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In a competitive and uncertain market, job seekers face the challenging task of standing out from the crowd of other qualified candidates. Many professionals today are looking for new, innovative ways to capture the attention of prospective employers in the hopes of landing a coveted role.
If you’re looking for your next professional opportunity, don’t let your application slip to the bottom of the pile. To get noticed by the right people as you hunt for a new role this year, check out the creative approaches 19 members of Forbes Coaches Council share below.
1. Start A Professional Podcast
Create a professional podcast series where you discuss industry trends, share insights and interview key players. This showcases your expertise and also establishes you as a thought leader. Promote the podcast on relevant platforms and include it in your job applications. It’s a unique way to demonstrate your skills, network with professionals and leave an impression on potential employers. - Temitope Olukunle, Outnovately Africa
2. Become An Expert On The Company
Become an expert sleuth who is authentic and memorable. Become curious. People like interesting individuals who ask intriguing questions. Become an expert on the company you want to work for and the target people you should meet. Go in armed with insights they want to hear about how your personal attributes, skills and expertise can contribute to their company to solve problems and help it grow. - Jill Tipograph, Tipograph Careers
3. Keep Your Professional Branding Consistent
Make sure every channel of your professional brand tells one story, so it’s clear when someone lands on your profile or content that you are seen as a thought leader in your space. Be active on LinkedIn. Post original content that showcases your expertise. Pin the most engaged content to your Featured section. It’s all about developing a personal brand that syncs with your job hunt. - Don Pippin, area|Talent
4. Send A Values-Based Digital Portfolio
Instead of submitting a résumé or CV, send a digital portfolio that shows who you are and what you value. In 2024, employers seek team members who not only have the technical skills to do the job, but also the soft skills that demonstrate leadership competencies. In this job market, empathy, vulnerability, transparency and accountability are seen as critical elements of a high-performing organization. - Michellea Millis Rucker, Transforming Our Practice, LLC.
Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
5. Show How Your Aspirations Align With Company Growth
Showcase a clear alignment between your professional aspirations and the company’s growth. Emphasize your commitment to continuous improvement and adaptability. Illustrate past experiences of proactively seeking growth and highlight specific contributions. Express a genuine enthusiasm for the company’s mission and explain how your skills can evolve with its trajectory. - Moza-Bella Tram, Moza-Bella LLC
6. Make Your Application Memorable
If you want to stand out, take a different approach. We recently advertised a job, and those shortlisted gave me a reason to notice their application. One started her letter with a bang, sharing a clever story that showed why she’d be valuable to our business. One mentioned details that proved her resourcefulness. One stood out for her incredible personal outreach. Each was impossible to ignore. - Gillian Kelly, Outplacement Australia
7. Become A Micro-Influencer
Professionals can get noticed by becoming a micro-influencer in their expert niche. Through platforms such as YouTube and podcasts, they can create valuable content that educates and informs their audience about the trends of the industry and shares their expertise. - Shruti Parashar, GOALisB
8. Share Your Expertise On Social Media
To be noticeable during a job hunt is to be visible. An innovative way to get noticed is to be an expert in functional areas, then share that expertise on social media, including YouTube, LinkedIn and a website. Being the expert and being visible may just draw the attention of a hiring manager or recruiter who is searching for someone with a specific skill set. - Diane Hudson, Career Marketing Techniques, LLC
9. Volunteer In The Community
Volunteer on a board of directors or a community committee. This creates connections to new people, organizations and industries that may not currently be in your network. Post highlights on social media, and demonstrate how your behaviors and values created an impact in the community and in that organization. - Linda Allen-Hardisty, Allen-Hardisty Leadership Group
10. Articulate Your POV
Share your unique voice! Social media can be such a powerful and impactful platform. Sharing articles, blogs and podcasts is one thing; writing your thoughts is something different. Take time on platforms such as LinkedIn to write your stories, thoughts and experiences from your point of view. Challenge yourself to share your uniqueness and see how it resonates to get noticed. - Bryan Powell, Executive Coaching Space
11. Invite And Include Others
I’m a big fan of the power of invitation. If you want to get noticed (and get some appreciation in the bargain), invite people to a conversation or gathering, or initiate a meaningful project. By taking the lead, being generous and including people with interesting things to contribute, you position yourself as an important resource and amplify both your profile and your standing. - Joanne Heyman, Heyman Partners
12. Celebrate And Support Others
Look for opportunities to serve. Most people are going out of their way to demonstrate how awesome they are. Instead, look for opportunities to highlight how awesome others are. Go out of your way to celebrate other people and help them achieve success. Instead of trying to “get noticed,” make your efforts about others. - Billy Williams, Archegos
13. Build And Rebuild Your Network
There are two times that are best to start building a network: 20 years ago and today! If you plan to look for a job in the near future, it’s time to dust off your Rolodex and start reengaging with your current network and building new connections. Start by connecting with people through professional associations aligned with your industry. Leverage LinkedIn to connect with those who are like-minded. - John Knotts, Crosscutter Enterprises
14. Leverage AI-Powered Platforms
Professionals are embracing personal branding and artificial intelligence tools to craft a compelling narrative that showcases their unique value proposition. By leveraging AI-powered platforms, professionals can amplify their online presence, engage with industry leaders and establish themselves as thought leaders in their field, attracting the attention of potential employers seeking top talent. - Karina Ochis, Prof. Dr. Karina Ochis
15. Highlight Your KPIs
Key performance indicators are always important, especially at times when employers may be hesitant to make new hires due to the economy. So, my advice to anyone going into the job market in 2024 is to offer compelling evidence of what they have done in the past and how it had a measurable impact on their team or organization. - Carol Geffner, CB Vision LLC.
16. Amplify Your Personal Brand
Lean into amplifying your own personal brand, even as a corporate professional. Identify what you want to be known for and the value you bring, then confidently go share it. This can be as simple as engaging in conversations on LinkedIn and consistently growing your network, or it can mean getting on podcasts and into summits where you can emphasize your presence as an industry thought leader. - Meridith Alexander, G.R.I.T. Mindset Academy
17. Demonstrate Your Understanding Of Current Trends
Demonstrate robust understanding and application of current technological and ecological trends, such as AI and environmental, social and governance principles. These can be showcased through a digital portfolio or personal website that not only highlights your skills and experiences, but also includes case studies or projects that reflect your expertise in these areas. Increase visibility by showcasing efforts to stay relevant. - Thomas Lim, Thrive Consulting Pte Ltd
18. Ask For Help (Then Pay It Forward)
Have a conversation! Contact your professional network and let them know you are looking for a new role. Also, leverage your social network to inform them of your career transition. The more people you tell, the more they can help or refer you to someone they know who can help. It is okay to ask and then offer your support in return. Once you land the job, please pay it forward. - Karen Tracy, Dr. Karen A Tracy, LLC
19. Don’t Forget The Basics
In 2024, there will still be nothing as innovative as a job seeker who has taken the time to identify target companies and their key decision makers, work their network for direct connections, then show up with the perfect solution and tailored, branded career documents that show a just-right fit. Do your homework with a laserlike focus, and don’t make assumptions or let details fall through the cracks. - Laura DeCarlo, Career Directors International
