William Tate is the president of HR Plus, a company that exhibited at the recent Society for Human Resource Management’s National conference, which provides employment and background screening for employers that range from Fortune 500 companies to start-up enterprises in the private, government, and non-profit sectors. He says today’s job seekers do need to “go guerrilla and creatively energize their search for a job.”

Here are Tate’s suggestions for job seekers who want to be sure to land a position that may become their true calling:

Know what you want.

Tate quotes Shakespeare’s Hamlet and advises job seekers, “To thine own self be true.” He notes: “It’s so important to be true to yourself and loyal to your own interests.” If you know what you want, are able to express yourself and your unique talents, and you understand how your skills fit into your target employer’s needs, your search will be much more successful.

Tate advises: “Engage in a self-skill assessment. Taking the time to go through all of your work-related abilities and talents and ascertain the level of skill and talent you have (For example: writing, public speaking, spreadsheet work, team building, managing people, etc.). Determine how motivated you are to use each of these abilities and skills. Match your findings against what would make you happy and fulfilled every day in a career.”

Identify the right type of employer.

Study company culture.

Don’t be complacent.

Don’t become a stalker.

Offer a trial run. 

Read the whole post on my U.S. News & World Report column

photo by tonynetone.

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Colin Day, Founder and CEO of iCIMS, Inc., a provider of talent acquisition software for growing businesses,  (a company represented at the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM’s) national conference last month), is in an excellent position to advise job seekers how to maximize their online applications. Here are Dayâ€s top suggestions for getting the most visibility for your online application.

1. Thoroughly read job descriptions. Most recruiters will tell you a big pet peeve is hearing from job seekers who apply even if they are not qualified for the job. Take the time to understand exactly what the company expects from applicants for jobs that interest you; do not ignore the detailed description of what the job entails. “ATS technologies can filter candidates by those whose responses dovetail best with specific job descriptions. For the best response rates, make sure your content and experience match up accordingly,” said Day.

2. Create an original cover letter. If the company asks for a cover letter, be sure to include one. Make sure you write a cover letter specific to your accomplishments and skills that properly addresses the job description. Go a step further and mention how you will use that knowledge and those skills on the job. Avoid sending out a generic, run-of-the-mill cover letter. “Despite the cover letter being digital, itâ€s often the first thing recruiters read when viewing candidate profiles – even ahead of the resume,” Day explained. “Use the cover letter as an opportunity to showcase your personality, qualifications, and desire for the job.”

3. Identify key words and tailor your resume. Take your time and look over your resume. Find the key words in the job description and make sure you indicate how your accomplishments address those requirements. Be sure to slightly customize your resume and/or cover letter to each specific job.

4. Make sure your responses are on target and error free.

5. Maintain one candidate profile per company. 

6. Fill out all fields within the application process. 

7. Ensure your social profile is current.

8. Clean up your public social media profile.

9. Review all the information you imported before submitting. 

Read the entire article on my U.S. News & World Report column 

photo by ph0rk

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