Searching for a new job is never an easy experience.
For starters, it’s time consuming. You need to search for roles, fill out applications and attend interviews. Add to that the other challenges that have been brought about this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and job hunting can get even harder still.
This means it’s more important now than ever to stand out from the crowd, market yourself effectively, and make sure potential employers pay attention.
So, whether you’re searching for a new job or are leaving the army and want to find out more about jobs that require military experience, read on to discover how to ensure employers notice you in 2020.
4 ways to ensure employers notice you in 2020:
1. Have a CV that stands out
Your CV will most likely be the first thing a potential employer sees when you apply for a job. First impressions count - so it’s important that you have a high-quality CV that works hard for you.
For starters, you’ll need to make sure your CV is up to date and includes all your relevant skills and experience. This might seem obvious, but if you’ve been in your current role for a while or if you are coming from a military background, you probably won’t have updated your CV for a long time.
It’s really important to ensure you detail any new qualifications achieved, relevant skills you have learnt, and list your experience in date order.
You’ll need to be clear and concise; you should carefully check your CV for any spelling and grammar mistakes, and it’s also worth including a short personal summary at the top of your CV to grab your potential employer’s attention.
If you’re struggling to put a CV together, make sure you read this blog for more top tips.
2. Use social media to your advantage
Thanks to continual advances in technology, a lot has changed in the world of recruitment. Social media has revolutionised the job-hunting process, making it much easier to connect with recruiters, network within industries and market your skills and expertise.
If you’ve been in the armed forces, you will have probably kept a low profile on social media - but if you’re on the lookout for a new job, social media can be an invaluable tool.
If you use social media properly, it can really work to your advantage.
For starters, Facebook is useful for research, whereas LinkedIn is a great tool for professional networking. You can research companies you are interested in, connect with useful contacts and even start conversations with potential employers.
What’s more, if you do get invited to interview, keeping up with company social media posts will help you with some conversation pointers. Find out more here.
3. Brush up on your video interview technique
Today’s technology has equipped us with a number of tools to help make modern life easier, especially when it comes to communication.
Thanks to FaceTime, Skype and Zoom, for example, video interviewing is becoming an increasingly popular way for companies to connect with potential employees, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic - which means it's really important to make sure that your telephone and video interview skills are up to scratch.
Preparing for a video interview is very similar to preparing for any other interview when it comes to research, but you will need to consider other things such as speaking clearly and paying attention to your body language.
It’s important to make the right impression, so be careful to smile, listen and not get distracted by background noise. You should also avoid slouching or fidgeting, and make sure you maintain eye contact by looking directly into the camera instead of at the screen or at your own image.
Finally, remember to speak clearly and be careful not to interrupt - if there is a delay over the internet this is especially important to make sure no one ends up talking over each other.
4. Use an expert recruiter
It’s a difficult market at the moment, so if you are struggling to land your dream role or are specifically interested in jobs that require military experience, it is always worth working with a knowledgeable recruitment expert.
For starters, specialist recruiters will have established relationships with employers, as well as a list of roles they are currently working on - and because specialist recruiters know what their clients want, they will be able to provide expert advice to make sure you are as prepared as possible and help you stand out.
From helping to write a wow-factor CV or expert guidance in preparing for interviews, if in doubt, it’s always worth reaching out to the experts!
What’s more, because specialist recruiters really take the time to get to know you and what your personal goals are, they will be able to find you the most relevant jobs that are the right fit for your skills and qualifications.
In addition, having this relationship with a recruiter often means you’ll get to hear about jobs before they are advertised online - giving you the chance to get in there first!
How we can help
At M&E Global, we are proud to offer a truly holistic approach to recruitment. We will really get to know you as an individual, before putting you forward for the most relevant roles that are best suited to you.
What’s more, because we have strong relationships with all of our clients, we know exactly what they are looking for - which means we can provide the expert advice you need to make sure you get ahead and stand out from the competition when applying for jobs that require military experience.
So, if you are currently searching for a new role, contact M&E today to see how we can help and make 2020 the year you shake up your career.
Alternatively, why not download this expert guide to CV writing so you can create a wow-factor CV that gets you noticed for all the right reasons.
