You're lost in a sea of job seekers. How can you make your resume shine in a crowded market?

Showcase your achievements by using numbers and statistics to quantify results and highlight the impact of your contributions on previous employers.

Just the way you customise your clothing size to fit in by the time it's the same with Resume/CV should be tailored/customized. When ever you apply jobs make sure you modify your Resume/CV as per employers required skills and keywords so that you appear on top of the list be it via online job portals or be it in person. Try out tailoring your CV and see the result coming with in favor for you. Hope it helps.

To stand out amongst job seekers make sure your resume is easy to read, highlights all skills and is tailored towards the job you are applying to and has the key skills that ATS systems look for. Using the help of an experienced recruiter can be useful but in order to REALLY make traction in a sea of applicants make sure you are sending out plenty of applications without using the spray and prey method. Make sure you are reading each job description that you apply to so that you don’t end up with an inbox full of positions you don’t want to interview for!

Highlights your skills and achievement. If needed customize your resume for that particular job which employer is seeking. Which sets you apart from other applicants. Your resume should be easy to read.

Quantified results bring your resume to life, making it engaging and impactful. They form the core of your resume's content. Highlighting your job achievements makes your resume more authentic, as each individual has unique skills and abilities, even within the same career field and job area.

Numbers and results speak louder than tasks. Speak about your achievements in terms of metrics. Tested water samples becomes Tested 1573 samples of water daily using hplc, flagging dangerous levels to management. Managed project becomes Managed project worth 3 million from inception to completion netting 20% growth.

In my opinion when it comes to highlight your achievements, we can take: 1. Quantify Achievements: - Don't just state your job duties, but quantify the results you achieved in those roles. 2. Highlight Measurable Successes: - Think about the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics that were important in your previous roles. 3. Demonstrate Problem-Solving and Innovation: - Don't just list tasks, but explain how you identified challenges and implemented solution. 4. Tailor to the Role: - Carefully review the job description and highlight the experiences, skills, and achievements that are most relevant. 5. Use Impactful Language: - Avoid passive language and focus on using active, achievement-oriented verbs.

A laundry list of job duties tells a prospective employer WHAT you did; your achievements tell a prospective employer HOW WELL you did. These achievements are what separate you from your competition who may have held similar job titles with similar responsibilities.

In the Achievement second of your resume, ideally you should list them in bullet format and have it at the top of your resume. Focus on the relevance of the achievements you've had in the particular area of expertise, and also in the skills that you've mastered. That way, when they first look at your resume, the most important information is RIGHT there at the top, rather than them having to dig through your experience section to find it. Show them exactly how they are going to benefit from you working at their company and be specific- think about people affected, time savings, cost savings, or revenue generation. If you don't know the numbers, find them out or estimate them conservatively.

Well, if you can't beat them, join them! I always believe a good strategy to win a war is to take advantage of the opponent's weaknesses. To optimise your resume for ATS, focus on keyword optimisation. Recruiters search databases using specific terms, so study the job description of your desired job and identify key phrases. Integrate these keywords naturally into your resume to increase visibility in search results. Actually, it's not that much work to customize your resume for each application to match the job description closely. Simple tweaks here and there can significantly enhance your resume's chances of being noticed. Try it!

If you can't beat them, join them! A winning strategy often involves exploiting the opponent's weaknesses. To optimize your resume for ATS, focus on keyword optimization. Recruiters use specific terms to search databases, so carefully study the job description of your desired position and identify key phrases. Integrate these keywords naturally into your resume to improve its visibility in search results. Customizing your resume for each application by matching the job description closely isn’t that difficult. Simple tweaks can significantly enhance your resume's chances of being noticed.

Employers are also interested to learn more about you as a person. What drives you? What motivates you at work? Why are you interested in certain areas? Use good storytelling techniques to craft a narrative of your professional life - how you came to where you are and where you want to go next. Show that you have a solid purpose and aim in your journey rather than just going wherever life takes you aimlessly.

Creating a compelling resume involves crafting a narrative where each role and experience builds upon the previous one to illustrate your growth and development. By weaving a clear trajectory of your professional evolution, you can demonstrate how every step has prepared you for the role you're applying for. This approach showcases not only your progression but also your purpose and direction. Employers are often drawn to candidates who present a coherent and intentional career path, as it reflects dedication and strategic planning. In essence, your resume should tell the story of your journey, highlighting the skills and experiences that make you the ideal fit for the position.

I would stress that reaching the Recruiter won't help as much as you think it will, everyone is doing that so you're not out of the 'sea of jobseekers'. It's chaotic in my inbox and I can't possibly reply everyone all the time. Network with the people you want to work FOR. They can spot talent and they can motivate for you to be interviewed for the company. For example:- ✅ For an Accounting role - message the Financial Manager or CFO ✅ For an Administrative role - message the Office Manager or Branch Manager ✅ For an Engineering role - message the Engineering/Laboratory/Section Manager Etc... The Recruiter is not your target audience, they cannot give you what you want. Don't take a 'no' from someone who can't say 'yes' 🙌

Remember to use "Keywords" in your resume. The reason is that you also need to learn how to use keywords to optimise your CV to improve your chances of landing an interview. Using the right keywords, language, and terminology makes it easier for the reader (recruiter/hiring manager) to understand your qualifications. When you use the keywords and language that align with the company, you become a more desirable candidate. Here's where to include these keywords in your resume: - Job Titles - Skills - Experience - Knowledge & Qualifications

On LinkedIn you can search through people on the Home Page and the bigger your network is, the more people you will have access to. My plan of attack would be this:- ✅ Grow my network (this widens your reach as you can see people that are 3rd degree connections only) ✅ Follow relevant companies and search through their people for the right people you need to connect with (start with junior people) ✅ Either invest in a job seeker account on LinkedIn so you can send direct messages OR simply send invitations with a personalised message ✅ Join Groups - this widens your network as well ❗ It's important to have a stellar LinkedIn profile before you undertake any of this!

SIMPLE ❗ ❗ 1️⃣ Get out of the sea 😉 Go where there are fewer jobseekers ✅ Where it's hard work ✅ Where it's outside comfort zone ➡️ Proactive Job Search Strategies 2️⃣ Be a mermaid 🧜♀️ Be what the others are not ➡️ Be creative, take risks, have fun Best of luck 🍀

Nothing beats a personalized message or a cover letter to the person who would lead you. Show them you did your search and are ready to go the extra mile to get the job.