How often do you hear people longing for the days before the financial markets crashed and the global economy went into recession?
What is clear that the days before the recession are not likely to disappear any time soon and perhaps may never return to past peaks that we experienced. Working with clients what I am increasingly noticing is that the more senior people are the more challenging it is. That is not to say that others don’t face challenges.
So against this background of a challenging job environment, what can you do to stand out and increase the chances of success?
Be Clear About What You Want
The scatter gun approach might work in a buoyant market but rarely works in the situation where there is more competition. The clearer you can be about the type of roles that you want to pursue, the more you can target your applications. The reality is that targeted applications are much more likely to get a positive response.
Know What You Have Achieved
Potential is one thing but actual tangible evidence of achievement will trump potential every time. Trouble is most never bother to take the time to identify achievements. If they do they really struggle to articulate them in a business benefit orientated way.
Have A CV That Gets You Invited For Interview
Having looked at thousands of CV’s about 70% of them do a poor job at effectively marketing people. Some think that they can get away with doing the minimum, especially if recruiters are going to be submitting their CV on their behalf. The reality is a poor CV will end up in the bin.
Be Prepared For Job Interviews
Think about it from the perspective of the employer. They are making a major investment decision. If you were making a major investment decision what would you want more than anything else? I am going to suggest that top of the list is going to be assurance.
This assurance covers a whole range of areas:
• Assurance that you have the skills
• Assurance that you have the experience
• Assurance that you have the knowledge
• Assurance that you have the necessary interpersonal skills
• Assurance that you will fit in
• Assurance that you will deliver.
Being poorly prepared points to a lack of professionalism and will ultimately result in you in you being rejected.
The Bottom Line: If you want to achieve success in a challenging job environment you have to stand out.
Duncan Brodie is author of How To Have A Successful Career In Accountancy and helps accountants to achieve more success in their career. He invites you to check out his free audio masterclass
