7 Ways to Make Hiring You Easier

7 Ways to Make Hiring You Easier

No matter the job you̵7;re seeking, you are bound to be competing against worthy candidates. To stand out from the crowd, start with a great profile that helps you shine on paper and reflects your strengths as a candidate.

Here are seven tips to help:

1) Keep It Short and Readable

̶0;Your job profile is a powerful tool,̶1; shares Joelle Castro, who works in member care at Care.com. ̶0;To make it as effective as possible, keep it short, sweet and to the point. If the profile is too long, no one will get to the end of it. It’s also important to illustrate your abilities by using anecdotes and specific examples that backup your experience.̶1;

Your profile will also be easier to read if you break it up into short paragraphs or bullets, rather than presenting it as one long description.

2) Shine Through Your Photo

Include a photo that shows you as friendly and professional. You should be the only person in the photo and it should be clear and in focus. Make sure you can see your entire head and that it isn̵7;t cropped off. Stay away from ̶0;selfies̶1; and instead ask a friend to take a photo of you. A smile is always a great idea. Don̵7;t wear anything that will distract from your face, such as dangling earrings, and don̵7;t wear revealing clothes.

Your goal is to portray yourself as a responsible, trustworthy and reliable employee.

3) Have Updated Availability

According to Castro, availability is one of the first things a family looks at. While flexibility is an asset, make sure you accurately list the times or days you will be able to work. Including this information will avoid friction with the family down the line.

4) List Your Skills, Qualifications, and Credentials

This should be an easy-to-read, bulleted list. Certifications and licenses pertaining to your job description should go first, followed by relevant skills. Include information about being bonded or insured.

Your skill list is a place for you to shine. If you are, for example, an excellent swimmer, math whiz or can teach children how to throw pottery, include those skills. These will make you stand out. Families are looking for providers they feel a connection with and the skills you list help make a great pre-meeting first impression. Don̵7;t discount your life experiences, classes you have taken or hobbies.

You never know what a family is looking for and your love for bird watching or crocheting might make you their No. 1 candidate.

5) List Your References and Related Work Experience

Make sure to include the company or family name, years you were employed, your position and responsibilities you had during your previous employment. Potential references should be notified ahead of time that they might be called so they are prepared and able to give a glowing report about your services. Your references, as well as your reviews on Care.com, say volumes about you and can help to clinch the deal, so don̵7;t be shy about asking people to review you.

̶0;When I posted my ad for a nanny, many simply sent me an email, but Megan, the woman I hired, sent a proper, grammatically correct resume,̶1; says Kari Peckman of the blog Time is Money Mommy. ̶0;She had incredible references. I had a great feeling about her, but her references cemented the job for her.̶1;

6) Make Your Background Check Available and Keep It Updated

Premium provider memberships at Care.com enable you to run your own background check and make the results available quickly for families interested in learning more about you. This step saves potential employers time and indicates your seriousness about your profession.

7) Make Things Personal

One of the biggest complaints from families is that they get “form letter” style responses to their job post. And it leaves them with the feeling that the applicant didn’t even read the job description. Respond to a job post the way you would want to hear from an applicant. Talk about the kids in the family, why the job “spoke” to you, the help you can provide based on what they said they needed. Speaking directly to the job will take more time on your end, but it’s bound to get you more responses from families.

Taking time to create a professional, well-thought-out profile on Care.com will give you an edge in today’s competitive market, as well as the opportunity to show potential employers your best side. While the job market may be fierce, professionalism, persistence and a proactive attitude can help land the job you desire.

Corey Whelan is a freelance writer in New York.


Previous:

Next: