Josh TolanLet’s face it, as rapidly as roles have evolved (along with shifting work models) since 2020, it’s not as cut and dry as it used to be to prepare to enter the virtual hiring process. Not only has it become more difficult to get in front of hiring managers and show off your qualifications, but it’s also noticeably more difficult to determine if you’re qualified and how to demonstrate that to recruiters and hiring pros.
Most companies have returned to work or have plans to move employees back into office or hybrid roles. As the economy shifts yet again, employers are looking at the potential for room to grow and ways to find fresh talent to help meet their goals. You just need to make a few adjustments to get on their virtual hiring radar:
Feature relevant experience
Many companies have switched to remote and hybrid work models. Autonomy is a major draw to these types of roles, but to be hirable, you need to be able to prove you can handle the responsibility of working independently toward goals and solving problems. Any experience you have that proves your work ethic, adaptability, ingenuity, etc. should be front and center on your resume and profiles.
Think of times you needed to:
- Set your own goals
- Manage your schedule
- Meet deadlines without supervision
- Solve complex problems on your own
- Communicate and collaborate with peers virtually
This experience may have been gained on the job but it could also be attributed to volunteer work, coaching, or playing on sports teams, and involvement with other clubs and organizations.
Consider adding relevant images and videos of you performing in these roles to your social profiles and obtaining recommendations on LinkedIn or your professional website from peers in community groups, foundations you volunteer with, and previous employers that highlight relevant experience.
Use social media as a strength
Social media is so common, nearly everyone has at least one platform they engage on. Most companies try to maintain profiles on several social media platforms as well. If you’re not active on social media, you may want to consider jumping on this trend as it’s more likely to become an expectation of recruiters for virtual hiring.
Your social media accounts allow recruiters to assess for important qualifications, such as:
- Culture fit
- Values
- Personality
- Proof of employment
- Networking connections
They may even look to see if your profile details are accurate and consistent. It’s important to make sure all active accounts are updated and information agrees. If you have social accounts you don’t prefer to use anymore or you prefer to keep private, make sure to delete or lock them.
Keep in mind, if recruiters find you have numerous profiles that are inaccessible to the public, they may suspect your private content is inappropriate. Or they may just move on to a candidate they can easily pre-screen through social media.
The best way to make yourself hirable is to commit to building social profiles that show off your personal brand. Determine your values and post content that depicts who you are personally and professionally. Share your interests and accomplishments.
Just be sure you’re consistent and not reworking your profile and social content every time you want to appeal to a new company. You never know who’s been following and waiting to recruit you. If your profiles are overhauled frequently, red flags can go up.
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Adjust your way of updating resumes
Updating your resume can be tricky. There are so many new tips and trends every year. Should you go bold and creative with a video resume or stick to the basic document format? Do you send your portfolio and references or wait for them to request those resources? The truth is, there is no real answer to these questions because it depends on the role, the company, your qualifications, and the preferences of recruiters which you have no way of predicting.
For example, if the company requires substantial experience in the industry and you think your transferable skills could land you the job, you might want to start with a functional resume. Feature your qualifications and skills to get their attention, and share your portfolio and accolades.
On the contrary, if you have a lot of experience in the industry but lack skills in some of the current technologies or certifications recommended, you can show off your years of dedication and advancement with a chronological resume. Many companies will train on the job or allow you to earn certifications before you start if they are impressed with your work history and reliable references.
The key is to research the company and identify the qualifications for the job you possess. Meeting all requirements in a job listing is unlikely for nearly any role. Don’t let that discourage you from applying. Just make it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to assess what makes you qualified for the job in the virtual hiring process.
You may be asked to submit a one-way video interview or interview virtually, so providing a link to a video introduction is a great way to show off your comfort and accessibility to this interview format. Just keep your video brief, focus on what most qualifies you, and make sure your personality shines through.
Brush up on virtual interview skills
Interviewing has changed significantly since 2020. Many companies tried video interview technology for the very first time and most candidates have experience with video interviews under the belt. There’s a difference between having experience with interviewing virtually and interviewing well through a video format.
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Many companies have chosen to keep video interviewing a part of their virtual hiring processes. Others have embraced the convenience of video interviewing entirely. You need to remember that hiring managers are gaining experience with video interviews at a much faster rate than the candidates they screen. Their expectations of a strong video interview have climbed so you need to be prepared to present yourself competitively and convincingly.
Practice creating confident and professional video interviews while on the job search. Record yourself responding to questions and critique your body language, eye contact, and tone of voice. This will save you time when you need to submit a video response later. The idea is to learn to feel natural in front of the camera rather than rehearsed, so have a friend offer feedback on your practice interview as well.
The way recruiting and hiring teams source and assess candidates has come a long way in the last few decades. But navigating obstacles in the workforce since the global pandemic has made the greatest impact on the interview process. You’re just as hirable as ever, you just need to show it in new and exciting ways.
