You resume provides a long list of basic information about you that employers can use to make sure you hold the minimum qualifications for the position you’re pursuing. But just having these minimum qualifications won’t be enough to bring you all the way into the winner’s circle. In order to truly stand out and step ahead of your competition, you’ll have to answer one question that offers more valuable information than your list of degrees and previous employers ever can.
The Question: Why You?
What do you have to offer that you competitors don’t have? What can you do that they can’t? In other words, what skills and talents can you provide that truly make you unique and set you apart from the rest of the field of applicants your potential employers will be sorting through? In order to answer this all-important question, keep these simple considerations in mind.
1. First, read the posting carefully and draw a distinction between the cutoff criteria these employers ask for, and the skills they’ll probably be searching for as they move through the final round of contenders. If they need a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management and you have that, that’s great. But if they’re a new business hoping to attract a loyal clientele of young families and business travelers, how can you—and you alone– help them accomplish this?
2. Second, visit the company’s web page and glean as much as you can about their culture, their business model, and their long term goals. Is this a fun, innovative place to work? Is it structured, competitive and traditional? Is it collaborative and team-focused? Figure out how your personality fits into this existing landscape and find a way to highlight that match in your resume and cover letter.
3. Finally, figure out what skills you have to offer that your competitors probably don’t have. To do this, you may need to look back over your work history and draw lessons from some of your most unique experiences and proudest accomplishments. Refer to these episodes in your resume and cover letter and be ready to talk about them in detail during your interview, even if you aren’t specifically asked about them.
The best way to stay in the running and make it all the way to the final round of the selection process is to let employers know that you have skills your competitors lack. For more guidance with this process, reach out to the Texas staffing pros at Expert.