Article for Cynopsis email newsletter HOW TO STAND OUT FROM THE PACK By Mark Levine It’s always tough to find a job in a down economy. But during severe recessions like this, when whole industries are cutting back, and entire job categories are suffering massive layoffs, the competition for any one opening grows even more intense. There are hundreds, if not thousands of others, with resumes and qualifications just like yours, who are scouring those same job listings. Try these three techniques to stand out from the pack. 1.
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Expand your horizons. Misery may love company but sometimes it’s better to break free from the herd. Being willing to relocate, particularly away from the traditional centers of your industry or profession, or major metro areas, will set you apart from most of your peers. And in a pool of candidates the out of towner always stands out. It’s better to have a job in a small market than to be unemployed in a major market. Reduce your expectations. Since you and everyone else at your professional level has been let go in favor of those one level below, voluntarily climb down the ladder. You’ll stand out from the pack by being the most experienced, most skilled applicant. That will almost guarantee you an interview, during which you can easily deal with any qualms about your being overqualified. Jump off the career path. Another way almost certain to get you an interview is to come to the job “out of left field.” Discard the conventional wisdom about what you should logically do next. Embrace nonlinear thinking and apply for positions solely based on whether you have the skills and abilities to do the job. Be willing to go from managing a newspaper editorial staff to running a retail sales team. As long as your initial written submission shows you’ve got applicable skills your uniqueness will be a plus.
The underlying secret to each of these strategies is to act preemptively. Do the unexpected by design and you’ll appear intriguing. Do it by default you look desperate.