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How to Stand Out as a Job Applicant in London this Summer

Written by: LoveLocalJobs.com
Published on: 21 Jul 2016

Job seeking in a big city at any time can be tough, but this summer has felt like a whirlwind of trial and tribulation! London was voted the best place to live and work in 2014, and the city has won many accolades since, but for the average job seeker in the capital, stepping into this competitive jobs market can feel almost intimidating. The LoveLocalJobs.com team recognise the concerns felt by our candidates who visit our Croydon jobs board, but we’re here to help with some top tips on how to stand out from the crowd.

Avoid vague insertions

Your CV and cover letter should be concise to improve engagement, but there are times when it’s OK to elaborate on your past achievements, like awards, tools that you have used in past roles and skills. It’s OK to list each point along the page, just make sure that you showcase your experience to its fullest - now is the time to show off a little.

Look for keywords in a job advert to tailor your CV

Tailoring your CV for every job application is time-consuming, but trust us, it pays off. Businesses often receive multiple applications for a single role so before it reaches the desk of a decision maker, CVs are almost always whittled down by how well your skills and experience match the job advert. You can find guides on top words to insert for keywords search, but ‘insider’ words differ from company to company within a single industry. If a job post refers to content creation as ‘content production’ for example, tweak your experience. The same can be applied to professional acronyms, job titles, and services that match your skillset but are worded differently, for example ‘Producer’ rather than ‘Project Manager. Just remember to scan your details the next time you apply for a role with a different employer.

Get endorsed

LinkedIn is awash with recruiters seeking out high performers, but your accomplishments and skills can only say so much. Make your profile stand out from the crowd by including multiple professional endorsements. Snippets of praise can accrue from past university lecturers, employers, professional networks, and other notable individuals that know your capabilities and qualities. Top tip: include a recommendation at the end of your cover letter to reaffirm your potential for a role.

Do your research

If you’ve spent the morning before your interview trying to cram as much information about the company as you can, tell-tale signs will often emerge under pressure. Put in the prep early so that if you are asked to attend a face-to-face interview, or you're invited for a discussion on the phone, you’ll be calm with a few ideas of your own on how to drive growth at the company. Research includes the history of the company, product and service research and industry analysis.

Get networking

London is one of the most well-connected cities in the world, so now’s the time to get out of the house and develop some connections. Networking in a big city entails a level of focus amongst the bustle, choosing a relevant scene for you from potentially hundreds of events, and building connections that you can maintain once you have parted ways, because you never know what opportunities could be forged. Free up some time to attend events by signing up to a 24-hour job alert system with a dedicated recruiter that will do the hard work for you.

Seek to impress at every stage

Walk through the front door of a company with the view that every opinion matters, from the person at the front desk to the workers that are travelling in and out of the building. You never know who will pass a message on to the hiring manager about how you conduct yourself when you’re off-guard. In fact, some companies specifically ask the front of house to assess candidates when they walk into the lobby.

Follow up, follow up

If you make a professional connection this summer, you’ll follow up your initial discussion to develop a business relationship. So if you’re interested in a role, apply the same level of commitment to the application by calling the company once you have submitted your CV as this will keep your details and enthusiasm fresh in the mind of the hiring manager.

Be discovered and progress in your career by joining forces with LoveLocalJobs.com this summer. Our Croydon jobs board is packed with the latest job posts that are just waiting to be snapped up. Create an account with us to today to receive hassle-free job alerts on the go and support and guidance during your job search.