If you're looking for a new job this year, you'll probably need to look beyond the typical application process in order to stand out. With 86 percent of employees planning on actively looking for a new job in 2013, competition is still at an all-time high.
So how can you find success on the job hunt? Here are seven tips:
Every Job Seeker Must Apply Dedication To Their Personal SuccessUnsuccessful job seekers turn over responsibility for their job search. Sometimes, they depend on a recruiter. Other times, they count on Internet job boards to make sure their resume makes it. Networking, they send one email and give up. Successful job seekers realize this is their life, and they take control of their destiny. They follow up relentlessly and keep trying new tools until one works.
-- Alan Carniol, Interview Success Formula
Network, Network, and NetworkThe three most important aspects of your job search are networking! The talent pool is saturated with job seekers, go out there and meet hiring managers face to face, make an impact. Contact your local Chambers of Commerce or industry specific organizations and go to as many networking events as possible.
-- Ben Yeargin, Corporate Recruiter for Craig Technologies
The Video Resume Is An Essential Tool In The Job SearchWith a job market crowded with applicants, it's essential to make yourself stand out from the pack. This is where a video resume comes into play. A great video resume can not only show off your communication skills and passion for the job, it can also make you more memorable to hiring managers. Standing out from the crowd is a great way to snag an interview opportunity -- and eventually a job.
-- Josh Tolan, Spark Hire
LinkedIn Is IndispensableWant to find out exactly who your friends know? Want to strategically map out a plan to get hired at your dream company? Want to check, in one fell swoop, how many contacts you have in Cincinnati so you can meet up on your next business trip? LinkedIn is the ticket. It's worth taking the time to connect with everyone you know reasonably well (and respect).
-- Dorie Clark, Author of Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future
Interviewing Is A Two-Way Street! Think about the type of work you want to do, the kinds of setting in which you'd feel comfortable and the people with whom you'd like to work. Keep all that in mind when you search for opportunities and remember---as much as they're trying to get a sense for you, you should also be doing your damndest to gain a sense for them.
-- Mitchell D. Weiss, Author of Life Happens: A Practical Guide to Personal Finance from College to Career
Keep Track Of Your Job SearchI can't tell you how often I've called a job candidate who I wanted to interview who asked me to repeat which company I was calling from and then ask me which job it was that they applied to! It's a big turnoff that the candidate doesn't remember that they even applied for a job at my organization.
-- Dianne Shaddock Austin, Easy Small Business HR
A Great Resume Is Still ImportantEveryone needs a great resume during a job search. Even though you will not be hired because of your resume alone, you still need a resume that you can share with employers, friends, and colleagues. Your network is in the best position to help you when they have a resume that they can submit on your behalf to interested employers. And even if you come highly referred, you will still almost always need a resume for human resources' files.
-- Cheryl E. Palmer, Call to Career
What other advice would you add? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Heather R. Huhman is the founder and president of Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for job search and human resources technologies. You can connect with Heather and Come Recommended on Twitter and Facebook.