Are you in the market for an administrative assistant job or other office support role? How can you stand out among your competition? There are a few easy ways that you can showcase your skills and prove that you are the right solution to the company’s problems. Here are three tips that can land you on the short list when applying for jobs.
- Be very specific to the job requirements. When applying for a position listed online, you want to pull some of the important keywords from the job description and incorporate them into your resume in a natural way. Don’t cram them all into one sentence, as that will be seen as keyword stuffing and get your resume tossed out as quickly as one with no keywords. You want to be sure to include accomplishments from your past jobs that focus specifically on what you can do for the new company. Many companies also use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to review resumes, so having keywords within your resume is extremely important to stand out to not only a recruiter, but to an ATS as well.
- Don’t make basic and avoidable mistakes. Review your resume for typing errors, misspellings, and other grammar issues. You also want to keep any unnecessary personal information off your resume. Keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date, even when you’re not seeking a job, so you don’t have to scramble for information when you’re ready. Also, be sure to pick reliable and strong references to provide. These should be former supervisors, co-workers, or any professional acquaintance who can speak to the merit of your work. One wrong statement from a former employer, and your chances could be over.
- Craft a killer cover letter. Your resume is only part of the picture when it comes to successfully applying for jobs. You also want to pay attention to the cover letter. In today’s digital age, this usually means the email to which you attach your resume. Introduce yourself, talk about the job and why you want it, and demonstrate specific skills and accomplishment that will be of particular interest to the potential employer. They know you want the job when you apply, you have to show them why they should want you for it.
Are you looking for your next great admin assistant role? Harvard Resource Solutions is hiring for jobs in Troy MI and can help today!