4 tips for job hunting in a digital age

Employers continue to try out increasingly sophisticated technologies in their hiring processes. If you are looking for that new next post and you’ve been clicking the ‘apply’ button a lot with little success, there may be a reason that’s not so much about you but what’s in your application. Here are a few insights from the Education Section of the New York Times.  Read on to make sure you aren’t being deselected before your time.

Number one: Use Keywords

Read the job description carefully. What experience and skills is the employer looking for? Make sure that you use keywords that match what they looking for, if there is real fit between the role and you. Know acronyms and use them, but also ensure that you spell them out too.

Why is this important? Because companies can use tracking systems and talent acquisition software that could screen you out, not because you don’t have what they need, but because you haven’t expressly told them so in the words they’re using.

Number two: Stay Current

Did you know that some recruiting software can troll profiles on LinkedIn and other social media sites?

If you are online, keep your profiles up to date with the most recent experience, skills and achievements.

Number three: Be Camera Ready

Most of us have been through interviews conducted over the phone and face to face. But now it is becoming more common to use Skype and similar tools to do the same job. Companies are also sending branded links with sets of questions whose answers are to be recorded on the candidate’s webcam. And it doesn’t stop there. A task can even be set where the candidate is filmed completing it on the webcam. These options all require camera action.

Get camera comfortable so that your camera shyness doesn’t stand in the way of the job you want.

Number four: If it is not working, find out why and do something different

 Have you sent out more CV’s and applied for more jobs than you can count? Not getting any response? Complaining about how hard you have tried will not change that. Instead take responsibility for finding out why you are not having any success so that you can do something about it that will give you the results you seek.

It could be that you are not bringing out fully what you offer, or that you are not taking time to personalise your communication in a way that really stands you out. Ask for a fresh pair of eyes on your application, and honestly welcome improvements or changes.

There might be an imbalance between supply and demand in a particular field, so you might need to refine what you are looking for and consider stepping-stones to where you are headed.

Get creative in your quest to try something different. Research companies, find out what their total focus is and what initiatives they might be involved in, look at their social media platforms and engage with them, find industry relevant discussion groups and join them, contribute, volunteer, attend networking events.

Don’t be passive about your job search; we have many tools at our disposal to make our mark in this technological age.

If you are the recruiter rather than the candidate, these tips may also assist you to shake up your ideas for finding the best person for your job.

Good luck!