Whether you’re suddenly left without a job, thanks to the recent wave of tech layoffs sweeping through the industry, or feel like you’ve outgrown your current position and are looking for a new challenge, fire off a generic resume and hoping for the best is not going to make it.

According to online resume builder Zety, really alone 10% of the applications result in a job interview, and job seekers must send in between 30 and 50 resumes to get hired. That means honing your interview skills is essential if you want to stand out and secure an interview that will hopefully lead to a job offer. Here’s how…

Cover letters are important

While many job seekers put all of their effort into crafting the perfect resume, cover letters can sometimes be overlooked as an unnecessary introduction before the main event. However, a well-written cover letter is essential if you want to stand out from your professional peers. In fact, according to Jobbio’s Recruitment Intelligence Report 202246% of hiring managers say a well-crafted cover letter immediately sets an applicant apart from the competition.

This is supported by additional data collected by ResumeGo: a tailor-made cover letter makes an application 50% more likely to get an interview.

Defeat the ATS bots

From Siri helping you make hands-free calls on your iPhone to the sophisticated and seamless way Chat GPT mimics your writing style, AI has infiltrated every part of our daily lives, including our ability to get a job.

Research shows that 75% of recruiters or hiring managers use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) in the hiring process while 98% of Fortune 500 companies also use an ATS program to filter potential employees. So, how can you beat the bots? Find keywords from the job description and incorporate them into your resume and cover letter.

Add power words

Sustainable skills (the ability to use soft skills such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking and leadership as the foundation of your approach to all work tasks) are essential for career success – recent data shows that seven out of 10 of the most requested skills in job descriptions were sustainable skills. They should also be applied to your job application in the form of strong words to demonstrate how your sustainable skills have helped you achieve professional success. Examples of powerful words include “initiated,” “developed,” “coordinated,” “orchestrated,” “adapted,” and “enhanced.”

Dynamic design

While you might think that a flashy designed PDF or template from the likes of Canva or CV.io are the best way to stand out from the crowd, video formats are gaining popularity, especially among younger Gen Z cohorts.

Take TikTok Resume as the perfect example of this: Launched in 2021, the format allows job seekers to create and upload a short 60-second video application that leverages the power of social media while showcasing their skills and demonstrate experience in a more interactive and personal way. way. Video interviews are also easily digestible for recruiters and hiring managers.

Expand your network

Thankfully, the era of Zoom coffee is behind us and face-to-face networking is back in full force is expected to surpass 2019 levels in 2023. While networking with your professional colleagues does not automatically equate to an interview or job offer, data collected by Tech Jury found that 95% of professionals believe better business relationships are built through face-to-face meetings. So exposing yourself and using informal gatherings to stay informed is an essential part of the application process, albeit in a more holistic way.

Ready to put your new and improved resume and cover letter to the test? The House of Talent Job Board has hundreds of job openings at companies that are currently hiring, such as the three below.

Senior Fullstack Engineer – Zalando Marketing Services (all genders), Zalando, Berlin

As a Fullstack Engineer at e-commerce platform Zalando, you create a best-of-class user experience for all fashion brands advertising on the platform, helping them to bring the best products to customers. The role is primarily focused on the frontend, but there will be multiple instances where your backend capabilities come into play. You will also be tasked with building and improving the campaign management tool that allows Zalando fashion brands to directly plan, execute and monitor advertising campaigns and create the best user experience. See more details about this role here.

CRM Manager – Conversion m/f/d, Deezer, Paris

From a French tech startup founded in 2007, Deezer has grown into one of the first French unicorns and the second largest independent music streaming platform in the world. It is now looking for a CRM Manager to join its team in Paris to oversee the design, delivery and reporting of its CRM strategy, with an emphasis on activation and conversion campaigns. In this role, you are expected to develop and implement actionable, multi-channel and user-centric CRM strategies to engage and convert users from free to paid, and implement testing and learning strategies to continuously improve existing automated journeys and deliver effective campaigns. Apply for this position today.

Senior Security Engineer – Product (m/f/d), Trade Republic, Berlin

Trade Republic is on a mission to democratize wealth. The information security team protects against threats, fraud and legal sanctions so it can grow, compete and build a relationship of trust with customers. The company is currently hiring a Senior Security Engineer to conduct architecture design reviews and threat modeling exercises and proactively detect security flaws and flaws in its products and features. View the full job description here.

Accelerate your career in 2023 with the House of Talent Job Board