How To Get Noticed by Your Dream Company
When employers receive countless job applications, you may wonder how you can stand out from the crowd. Of course, having a well-crafted cover letter and a resume that's a solid match for the job helps. However, hundreds of other candidates are submitting equally compelling applications.
How can you go above and beyond to catch the attention of a company you'd like to work for?
You can take steps to grab an employer's attention, even before applying for a job.
Here's how to get noticed by your dream company, along with a checklist of steps for you to take during your campaign to get noticed.
How To Get Noticed by a Company You'd Love to Work For
Showcase what you have to offer. When you're writing your resume and cover letter, be specific about what you can offer the company if you are hired.
Be sure to write a customized cover letter highlighting the credentials that make you a perfect fit for the job.
Your resume should reflect the qualifications that will make you an asset to the employer. Quantify your achievements to show what you've accomplished.
Present yourself, both in person and online, in a polished and professional way. For any role, a perfect (or almost perfect) candidate will provide a universal, well-rounded, and informative picture of themselves professionally.
Let your online presence and your face-to-face demeanor reflect your resume. Everything content-wise that appears on each channel should match up in terms of expertise, accomplishments, and personality and fit with how you present yourself in person. Don't be one person in public on your social media platforms and someone else on LinkedIn or your resume.
Be thoughtful when you post and comment. Snarky, mean, and negative comments might get you some short-term interest, but employers will be afraid that if you say something nasty, you might do the same to them in the future. Being nice is always the better option.
Maintain an active presence on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is your unofficial resume, and most companies spend a lot of time there. Check to see if you have contacts at the company and connect with them if you do. Don't be afraid to ask your connections for advice on getting hired or for a referral if you know them well enough.
Let employers know you're available. If you're unemployed, you may want to add an Open To Work post and banner to let hiring managers know that you're in the job market.
Tap your connections. A referral to a company is one of the best ways to get hired. In addition to using LinkedIn, check with your career services office if you're a college student or graduate. It may have a career network you can use to get insight into the employer and possibly a referral. Also, ask your friends and family if they know anyone who works at the company. You never know who will know someone who can help.
Let your expertise shine beyond LinkedIn. For some jobs, companies seek domain experts—people who speak about technical challenges they are having at work and offer advice to help resolve them. Quora and Reddit are key places to ask and answer questions in specific fields of expertise.
Look for online and in-person events. Talking to people in person is still one of the best ways to make connections that will help you get hired. Attend job fairs, professional conferences, and networking events where the company participates. Employers often post where they will be on their website or social pages, so check regularly for upcoming events.
Keep your accomplishments current. Keep a running list of your work accomplishments, new skills you've acquired, classes you've taken, degrees you've earned, and professional development. This will help you keep your resume and LinkedIn up-to-date.
Checklist for Job Search Success
As you gear up to approach your dream company, it's good to have a plan. Not only will this help you to focus on your job search, but it will also give you the confidence and the information you'll need to impress when you land an interview.
[ ] List your top 10 "dream" employers, then carefully research their organizations. Become familiar with their corporate history (a good source for this is the "About" section on their website), their mission statement, their organizational structure, and the names of their key personnel in management, human resources, and the department you envision yourself joining.
[ ] Create or update your LinkedIn profile to emphasize the skills and professional experience that would best qualify you to work for the company.
[ ] Consider the pros and cons of adding an Open To Work banner to let employers know you're available.
[ ] Follow your favorite employers on LinkedIn and social media, and comment on their posts when appropriate and relevant.
[ ] Regularly review the company's current job listings to see if there are positions they are hiring for or internship opportunities they offer.
[ ] Use LinkedIn and the organization's website to learn who works at your target companies and how long they have held their current tenures.
[ ] Check with your LinkedIn connections. If you have them, approach your contacts at the company and ask if they'd be willing to provide you with a referral to the company.
[ ] Research the job fairs and conferences where you know your dream employer will be recruiting and make it a point to attend them.
Our Favorite Tips & Tools
Your State Job Bank: Every state has a job bank where job seekers can post their resumes and search for jobs. Employers can post jobs for free, so you may find jobs that aren't posted elsewhere. Here's a directory of state job banks so you can quickly access resources for job seekers in your location.
LinkedIn Interview Prep: LinkedIn's interview preparation tools will help you ace the most common interview questions. You can practice and record your answers and get instant feedback.
CareerOneStop Skills Matcher: Rate your expertise on 40 workplace skills, then review a list of career options that match your highest-rated skills.
News & Noteworthy
When You Get Paid Extra for Working on a Holiday: As the U.S. heads into a holiday week, you might wonder if you have to work if your employer is open on Independence Day, and if you do, whether you'll get paid extra. Here's what you need to know about holiday pay.
Snap Settles Gender Discrimination Lawsuit: Snap Inc., Snapchat's parent company, settled a gender discrimination lawsuit from the California Civil Rights Department, agreeing to pay $15 million, including $14.5 million in compensation to women who worked for the company between 2014 and 2024.
Younger Workers Feel Stressed, Lonely, and Undervalued: Many younger people struggle at work compared to workers in other age groups. The American Psychological Association reports that almost half of surveyed workers ages 18 - 25 don't feel valued, are lonely, and are stressed at work.
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Helpful article! On a side note: Could you write about what to do before & after you post on LinkedIn that you are seeking work due to an unexpected layoff? Once again, a former colleague posted that they just got abruptly terminated and when I reached out, they said they hadn’t updated their resume and wasn’t sure what type of new position they were seeking. I think that if you seek empathy/sympathy about a job loss, post on other social media outlets. If you want to find a new job, take a breath and think, prepare before announcing on LinkedIn you’re in the job market. What are your thoughts?
Career Stop is a valuable and underutilized resource. More job seekers should use it.