Job hunting success can be difficult in a tough economy. There is a lot of competition from other job seekers and fewer positions available. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to make yourself more employable. These tips will help you stand out among the competition.

Job Hunting Success Beings with a Good Resume

A poor resume is the reason many applicants do not get a call back from a potential employer. Even if you have a good record of work experience, it may not be fully demonstrated in your resume. Take time to really flesh out the work and academic history portions of your resume. Make note of your accomplishments and awards you may have received. Use numbers and statistics whenever possible to demonstrate proof of performance. If you have leadership experience, be sure to mention it. Keep all of the details to one or two pages maximum. If you need more room to go into detail about your work history, get rid of things like the resume “objective”–it’s fluff. The objective of every job seeker is to get a job that matches their qualifications, desires, and knowledge level; the potential employer knows that. If necessary, get help with your resume from a friend, family member, or a professional resume writer.

Get Certified

There are many different types of voluntary certifications available. Look up organizations and associations that relate to your industry. Are there any certifications available, and if so, do you qualify for any of them? For example, if you are seeking a position as a legal secretary, you can get certified as a legal support professional by acquiring the Accredited Legal Secretary (ALS) designation or other designations from the National Association of Legal Professionals. You could also seek certifications related to software commonly used in an office setting, such as Microsoft Office Certifications. If a certification opportunity is available, it may be worth considering. Certifications look good to many employers and may even be required for some positions.

Finish or Earn a Degree

If you enrolled in an accredited degree program, but never finished, or if you have been thinking about earning your degree, now may be the time to do it. More and more employers are looking for applicants with a degree or an advanced degree. If you have the right academic credentials, you may be able to beat out another applicant that has only a high school diploma or an undergraduate degree. Consider your chosen profession and ask yourself if more education would benefit your chances of getting a job. If the answer is yes, you may want to think about going back to school either part-time or full-time. You may also want to consider getting a degree online. For example, an online criminal justice degree can be earned from all the standard online educators but is also available through the major universities such as Penn State.

Network

Sometimes being employable and getting a job is all about knowing the right people. If you network with people in your industry, your chance of finding employment opportunities rises considerably. Knowing people in your industry can also lead to job recommendations. It is much easier to get into a company if you are recommended by someone on the inside. In some companies, a recommendation is all that is really needed to get your foot in the door. The biggest online network of professionals is LinkedIn.

Be Productive

Employment gaps never look good on a resume. If you are out of work and can’t find a job, do something while you look. Internships, volunteer work, or part-time employment will give you something to put on your resume in place of a gap. These temporary jobs may even give you experience that could prove useful in a future position.