4 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Getting a Job

You know you're the best person for the job. So what is the most efficient and effective way to let hiring managers know you'd be an asset to their team? Before you apply for a job, take a good hard look at how you're presenting yourself. Keep these 4 tips in mind when preparing your professional documents and yourself for the job application process.

1. Tailor Your Resume for the Specific Job Posting

In the old days, people kept a master resume with a job history and then dusted it off to update it when it was time to apply for jobs. With so much competition in the workplace, it's now expected that you will tailor your resume so that the hiring manager can see right away how your qualifications match the job description. Use specific language in your resume and put your job history in an order that gears your qualifications toward a specific job. For example, if you're applying for an office manager job, purposefully highlight times in the past where you utilized your organization and people management skills.

2. Edit your Resume and Cover Letter Tired Old Cliches

After a potential employer sees the terms "team player," "transformational leader" and "responsible for" countless times, it becomes stale and really doesn't say much about your previous job history. Instead of saying "responsible for," use your resume to say what you actually accomplished, in specific numbers, which benefited the company in your previous job. Don't call yourself an "expert." Let your resume show precisely what your strong points are, and stay away from cliches.

3. Skip the References

Here's another way you can streamline your resume. Years ago, it was expected that your resume would include several references at the bottom that a hiring manager could call for more information about you as an employee. Now, it's assumed that any potential employee can supply references if asked. Some hiring managers even find a resume containing the words, "references supplied upon request" an annoyance—it's a given that doesn't have to be stated.

4. Practice Before Your Live Interview

Even though you know you're a perfect fit for the job, your nerves can betray you in interview day. Getting in some practice of your "self pitch" in front of a mirror might be a good idea. Your potential employer will surely want to know what assets you can bring to the company, so think about your answer to that question beforehand. Go over your pitch until you feel comfortable so you will not go suddenly blank when the interview starts. Believe it or not, a statement that has been repeated often enough can appear practiced.