5 Ways To Be More Hirable

This blog was written based on our interview on Good Morning Arizona with President & Chief Communications Officer of Digital HQ Jacqueline Keidel Martinez.

Whether you’re full-throttle on the hunt or in the beginning stages of the job searching, the process can be challenging, overwhelming and often frustrating. And while job growth has increased in certain industries, unemployment is still sitting tight at 4.1%, making standing out among other applicants harder than ever. 

The good news? Digital HQ can help. We recently sat down with AZ Family’s morning show, “Good Morning Arizona”, to discuss how to elevate your brand, amp up your resume, engage your network and ultimately become more hirable. In case you missed it, here are our top five tips on getting that career opportunity you’re looking for .

Build Your Personal Brand

When top executives come to Digital HQ to build their profile and company visibility, the first thing we say is that you’ve got to have a brand. The same goes for you, too. Yes, employers are looking to hire people who are passionate, forward-thinking, and can produce results for the job at hand. But they’re also looking to work with people that align with their values and would be a cultural fit for their team. Whether it be on social platforms or real life, everything you create and do should come back to your personal brand. Don’t be afraid to get a little vulnerable, talk about your strengths and weaknesses, and share what makes you… you.

Update your resume

In today’s job market, many companies rely on AI to take the first swipe of resumes that funnel in. It’s important that your resume can stand out in the “stack” that uses this technology. How do you do this? First, understand the keywords in the position you’re applying for. The best place to find these is in the actual job descriptions. Then, make sure your resume aligns up with the criteria the job description requires. This may mean having to customize for each application. 

The ultimate resume game changer is highlighting results you’ve produced. Get specific and when in doubt, follow the formula: Accomplish X by doing Y. For example, let’s say you manage social media for a local restaurant. Instead of only listing those responsibilities, share how you executed a campaign that helped drive new foot traffic by 10%. 

Have limited experience in your field? List accomplishments during your time at your university, clubs you’re a part of or volunteer work. 

Spruce up your LinkedIn

Think of LinkedIn as not only an extension of your resume but a powerhouse for building your personal brand. When updating your LinkedIn, the same rules apply for updating your resume. Make sure your profile has all the keywords you’d want a recruiter to find you by, all job descriptions are up-to-date and and our trusty formula (see above) is being implemented. 

It’s also helpful to post once a week on LinkedIn with topics relating to your industry. This could be as simple as sharing a news article. It’s a great way to stay engaged on the platform.

Build a personal website

This certainly isn’t required but it’s a nice touch. And you don’t need to be a marketer to have one! It’s an additional channel to share your resume and more of your personal brand (which all roads lead back to). Programs like WordPress or Wix make the process of building a site completely accessible.  

Just don’t forget to link to it on your resume and LinkedIn! 

Network, network, network

We said it three times because it’s really that critical. Connecting with others and maintaining relationships is one of the only sure-fire ways to get an upper hand among the competition. From AI technology feilding resumes to many open roles never even get posted online, staying engaged with old colleagues, reconnecting with classmates and attending industry events will keep you top of mind for when a position opens up that you would be perfect for. 

Time to reach out to a potential employer or mentor? Don’t hesitate, as they’ve likely been in your position once! We recommend asking them for coffee and coming prepared with specific questions and topics to discuss during your time. Just make sure you keep it to 30 minutes to be respectful of their time.

Hot tip: LinkedIn has a ton of free networking events available in their ecosystem! 

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