The financial services segment is rife with job opportunities as many hiring managers are looking to hire this year. If you are looking to make a career move there are some key factors to consider before you start submitting your resume.
According to
Customizing resumes and crafting cover letters is no small feat. It takes time and can be exhausting, to say the least. To make your job search more efficient, there are several steps to take before hitting "submit" on the application screen.
Are you the right fit for the job?
When reading through a job description, do a realistic and honest assessment of your skills and qualifications. Many employers have adopted the
However, there are specific requirements and qualifications an employer is looking for and if a firm is requiring specific experience that you do not have you many want to focus your efforts on another job listing.
It is also important to consider whether you are overqualified for the position. Employers are often hesitant about hiring overqualified talent for several reasons: the new hire will be unhappy and bored, they will soon leave for a better opportunity, the company cannot afford to pay them enough money.
Is the firm a good fit for you?
Before applying for a position you should do your best to determine if the firm's corporate culture seems to be a good fit for you. Why? Corporate culture is important. When there's a misalignment, it can impact everything from your job satisfaction, to your interactions with co-workers, and even your mental health.
Getting a feel for a firm's corporate culture can be done by looking through the firm's website, reading employer review boards, and checking out their social media pages. There are also online tools that can help you find subtle biases in the wording of job ads. For instance, job descriptions that lean more masculine with words may not spark as much interest from female job candidates.
If the corporate culture seems to be a good fit and you apply for the job your research will also prove helpful during the interview as you'll already have some good knowledge about the firm and its mission. Consider this: the Robert Half survey found that, beyond skills, the top traits employers look for in potential hires are:
1. Knowledge of the company
2. Timeliness and professionalism during interviews
3. Passion for the company's mission
Match your skills
When a firm is hiring there are a lot of applications they need to sift through. In fact, many companies narrow their pool of applicants to those who are the most qualified through the use of an applicant tracking system (ATS), which acts as an electronic filter, to collect, scan, sort and rank resumes.
Do you stand out? It can feel uncomfortable touting your abilities and achievements but not doing so could increase your chances of being overlooked.
Look carefully through the job description and customize your resume and cover letter by using keywords and phrases that match the job listing (making sure, of course, that you do possess those skills and abilities you list). There are also online tools that can help you optimize your resume.
What to avoid
In summary, here's a quick list of some
• Don't be vague. In other words, quantify your value and use numbers to help demonstrate your accomplishments.
• Don't be wordy. Avoid filling up shorter sections will flowery language that doesn't add much value.
• Don't use cliches and business jargon.
• Don't forget to proofread. Before hitting "submit" read through everything one more time to check for any spelling and grammatical errors.
• Don't exaggerate your skills and abilities.
As you search for new employment opportunities, follow the proper steps to make your job search as efficient as possible and ensure your
