Stand out above the Crowd – Even in these Tough times………….. 

Everywhere we turn, be it the radio, newspapers or television – nothing but gloom and doom. Tough economic times, downturn in industry, lay offs, financial credit crunch, and blah blah blah. In the midst of all this turmoil, how does an Immigrant stand out above the crowd (believe me – at least 200 + resumes are received for every position posted on an internet job board)? Tough question but a very important one at that.

Differentiation is the key. What is your USP or unique selling proposition? Do not just continue to send resumes for every job you see on Workopolis or Monster job boards. Target and focus in your Job Search to ensure that you are applying to Jobs you really want or are extremely confident of getting, based on your passion, skills, education and experience. You will most certainly be able to stand out above the crowd when your resume offers benefits and value add to the potential company you are applying to. Concentrate on the benefits offered and not just your skills. How can your skills help the company in generating more revenues, save cost, implement a new system, etc?

Switching now to - What are employers looking for in potential hires? Having had this discussion with employers on a regular basis, it has become even more critical that the following skills are offered by new hires.

Reliability – when a superior has assigned a task to you, they assume that it will be done and in case there are challenges, you would get back to them on time and share your issues. Getting the Job Done whenever you are responsible is an amazing trait to have and certainly helps to create that credibility and reputation of reliability.

Teamwork – Ability to work with a group of people from either the same or different departments is the most crucial skill one can offer a potential employer. This skill can be highlighted on your resume by sharing projects / achievements that one has had in previous companies.

Communication – Due to the economic conditions, many companies have had to expand their reach for customers and go to overseas markets for business. Communication skills has become very important for employers also given the fact that there is a lot of cross functional teamwork involved in every aspect of the business today.

Adaptability – Companies are looking for candidates that are flexible and adaptable in their nature, attitudes and skill sets. Today most if not all companies are looking for customers globally, hence the ability to mingle, blend in and work with candidates from different ethnicities, backgrounds becomes that much more important.

These skill sets mentioned above are just as important as criteria like education, software and industry specialization.

Immigrant Coach