Are you on the job market? So, it seems, is everyone else, because let’s face it—in a day far removed from the 1950s, when a career was something you did for life, the work world has become more fluid. With so many opportunities out there, and new ones always on the horizon, even people who aren’t looking for a job are often open to the right offer.
Maybe you’re currently navigating that job market or just want to optimize your professional persona to be ready for opportunity to fall into your lap. Whatever your situation, here are 5 things you can do today to make yourself more hirable.
Name drop
That’s right. Name dropping isn’t just an ego boost. Associating yourself with a well-known, or prominent brand, figure or project makes you stand out from the crowd, legitimates your skills and professionalism, and makes you more desirable as a future employee of your new company of interest. So name drop away!
Be an expert
Or at least get quoted as one. Employers love it when you’re expert enough to have written books or articles. But you can get published as an expert without writing word, if that’s not your forte. Websites like
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) are looking for people like you to provide insights and quotes for stories they’re writing. You can sign up to receive emails under specific categories and fields, and reach out to reporters when a story idea aligns with your field of knowledge. It might be a one-time quote, or the journalist may continue reaching out to you as a professional source.
Get certified
Do you have an interest in public speaking? Health and safety in an organization? Design? You don’t need a degree, but getting certified in an area of interest, or a niche field, can boost your resume and help you shine among the other applicants. After all, there’s no telling when your new employer might be able to draw upon your certification and skills as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), or in balloon tying or standup comedy.
Don’t list, apply
You can
list your skills till the sun sets and get very little response, because chances are a whole lot of resumes on that HR table list the same skills. Instead, show how those skills are applicable to the job, and how they can help take your future employer’s company to the next level. Show that you’re more than a pretty packaged resume, but that there’s substance and relevance behind your application.
Keep your LinkedIn profile updated
Post regularly for your professional network. Along with a fully filled-out profile, it optimizes your page to make it easier to find when employers are looking for someone in your field. It also gives them insight into who you are and what you care about, without having to stalk your Facebook profile. Get some
recommendations from past employers, coworkers, and clients to display your excellence, and give you an instant boost in employer’s eyes.
Getting hired in a dream job may seem like a full-time job. But by optimizing and expanding some key areas of your professional life, you'll make yourself all the more hirable.
Let CyberCoders help you find the right job. Apply today.
