Getting a job in almost any industry is not easy, especially with the coronavirus pandemic that is limiting just about everyone to working from home. Fresh college grads might have it tougher than everybody else. This is because most companies who are hiring prefer employing individuals who have a ton of experience. Furthermore, they would want to hire someone who has proven their ability to work from home with fairly minimal supervision.
So, how do you get employers to even consider your application? Simple; a great resume. As a career expert from CraftResumes told us: “A great resume is what will distinguish your application from the dozens of applications that HR departments receive. If you aren’t sure about the state of your resume, then get free and expert reviews to help you secure that job.”
That said, here are 7 things that employers will look for in your resume.
When applying for a job, you need to highlight the relevant skills required for the job. A recent study showed that about 60% of industry experts predict that employers will start hiring candidates based on their skills and expertise. Employers don’t expect you to be the next Leonardo da Vinci and possess just about all skills known to man. In fact, if you do so, employers will think that you are lying or exaggerating.
You do not need to have all the skills required. You only need to have the skills relevant to the job and highlight them in your resume. Skills should include video marketing, company website marketing, content creation, search engine optimization, and rankings (SEO), email marketing, and social media marketing, just to mention a few.
A great deal of jobs involves social networking presence. Hiring managers are adamant about employing candidates with a significant online presence. This is mainly because of two reasons. First, it allows managers to learn more about you as a person. A recent survey showed that about 73% of employers have hired candidates as a result of social media.
Secondly, it demonstrates your soft skills and ability to connect with people, which are essential. When applying for a job, make sure to include links to your online portfolio, including LinkedIn and Twitter profiles. So, why not learn how to create or develop your personal brand effectively?
While not compulsory to some employers, experience could be the one thing that distinguishes your resume from other candidates. Make sure to highlight the relevant work experience in relation to the job you are applying for.
Let’s face it, very few people are willing to take their chance with a candidate with zero job experience. And, as a fresh college grad, you might not have the necessary job experience. However, list down any work experience relevant to the job you are applying for. Even that one-month unpaid internship that you took could be vital to the success of your job application.
Do not be discouraged if you do not have the necessary job experience. Most employers prefer to have someone willing and eager to learn as opposed to ‘a-know-it-all’ kind of guy. Your agility and zeal to learn will help you land that job.
Let’s be honest – hiring managers are driven by result-oriented individuals. When applying for a job, make sure to highlight your past achievements. This will help the hiring manager to get a better sense of your work ethic, drive, and overall ambition.
For example, digital marketing is no different from traditional marketing. The good old fashioned marketing and soft communication skills are still applicable in today’s job market. Are you a team player? How well do you respond to emails and social media messages? How well do you talk to clients? Are you eloquent and charismatic? You need to list down your intrapersonal and interpersonal communication skills that are relevant to the job at hand.
Is your resume easy to read? What font and layout are you using? Are there any grammatical errors or inconsistencies in your resume? These are the kind of questions that you need to ask yourself before submitting your application. Your resume presentation speaks volumes about your attention to detail. Learn how to write a proper resume by consulting professionals.
As you already know, marketing has its own industry niche. This means that the required qualification stretches far and above the typical marketing strategies. As a result, your qualification and educational background are what employers will first look for.
Are you actually qualified for the job that you are applying for? What are the educational requirements for the job? Do you have any educational certification with regards to marketing courses or computer courses? Do you meet these requirements? These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself before submitting that resume.
So, do you think that your resume is good enough for the job you are applying for? You see, there are no fixed qualifications that are required for a career. Skills, competencies, and experience are factors that will determine the success of your job application. However, how well you put them in your resume is vital in securing that job.
Furthermore, a short course could help you with future applications. Develop your skills to increase or diversify your portfolio.