4 Ways to Get a Hiring Manager's Attention

You've done everything right in your job hunt: You've built your professional network, your résumé is error-free and your online reputation is spotless. You think you've done a good job of marketing your skills and experience to prospective employers. But despite your best efforts, you're still searching.

How can you increase your chances of landing an interview and, ultimately, a new job in this competitive environment? Following are some suggestions to help you get noticed and distinguish yourself from the crowd of other applicants:

Become an expert

One way to gain the attention of potential employers is to make a name for yourself in your field. Easier said than done, right? Not necessarily. Building a reputation as an expert in your chosen niche might take less effort than you think. The key is to start small. Consider contributing to blogs that are targeted to individuals in your profession. If you're an administrative professional, for instance, you might comment on a post about Microsoft Excel shortcuts or one on best practices for negotiating with office supply vendors. You also could contribute articles to a local professional association's newsletter or speak at a group's upcoming chapter meeting. Look at avenues that align with your strengths and comforts. Over time, you may find that you're able to build a reputation as an expert in your field.

An added benefit of your efforts is that you can often direct hiring managers to materials that help illustrate your expertise. For example, you might include a copy of a recent article you authored on .NET programming with your résumé or list links to guest posts you contributed to a well-known blog frequented by information technology professionals in your cover letter.

Optimize your social networking profile

Many hiring managers search for potential hires through social networking forums. Your profile on these websites can, in essence, serve as an online résumé, available for any prospective employer to see. If you have a presence on LinkedIn or similar websites, make sure your work history is thorough and up-to-date. Integrate keywords that describe your skills, specialties and positions of interest. For example, if you're an accountant, you might include terms such as "certified public accountant," "international financial reporting standards" or "tax accounting." Treat your online profile with the same care as you would your official résumé -- make sure it is free of typos and grammatical mistakes, and ask a trusted friend to review it to confirm it is clear, concise and easy to understand. A good last step is to obtain recommendations from former colleagues and supervisors to post on your personal page.

Go old-school

In an age of electronic communication, sometimes using pen and paper can help you stand out from a crowded field of job candidates. If you submit your résumé to an online job board or company's website, consider following up by sending the employer a printed copy of your résumé on high-quality stationery. Or, after meeting with a hiring manager in person, send a handwritten thank-you note instead of an e-mail. In many cases, yours will be the only hard-copy document that a hiring manager receives.

Work with a recruiter

A recruiter can be an excellent partner in a job search because these individuals work with hiring managers all day, every day. That means they have existing relationships with -- and inside access to -- the people you are hoping to reach. Simply put, a recruiter can get your résumé read by a potential employer. Best of all, it costs you nothing to access a recruiter's expertise. When choosing the right recruiter, identify one who specializes in your field and has experience assisting job seekers like yourself.
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Source msnCareers