Employment advice

How to stand out in this tough job market

Dear Class of 2020: You are graduating into one of the worst economies in history. But this isn’t news to you. Many of you have already felt the impact, with summer internships and full-time job offers pulled out from under you as the depth and duration of the coronavirus pandemic sets in.

All is not lost. You will eventually land a job. It might not be in your field, but if you’re scrappy and creative, you will get there. These tips from career coaches can help you stand out from the other new grads.

1 Beef up your linkedin profile

“You don’t have as much face-to-face opportunity, so it’s important to optimize online visibility,” says Debra Rodenbaugh-Schaub, a career services consultant at the Alumni Association of Kansas State University. The place to do that: LinkedIn. The professional networking platform is heavily trafficked by recruiters and hiring managers, making it crucial to put your best foot forward.

Amp up your profile with links to websites you’ve created, articles you’ve written or presentations you’ve given. You can even upload recordings to highlight public-speaking skills.

Look at profiles of people who are leaders in the industry you’re targeting to get inspiration for what to highlight and how to present yourself.

2 Network virtually

Social distancing hasn’t killed networking; it’s just made it virtual.

The usual players — trade organizations, alumni groups and professional organizations — are all still meeting via webinars and video conferencing.

Moving online can make networking less intimidating for newbies. You can ease into building connections, absorbing information and building the confidence to eventually become a more active participant.

You can, and should, also make meaningful one-on-one connections. Not doing so will put you at a distinct disadvantage, since jobs are often filled via an employee referral.

3 Tailor your resume

Understand what a company is looking for in a candidate. Then, customize your resume and cover letter to that specific job posting. This is an important step under normal circumstances but it is critical now, as the economic upheaval of the pandemic has increased competition for available jobs.

Avoid simply listing skills or tasks. Instead, give them context. Highlight how your experience and actions delivered measurable outcomes.