News

How to stand out from the crowd

How do I stand out from the crowd? A question I am often asked by candidates, particularly when their perception is that job application numbers are high and jobs scarce. Of course, in applying for a new role, you need to assume a process is always competitive, but what impact has the pandemic played in all of this? 

Firstly, you will be pleased to hear that HR practitioners at all levels have been in steady demand throughout the course of 2020 (with an interrupted few months of March-May as the pandemic hit our shores). Since then, HR teams have been flat out navigating their COVID response, remote working, ‘digital everything’, as well as wellbeing and engagement strategies to list a few priorities. From an HR perspective, there is a huge amount of activity and as a result there have certainly been jobs to apply for. However, some industries have naturally been more challenged than others through the course of the pandemic, notably resulting in a greater volume of applications. This is particularly evident for HR Coordinator, HR Advisor, HR Consultant and HR Business Partner roles, and less so specialist HR roles.

When applying, your resume is often your first opportunity to showcase why a company should interview you (and ultimately hire you). My observation is that task-oriented resumes, that often read somewhat like a position description still seem to be the norm. It may sound obvious but shifting this to highlighting two or three of your most significant achievements within each of your roles, is crucial to differentiating yourself in a crowded market.

Think about where you have gone ‘above and beyond’

Additionally, what have you had exposure to that other candidates at your level may not have?

As an HR Coordinator for example you, unlike others, may have shadowed ER cases with your Manager. Perhaps drafted termination letters? Have you coached Managers through the remuneration review process? What HR Projects have you led? Have you constructed and put forward a business case?

Think about what skills are in demand…….

We have seen an ever-increasing demand for HR Coordinators and HR Advisors who offer experience with an HRIS (HR Information System). It is particularly important to highlight if you have had exposure to one of the more popular systems (such as Workday or SuccessFactors). If you are yet to gain HRIS experience perhaps speak to any alternate systems you have used or how you manage data within your current HR function. As we continue to navigate through remote working, being ‘systems-savvy’ has never been more important.

Industry expertise…

As companies navigate the challenges of an economic crisis, we tend to see transferable industry experience holding more weight than it may have previously. Organisations are seeking confidence that candidates have knowledge of their sector and can hit the ground running. Restructures, lean HR teams, crisis management and ongoing change can sometimes lead to less 1:1 time to train new starters (particularly in a remote world). Consider when applying for roles, whether your industry experience is transferable at some level.

It could be that you have worked in the same or similar industry, or alternatively it could be that you have worked in an industry with similar challenges, a comparable workforce, a similarly structured HR function, or an organisation of similar size and scale. In assessing the best talent for an HR job, we all know there is much more to consider than industry experience alone, but if your aim is to move from one industry to another, you’ll need to demonstrate that you have done your research and thought about how to position your transferable skills and knowledge articulately at interview.

I hope this helps give you guidance and a step in the right direction, and I wish you all the best of luck with your job search. Should you hope to start your search for a new opportunity, please feel free to contact me.

Anthea Johnston

Consultant