Is it easy to be noticed? Is there a right way to go about being noticed? Success and failure within the job market can hinge on whether you stand out against your competition.
A related (ish) story to begin with. An old friend of mine decided that, following yet another rejection, he wanted to be noticed by the opposite sex as much as possible. To be fair to him, despite being good company and very witty, he was very average. Average height, build etc. The kind of person you would pass on the street and forget straight away. To achieve his aim he took to wearing outlandish clothes of a variety of designs and colours….and very questionable taste! When we met again some weeks later he reported that he was getting a lot of attention. Is there a happy ending? Well, he is still single.
In a competitive market, the challenge is to be noticed, to stand out as the best option available. In the jobs market, this applies to those looking to secure a new role and to those who are looking to attract the best talent. But is there a right way to go about this? Should you be bold and make everyone notice you or should you portray an air of quiet confidence?
For companies, reputation is very important. Large organisations may have an advantage in so much that they have a recognised brand and an established presence. Smaller companies may well be well regarded within their niche, but do face a challenge when trying to appeal to a wider audience.
For individuals, we now live within the digital age where there is a wide array of tools to “self promote”. Even those with no discernable talent manage to keep themselves in the public eye.
Within the job market, companies and individuals face a different set of challenges if they hope to succeed. With very few exceptions, recruitment is a person to person environment and there is very little in the way of branding or image management to hide behind. You must be able to prove what you say and be able to back up any claims.
For companies, the person who represents you, your brand and your image is the interviewer. Organisations must recognise that a good applicant will have other options so the ability to portray a positive image and message is essential.
For individuals, being able to stand out from the crowd can be a challenge. Unless you have unique skills, the likely situation is that you will be up against other applicants, all of whom thinking that they will be successful. As such, being able to translate and transmit your skills, experience and expertise as well as your personality in a manner which will maximise your chances of success is a valuable asset.
Over the coming weeks, we will look at these areas in more detail and provide guidance and advice to those looking for new roles as well as those looking to recruit fresh talent.
