Due to the pressure on the jobs market because of the pandemic, there’s currently a huge amount of competition for jobs. Whether you’re looking for permanent or temporary jobs in London, you’ll likely be up against dozens, if not hundreds, of other candidates. This is particularly true in areas where many applicants have near-identical skillsets and experience, such as junior office support jobs. It’s daunting, and as your London recruitment agency, we get that.
There must be something about you and your application that makes you stand out from the competition. You can be successful, but you’ll need something eye-catching to get noticed.
The right approach to unique job applications
What you don’t want to do is stand out for all the wrong reasons! When an employer looks at your CV and considers it, or is interviewing you, they’re looking for something specific, but not quite in the way you first think. Fundamentally, they aren’t interested that you have a pet lizard, that you play Muggle Quidditch, or that you said your first word at six months.
They want to uncover what it is about you as a potential employee that makes you different from — and more importantly, better than — anyone else. So, you need to give them what they’re looking for, and you need to do it in a way that demonstrates that you’re valuable and have value for them. That’s what you need to be able to brag about.
What are some of the ways you can show this uniqueness?
Your career background and experience
There should be opportunities to showcase your individuality within your background. What you need to do is go one step further and show how this will benefit the employer. For example, perhaps your experience in one area involved having to be resourceful and you can show how that applies to the new role.
Consider how the things you’ve done and experienced give you an advantage when dealing with a certain situation or problem that’s likely to come up in the advertised job. Explain how your history puts you ahead of others for the future. If you’re aiming for a first job, don’t be afraid to use your educational or voluntary experience.
Your skills and aptitudes
You can use the job advert or job description to give you clues about what the employer is looking for in terms of skills and aptitude. You can then pick a few of these areas and showcase how you stand out from the crowd in them. For example, does the job call for excellent communication or organisational skills? Specifically, try to focus on how you differ from others in terms of soft skills. Technical skills can often be taught, and there are probably plenty of candidates with the same technical skillset.
For example, set out an example of how you utilised this skill and aptitude in your last role and state how it benefitted the employer.
Your outlook
Importantly, your character and outlook will enable you to stand out as an individual. Focus on the value that you believe you can add to the employer. Give them proof, and word things in a way that makes you sound professionally desirable.
If you find that you’re sending out reams of applications and not getting anywhere, it may well be that you’re simply not standing out from the crowd. Consider fewer, more tailored applications that show how you are uniquely suitable for this role. If you’re stuck, check out the candidate advice we offer.
Love Success is a leading London PA & office support recruitment agency.
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