, no one is perfect. Have a couple of weaknesses ready, and make suggestions as to how you are prepared to overcome them. Show some positivity and initiative, and be on your way to impressing the interviewer!

Step 5: Don’t sweat the small stuff

Everyone has to start somewhere. Don’t be afraid to start at the bottom. Often, potential employers look for candidates who are selfless and prepared to lend a helping hand in times of need. If the condition of landing the job of your dreams means your job scope will also include other tasks, such as occasionally doubling up as the tea lady, covering the reception duty, or manning the workstations while your co-worker goes on leave, accept it with a smile.

Look on the bright side – that way you will have a better idea of how things work in the office, and gain some experience on areas you will probably never be professionally trained in. Hey, who knew making the perfect mochaccino was this easy?

Your self-sacrificing attitude will earn you brownie points, which may eventually lead to chances of a promotion. If you think the employers do not notice the small things you do for the firm, think again. Rise above your tasks, plan ahead, and you may just score yourself not just your dream job, but a career advancement in no time.

Tags: career tips, facebook impact on career, job interview tips, networking, resume creation, video resume

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