The Working World How to get a Foot in the Door - CareerAlley

The Working World How to get a Foot in the Door - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Whether you are a student looking for your first job opportunity, or an experienced professional searching for a new career path it can be tough standing out from the crowd and getting noticed for the right reasons. Many of you will be competing against hundreds of others candidates all aiming to secure the same position. You may be a bright and capable individual, however something is preventing you from obtaining the job you want so how exactly do you get your foot in the door? Landing an Internship For those looking for their first taste of an opportunity, an internship allows you to become exposed to the working environment which will help you to enhance your skills as well as gain vital experience. Occasionally work placements can even be paid jobs for a firm on a temporary basis. Internships allow you to gain invaluable transferable skills includingtime management, communicationsand teamwork within a real working environment, where you may be required to take on responsibility. However Im sure those who have already tried this path know, internships arent typically handed out to just anyone. You must research the company that is hiring and discover what they are looking for, and remember you will be competing against a number of other candidates. Make your CV stand out Submitting your CV will usually be the first time you have any direct contact with a company. However with so many other applicants all gunning for the same position, you need to take this opportunity to differentiate yourself from the other applicants to ensure that your CV is not overlooked. Of course your CV must always follow the fundamental rules it should be clear, concise and illustrate the relevant skills you possess to become a strong member of the team youre applying for. As well as ensuring that it is easy to read and tailored to the position that you are applying for. Many people are also trying unique and creative ways to get noticed ahead of all the others, often using different forms of communication when attempting to sell their skills and achievements. Consider all of your options, and look at the different avenues that you have available to you with constant advancements in technology they are changing all of the time . Stories which Ive come across include attaching a QR code to business cards which load up your CV, sending a personal message via video and using social media to build up your own network of contacts. One thing I would advise that you review is the privacy policies on your social media accounts prospective employers really dont need to see photos of you with your mates in the pub on a Saturday night! Be smart in your approach and work hard to differentiate yourself it will pay off. Take the additional step Often getting that initial foot in the door is down to you taking the additional steps to minimise the chances of your job application disappearing into a black hole. Invest time in finding an internal referral thatll get your CV into the right hands Use the sources available to you including alumni contacts, previous employers and recruitment agencies Maximise the potential of social networks and get connected with similar groups associated with similar careers About the author: Anna Gibbons is Corporate Communications Manager at Sellick Partnership, specialist legal, financial and procurement recruitment experts with 6 offices throughout the UK. Along with helping you to find roles, they also provide CV and interview advice to maximise your chances of getting your foot in the door. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook