A Key Strategy to Standing Out In A Sea of Other Job Seekers

Posted by in Career Advice •


What you need is a competitive advantage, something that gets the hiring manager’s attention, causes him or her to keep reading your resume, and ultimately, pick up the phone and call for the interview. How do you differentiate yourself from all the other people seeking the same opportunity? Simply put, value. WHAT VALUE DO YOU OFFER? If you were going to purchase a new laptop computer or a new car, chances are you would do your research. If you weren’t sure which make and model you wanted, you would test drive the car. Or you would go to Best Buy and play with the display laptops to decide which one was best for you. What you’re really looking for is the one car or computer with VALUE. The one that meets your needs and wants. When I say value here, I’m not necessarily speaking in terms of money. I’m speaking in terms of benefits. What are you going to get from purchasing that particular car or that exact laptop? What does it have that the others don’t? What makes it unique—so much so that you decided to purchase it? Obviously, something about it appealed to you. Was it the software programs, speed, extras, perks, mileage, design, etc. You get where I’m going with this. There are certain aspects that compelled you to purchase that exact item. You perceived its value and that it was the perfect match for your needs. SHOW THE EMPLOYER YOUR VALUE Now put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. It’s just like when you went searching for that perfect new car or laptop. When an employer reviews your resume he is thinking about taking you out for a test drive—he is searching for your value. What do you have to offer that the other 500 job seekers who applied don’t? How does your value fit their needs? When you can show the employer the value you offer them—and how that value isn’t like anyone else’s—you begin to create a competitive advantage for yourself. And you position yourself to receive a greater number of call backs for interviews and job offers. The key is to create content on your resume that showcases your value to the employer in a way that makes them realize, “Wow, this person is the perfect fit and more.” When the employer realizes what a great a match you are, he will decide to take you for a test drive—he will pick up the phone, and he will call. Does this mean a little extra work for you? Well, it means you have to discern what your value is and what makes you unique from every other job seeker. Then you have to communicate that on your resume to the potential employer. Does your value change? Absolutely. With each different position or different industry, you offer something that the employer needs. It’s your job to discover what the employer needs and then translate how you can meet that need into a well-crafted resume. No two employers need the same thing; therefore, no two resumes will be the same. And the value you offer the employer may change with each resume, depending on the organization’s needs. Sure, it may mean a little more work up front, but if it’s the difference between an extra ten minutes now and an extra six months in your job search, wouldn’t you rather invest the time now?

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  • Della
    Della •
    In reference to companies asking for Date of Births...... from a HR perspective, they are in violation and they need to be reported!
  • Salvatore
    Salvatore •
    Sound advice, but ...Your resume will in all likelihood never be read by about 95% of the people you send it to in response to a job advert. If you are sending it unsolicited, then that rises to about 99.9% of the time it will not be read. Your resume is probably the most useless tool you could possibly rely on for getting a job. Stop wasting your time and get off your butt, and get out and meet these people, tell them in person what value you have to offer, and ask them if you can help them to better serve their customers. If you cannot get in the door, try the next place and the next. Most businesses in the USA are small, and do not have a website or HR department. The owner does the hiring, and makes instant decisions, based on how useful you will be to them in their business. Nobody gives you a job based on your age, nor denies it based on your age. That is in your head, not their's. Take this article and apply it to what you will say to the person with power to make the decision to create a job for you on the spot - the owner of the business.
  • tezz
    tezz •
    Is my having been a managerial industrial attachee helpful if i outline it in my CV as my form of experience because i have never been hired anywhere as a paid employee but as an attachee i have had experience working in an import and export organization under the administration, finance, commerce and personnel department.
  • Audrey Snover
    Audrey Snover •
    Reading your advice was right on the money!  My Resume reflects everything you mentioned in order to be competitive and make myself stand-out above others.  I was afraid at first that it was too much info, but then when I read your statement... it reassured me that I did everything right.  The only problem that I have is intimidating the interviewer or hiree with my qualifications and experience.  I feel like my Resume is getting the File-13 because of my qualifications and experience.  Having to start over in another state that is not as advanced or has the level of professionalism in ethics and dress code, is making it complicated to know how to read the different company's hiring standards. I worked for the nation's largest R.E.I.T. company that had very high standards of professionalism and training.  Therefore, the management companies that I am applying to are falling into the job  security of their own position. I am sure that some do not, but most properties I have visited took one look at me and I realized I was out of their league in appearance, experience and qualifications.  What do you do in this situation?  
  • Lisa Laport
    Lisa Laport •
    As an HR Manager, I can tell you that employers are generally prohibited by law to ask for the applicants date of birth.  There are a few exceptions, however, such as when an employer requires a background check.  The question most often asked on the application is "Are you at least 18 years of age?" This is to determine if you are a minor and subject to any child labor laws.  In the retail and restaurant you will see this question often.
  • Shavon Greene
    Shavon Greene •
    This was a great article.
  • Jaime
    Jaime •
    This too was a good article.  I will definitely make the effort to stand out in my resume - but is there anything I can do to make me stand out Before they even look at my resume?  For example, I have been sending a lot of resumes via email - what should I be writing to make them Want to open my attachment???  other than just.. I have attached my resume for your review etc etc.  Thanks!
  • Paul Aldridge
    Paul Aldridge •
    I did find your article interesting but a restate of knowledge possessed by seasoned workers.  But a little reminder is never a bad thing.  Now if you teach Mind Reading 101, that would be most helpful!As to the answer on the age question - that's an interesting answer.  I thought there was a federal law that specifically prohibited asking for your age.  Everyone knows that employers today are hiring on the cheap with many now seeking one person to fill the roles of two.  Older, wiser employees would not agree to pull double duty without handsome pay where the younger person will be easily hoodwinked.  Also insurance goes up for employees over forty and skyrockets at fifty.  To believe that a company would not factor age into their hiring equation is sadly naive.  Look at all the articles floating around on "Finding employment over 50"!
  • Staff Editor
    Staff Editor •
    To answer your question as to why employers ask for your birth date...it is because employers can be audited by the government in regards to their recruitment practices.  To ensure that employers are presenting all candidates with an equal employment opportunity they collect certain information from candidates such as birth date so that if they are audited they can show that they do not discriminate and consider employees of all ages.
  • viviline
    viviline •
    thank you for the useful informationi have just printed off 4 topics that came to me today and yes i am job hunting i do have aquestion?why is it that 90% of the things i seeright after name and address is what is your date of birth...they do not ask if i am over 21 or any thingjust what is your date of birthis that their way of ruling out EXPERIENCE?

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