5 Ways to Set Yourself Apart During the Job Hunt

The job hunt is quickly approaching for many soon to be college graduates. It’s definitely a scary time in your life, and I would be lying if I didn’t mention all the stress that comes along with job searching. 

I was fortunate enough to have a job lined up prior to graduation and I believe there are several reasons for this.

Understand that the competition in the job market will only increase as time progresses, so how can you stand out?

Listed in this post are five strategies that will help set yourself apart in the job hunt. You will always hear varied advice on this topic, but keep in mind these methods helped me and many other individuals I know.

5 Ways to Set Yourself Apart During the Job Hunt

1. Create a Portfolio Website

“But I have no idea how to build a website, and how will this even help me?” The good news is that creating a basic website these days has become easier than ever.

You would also be amazed how important it is to have a portfolio website that showcases your projects, skills, and work experiences. Almost every interview I walked into a recruiter mentioned something about my portfolio website.

Whether it was included in a job application or often found on the first page of Google, I know for a fact having my own website drew attention.

“So where do I get started?” I would recommend learning how to create a portfolio website using either WordPress, Squarespace, or even Wix.

This will come with a little investment in most cases, but highly worth it when you are competing against hundreds if not thousands of applicants.

I can’t stress the importance of this one enough. Watch tutorial videos on YouTube, read how to articles, or even reach out to me if you need assistance. It’s not perfect by any means, but check out my Portfolio Website as a reference to see what I’m talking about.

2. Move Away From the “Status Quo” Resume Format

Recruiters see thousands of Resumes that look the same – black and white, times new roman font, one page, etc. “But I’ve always been told to have a one page Resume.”

I’ve heard this advice multiple times as well, but the more I applied for jobs the more I understood that having this original Resume format just blends you in with the crowd.

It wasn’t until the end of my job hunt that I switched up Resume formats and started to see better results. If only I could go back and do it all over again.

So what exactly do I mean by “moving away from the status quo Resume format?” There are plenty of great resources out there when it comes to Resume templates.

Because it’s free and effective, my recommendation is to use Canva and customize your own Resume from the templates they provide. Many of them are free to download as a PDF, PNG, or JPG file.

Take a look at my Updated Resume as a reference. Understand that even if you’re less qualified than other candidates applying for the same job, this will jump out and make recruiters take a second look.

3. Take Advantage of Connections

Your professional network plays a huge role in the job hunt. Who you know matters. Whether it’s friends who graduated college, professors, family friends, or other alumni, be sure to utilize your connections when job searching.

Reach out to professors in your field about their network of former students and other industry professionals. I’ve had great experiences with this and even had a couple opportunities as a result.

Reaching out to alumni is also very important. Regardless if you personally know someone or not, send an email or message them on LinkedIn expressing your interest in a company and what opportunities are available.

I’ve had great interactions with alumni in the past and I’ve found that most are willing to go out of their way to help you. Showing initiative is extremely important and it goes a long way.

4. Emphasize Experiences Outside of the Classroom

Most soon to be college graduates have similar educational backgrounds, so hoping to get by with just a high GPA won’t cut it. Instead, emphasize what you accomplished outside of the classroom.

Achievements in student orgs, involvement on campus, volunteering, side projects, these are all great examples to include on job applications and talk about in interviews.

Also be sure to discuss previous job/internship experiences and the skills you were able to gain from them. Whenever you apply for a job, always be thinking about how you can connect your previous experiences to the responsibilities of this new position. 

5. Stay Positive Throughout the Process

As I mentioned in the beginning, I would be lying if I said the job hunt isn’t stressful at times. Learning how to maintain a positive mindset throughout the process is crucial.

I’ve experienced several rejections and often times never heard back from organizations after applying. This is common for many, so don’t let this hold you back if you have these experiences.

Instead focus on how you can improve moving forward. Does your Resume need work? Having interview struggles? Ask yourself these types of questions that focus on getting better.

So regardless of the hardships and stress that come along, remind yourself to always stay positive and “trust the process.”

Final Take

The job hunt following college graduation is one of the most important times of your life. Take the advice that I have provided with this article, and I guarantee implementing these strategies will help you stand out from the competition.

Build a portfolio website, switch Resume formats, utilize connections, emphasize outside experiences, and positivity. There are definitely other tactics out there, but these five are solid starting points.

Reach Out

Is this article helpful regarding the job hunt? Reach out and let me know your thoughts.

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