Still looking for a job? It seems that you are following traditional job search strategies. If that is the case, then you are probably losing out on opportunities. Maybe you found a job that got your interest and you sent your resume to the recruiters in hopes of getting the job. But do you realize that there at least 200-400 people fighting it out for the same job?

Even if you have submitted the cover letter and a properly formatted resume, there is no guarantee that you will get the interview call if you are using outdated strategies. The need of the hour is to revamp your approach and go with the trends by leveraging digital communication and online networking platforms. It is also important to change your perspective about the job market and the way it functions. This will help you to refine your approach and come up with a job hunting strategy that is best suited to you.

Why do most traditional job search strategies fail? Let’s find out.

Most Candidates Run After Open Positions

This is the biggest mistake that people often make. Just because everyone is running after open positions, doesn’t mean that every candidate will get selected for the job. The problem with open positions and the general approach to recruitment is the limited number of work profiles or jobs that are offered by organizations.

The modern approach to this challenge is to create jobs and come up with new profiles where none exist. It is important to focus on bridging the gap and providing solutions instead of working in a profile that is just a continuation of the company’s existing processes. The key thing to understand here is that convincing the recruiters or the company to consider a new work profile will not be easy and it should never be attempted without supporting quantitative evidence.

Probably the best way to approach a company with a new profile is to do a project with them which not only showcases the potential of the direction that you wish to work in, but also gives them quantitative data that is crucial for instilling a firm belief in them about the new direction.

Traditional Job Search Causes Faster Demotivation

Traditional job searches cause faster demotivation because it works on a “open-close-window-of-opportunity” model. Once an opportunity presents itself, hundreds of applicants will try their best to get highlighted and selected for the interview call. Only a few applicants are called for the interview and just one person is given the job. With little or no new opportunities, the candidates can get demotivated and this will affect their job search. By creating new opportunities and seeking better interaction with influential people, you can always be hopeful for an “open window of opportunity” rather than worrying about not getting the interview call.

It’s All About the Resume

Traditional job hunting strategies lay emphasis on “the resume” and other relevant resources such as cover letters. This is why most people obsess excessively over their resumes and try their hand at coming up with something different. Sadly, most of them do not succeed. It is only a handful of people who are able to get it done on their own. Of the remaining job seekers, at least 50% are sceptical about using resume writing services or lack the confidence to approach one due to bad past experiences.

The world has changed and recruiters do not rely exclusively on the resume any more. In fact, the presence of social networking platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook help recruiters in understanding the social interaction of the candidate and his / her real worth. This helps them to understand the candidate in a better manner and gives them a much more comprehensive understanding than a resume.

If you have a stunning LinkedIn profile with recommendations and endorsed skills, then you have a better chance at getting selected for the interview. If you have published good resources, then they can grab the attention of the recruiters. You also need to be careful about the way you interact on social media. Recruiters do check out social profiles of candidates before considering them for the position. So clean up your profiles, get a LinkedIn profile prepared by a professional writer and make your move strategically. This should help you to improve your chances of getting recruited.

You Really Don’t Stand Out From the Crowd

Although the ideal resume is supposed to help you to “stand out from the crowd”, most of the times it doesn’t happen as planned. Have you ever seen the pile of job applications and resumes that land up on the recruiter’s desk? The pile can be pretty daunting at times, even in today’s digital age. If you have not revamped your job search strategy, then your resume could be lying in the pile forever.

There is nothing worse than your resume getting lost in the pile of other resumes because you might not get to know whether you were a good fit for the position being offered. The modern job search strategy focuses on other channels of recruitment and relies on digital communication to get faster responses and quick results which save time for the recruiter and the job seeker.

The Focus is on Employee’s Perspectives

Traditional job search doesn’t lay a lot of emphasis in understanding the perspective of the employer. The employer’s perspectives can change over time in keeping with the latest trends and market dynamics. It is therefore important to understand the changing perspectives and align the strategy to the employer’s way of thinking so that your chances of getting selected increase substantially. The recruiter doesn’t rely only on the resume to assess your capabilities. Think like a modern recruiter to identify your shortcomings and work on them.

Create and Monitor a Suitable Job Seeking Strategy For Yourself

You are different from other candidates even if you have similar qualifications and expertise. Every person has at least one unique quality that distinguishes them from the others. This is why every job seeker should create and monitor a suitable job seeking strategy that leverages digital communication and technology apart from the basic requisites of recruitment. The “monitoring” part is more important because this will enable the job seeker to identify weaknesses in his approach and made necessary modifications to achieve the desired results. Remember, when all opportunities have gone, the only way to move ahead is to create new ones.