How to stand out among the job seeker crowd

 Check out some ways to distinquish you in the crowd of job seekers in the post below found at:

http://www.sodexocareersblog.com/2012/02/stand-out-among-job-seeker-crowd.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SodexoCareers+%28Sodexo+Careers%29

 Stand Out Among the Job Seeker Crowd

By Chloé Rada, Senior Marketing Manager - Talent Acquisition

While dining at my favorite ethnic restaurant this past weekend, I came across a patron wearing this button.  Talk about branding!

Not only was this a clever idea, but a great example of how to stand out among the crowd.  By wearing this button, “Rene” made a bold statement about herself and her intent of landing a new job. 

Naturally, I struck up a conversation with Rene about jobs at Sodexo. (So if you are reading this post, Rene, I applaud you and thank you for your follow up email.)  Ideas like this can result in great conversations and job leads anytime, so go ahead and market yourself as a job seeker any chance you get!

As you prepare to make such a bold move, I offer 3 tips to help you make an impact. 

1.  Define your personal brand.

A good place to start is with your resume. It’s probably the most important tool in your job seeker’s toolkit in order to get that “face-to-face” time.  In order to help you look good on paper, we compiled a resume check list.  

Next, take a look to see if you have a complete LinkedIn profile.  I learned during my own job search that everyone has room for improvement, when it comes to LinkedIn profiles. Did you know that adding a picture makes your profile 7x more likely to be found in searches?*  Simple updates like adding a picture or skill can make all the difference when your goal is to stand out!

2.  Carry Business Cards

One piece of business advice my father taught me is to always carry business cards.  So I made a habit of never leaving home without them!    This was especially helpful during networking events and informal interviews. 

Vistaprint offers 250 free basic business cards, however I preferred www.zazzle.com because its inexpensive options allowed for personal style.

I added a QR code (“quick response”) on the back of my business card, which alone was a great conversation starter. When the recipient scanned the code from a smartphone, my vCard (or electronic business card information) was displayed and easily stored in their contacts.  You may consider setting up your QR code to pull up your online resume stored on a free, mobile-ready site like www.emurse.com.

Just remember that creating a business card that is memorable or unique is not as important as having basic ones on you at all times.

3.  Practice Your Elevator Speech

You have 15 seconds to sell yourself so choose your words wisely and focus on the impact you can make. Speak in a slow, steady manner yet be crisp and to-the-point.

If the idea of public speaking terrifies you, then consider joining a local Toastmasters group.  Their learn-by-doing workshops and meetings allow participants to hone their speaking in a no-pressure atmosphere. By participating in my local club, I learned that by practicing enough, your confidence and personality will shine through in all your public speaking.

You don’t need to be as bold as Rene to stand out among the job seeker crowd, but by defining your personal brand, carrying business cards and practicing your elevator speech you’ll be on your way to making an impact with future employers.