Job applications are highly competitive, with most roles receiving around 86 applications. To stand out, applicants need to showcase their personal brand and sell themselves as the ideal fit. This involves optimizing online profiles, building a professional digital presence, and tailoring each application to the specific role and company. Generic applications will likely be ignored, so applicants must communicate their passion and qualifications for the opportunity. Networking, online courses, and side projects can further strengthen applications.

1. By
Andy Parker
Co-Founder at Zealify
@ParkerACS
@Zealify
www.zealify.com
Strategies, Methods, Tips &
Tricks for Standing Out From
the Crowd

2. Zealify’s Mission
To help people
discover great jobs
they enjoy in exciting
companies to work
for.
- High growth
startups & SMEs.
- 15-250 employees.
- Mostly tech & digital
- But roles of all types

3. Job Applications are a Fight for
Attention

4. Job Applications are a Fight for
Attention
So do something to
STAND OUT

9. Inside the Hiring Manager’s Head

10. Inside the Hiring Manager’s Head
o ~86 Applications per job role
o Tight for time
o Looking to hire the best person for the
team who can perform well in the job.
≠
the most experienced / high-performing

11. What are the employers looking
for?
ü Attitude over aptitude
ü Value
ü Culture Fit
ü People who punch above their weight

12. EVERY Interaction Counts

13. Searching for a job IS a job
The basics:
ü Be willing to help yourself
ü Be polite – ALWAYS
ü Don’t be arrogant
ü Don’t fool yourself, there are
opportunities.
BUT you have to HUSTLE

14. Always be ‘on’
Be so remarkable they can’t ignore you:
- Networking
- Phone manner
- Email etiquette
- Social media
- Actual applications

15. How good is your
Personal Brand?

16. “Your personal brand is what
people say about you when
you’re not in the room”
- Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon

17. “Your personal brand is what people say about you when
you’re not in the room”
- Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon
What does google say about you?

18. You want the hiring manager to say:
“This person looks really
interesting. We HAVE to meet
with them”

19. You want the hiring manager to say:
“This person looks really
interesting. We HAVE to meet
with them”

20. Personal Branding: Quick Wins
§ Firstnamelastname@gmail.com
§ Personal business cards
§ About.me
§ Professional Email signature

21. Your digital footprint
§ LinkedIn
§ Twitter
§ Personal website
§ Blogging – “blogging is the new resume”
§ Don’t discount Facebook

22. EVIDENCE of your work
§ GitHub
§ Dribbble
§ Personal website
§ Portfolio – (side) projects
§ Freelancing
§ References

23. LinkedIn Profiles
§ Vanity URL
§ Complete profile
§ Attach work examples
§ Join Groups
§ Recommendations
§ Connections

24. Are you willing to Hustle?

25. “Yes I am
interested in all
your vacancies.
Sign me up I’m
ready to work
hard.”
“Feel free to put
me forward for
any roles you
think are
suitable for my
skillset”
Generic Applications are your
enemy!
“I am interested to apply for the
available opportunity in your
organisation?”

26. “Those who stand for nothing
fall for anything”

27. Generic Applications are your
enemy!
✘ ‘Send to all’ templates
✘ Copy and pasted applications
✘ Scatter gun approach
DO NOT DO THIS

28. Generic applications will
receive the generic response;
‘no’.
If a candidate hasn’t taken the time and effort to
submit a well thought through application, why
should the employer take the time to think
through their decision?

29. Do you have Skill-Set / Market
Fit?
ü Examples of work & achievements?
ü Quantify them = context & value
ü Up to date skills? (Online courses)
ü Understanding & knowledge of the
industry

30. Get Certified – Online Courses

31. Get Involved - Communities

32. Communicate ‘WHY’
Ø WHY is this particular company of interest
to you?
Ø WHY is this particular role of interest to
you?
Ø WHY are YOU the right person to join this
company and perform well in this role?

33. You need to be a problem
solver
Position yourself as the solution to the
company’s problems. They need to hire you
for a reason.

34. Most Common Mistakes
✘ Speling & Grammer :-P
✘ Attention to detail
✘ Not reading the job description
✘ Too generic
ü Need to show desire, passion, zeal!

35. Tools & Tricks

36. LinkedIn Company Search
Use it for finding:
• Company details
• Job openings
• Size of the company
• Info about people who work there

37. Meetup.com
Use it for finding:
• Relevant events to meet employers
• What events specific people (employers) attend or
organise
Type:
Site:meetup.com ‘companyname’
Or
Site:meetup.com “person’s name’

38. Marketing.grader.com
Use it for finding:
• Relevant articles / news about an employer
• Other interesting insights about the
company’s online presence
Warning: can spook people out.

39. Connectifier Chrome Extension
Use it for finding:
• A person’s social profiles
• Their email address

40. SideKick Chrome Extension
Use it for:
• Profiles in your inbox
• Tracking who opens and clicks your emails
• Schedule emails for later

41. Trello board – organise your
job search (and life)
Use it for:
• Organising your entire job search
• Storing your research
• Setting reminders

42. Leverage Your Network
Get Introductions!
Weak-ties > Strong-ties
Ask for advice – take people to coffee
Online networks & communities
Go to events and meetups

43. Me CHALLENGING you

45. “Your work is going to fill a large
part of your life, and the only way
to be truly satisfied is to do what
you believe is great work. And the
only way to do great work is to
love what you do.”
- Steve Jobs

46. Andy Parker
ap@zealify.com
@ParkerACS
@Zealify
www.zealify.com
Thank you!
Any Questions?
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info.zealify.com/blog