In the current competitive, rebounding job market, finding a new job is getting harder and harder. Although Australia’s unemployment has fell to 6% recently, more and more applicants possess ever increasing lists of achievements, skills and completed projects. Although standing out from the masses is difficult, here are some suggestions to help land that coveted interview in a tech-filled world:

Read the job description

Every tech-company is looking for the perfect candidate that can meet specific criteria for the job and business culture. It is important to figure out what type of skills and experience employers require an applicant to have. It is crucial to meet as many of these mandatory requirements as possible or else landing that interview will be difficult. Knowing what the employer is looking for is the first step in the job search and sets up for the next important step:

Tailor your resume to each job description

Knowing what your potential employer wants is crucial in tailoring your resume to that specific job. In this competitive job market, a generic resume to highlight your skills and experiences is insufficient to land that interview. Ideally, each submitted resume should reuse as many keywords as possible from the job description. If the job description is looking for 5 years of PHP experience, make this easy to find in a resume. If the job description is looking for a project leader, indicate what you have done previously that is similar to that role. It is important to make this information easy to find; The average hiring HR Manager or Recruiter may spend at most 15 seconds scanning your resume. Ensuring that your resume matches the specific criteria an employer is looking for increases your chances of getting a call.

Write a customised cover letter

When employers are interested by your resume, the next thing they read is your cover letter. The purpose of this cover letter is to explain to your prospective employer why you would be a great fit for the job. At this point, it is important to know something about the company you are applying to, such as their mission statements, their services and their attitudes. An effective cover letter reflects some of this knowledge. Additionally, proofread the cover letter! Many applicants make the mistake of addressing their cover letter to the wrong person, the wrong company or even to the wrong job opening.  Do not let that happen to you.

Network, Network, Network

Many successful job applicants did not find land their positions by endlessly browsing Internet job listings but by networking of the non-digital kind. In fact, only 20%-40% of all job openings are actually advertised, according to Graduate Careers Australia, a Career Planning and Resources website. Get off the computer and hang out with friends and business contacts. Business cards printed on good stock paper is an effective way to leave a memorable impression on others. Tell your friends what type of work you are interested in and they may be able to put you in touch with interested employers. Gaining the endorsement of a friend whom a hiring manager trusts is an easy way to get your foot in the door when submitting a resume and cover letter.

Understandably, the job market in the tech-world is competitive and it is easy to get discouraged applying to jobs on end. Tailoring your resume and cover letter to each position and drawing upon your network of friends, family and business contacts increases the likelihood of success. Follow some of these suggestions and you might soon start work at an upcoming startup!

What are some of your successful strategies for finding a job? If you are a HR Manager or Recruiter, what are some things you are looking for in your job applicants?

Share some of your experiences with us below.