Recruiters are an excellent source of information for candidates and mid-career professionals. That’s because they have literally seen it all. They know what career success looks like, and the path that applicants need to take in order to get from point A to point B. Here are 3 of the very best pieces of career advice from those who know the landscape better than anyone else.

1) BEAT THE BOT

 The shift to digital talent sourcing has been both a blessing and a burden for companies and candidates alike. If you know how to work the system, you can do so much more when it comes to finding the right job. But first, you need to know how to get past the bots. Automated resume reviewing programs are quick to discard any resumes that don’t use special keywords that identify a candidate as relevant. And as employers are quick to receive hundreds upon hundreds of resumes, all in varying states of relevance for the position they are seeking to fill, you can see why it’s important to have a process in place to weed out those candidates who are not qualified.

That said, because of this automated gate keeping, you need to be sure you are using the right keywords for the job. Use the job description as your guide, and make sure you customize every resume you send to make sure it’s as relevant and readable as possible, even if the reader is a bot.

2) PUT A NUMBER TO YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS

 Quantified successes are important to position yourself for success in the job search because it helps measure you against other candidates. If you say you made all your sales goals, but fail to define the actual amount, that’s not something that can be measured against. By putting a number to your achievements, be they sales goals, clients earned, budgets managed, etc., you are helping employers to really see how valuable you are to an employer. And this also makes it easier to imagine you succeeding in their new role. So, don’t be afraid to get specific with your accomplishments. It will show employers that you mean businesses and you know how to measure your own success.

 3) DON’T GIVE UP

 Roles and opportunities come and go. Some times of year, such as in January or at the beginning of the fiscal year, job openings are more plentiful because budgets are available. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to find a new job at other times of year. In fact, those are often the secret opportunities to network and make connections with recruiters and employers before they even know they want to hire someone. That way, once that opportunity does come up, they already have someone in mind for the job—you!

So if you didn’t find the job of your dreams this week, don’t give up. Persistence is rewarded when it comes to job hunting. Just remember to keep learning, try new things, and always market yourself so that when that opportunity does present itself, you’re ready.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB?

We’re ready to help you find that dream job. Contact the USPRO team today or search for a job near you!