Ask Vicki: What increases your chances of getting a job?

Vicki Salemi

Each week, Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi—a former recruiter who utilizes 15-plus years of experience in recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers—answers user questions on Quora. We’ll be republishing the answers here. If you have a question for Vicki, send it to socialmedia@monster.com.

Q. What increases your chances of getting a job?

A. Ah, the golden question! To increase your chance of getting a job, you need to be a stellar candidate on all fronts—especially when the interview comes around. Make sure you’re professional and cordial—someone who can interact well with clients, as well as someone who meshes with a company’s culture. Your online presence should follow suit: Clean up your social media profiles so there isn’t anything questionable on there.

Another way you can increase your chances of getting a job is with a sharp resume that’s focused on how your experience and skill set make you a perfect fit for the job. Hiring managers will be concentrating on that the first time they review your resume all the way through to the final interview. It’s the first point of contact they have with you—it’s what can get you in the door—so put the time and effort into customizing your resume per the job description.

Finally, having a solid reputation can give you an advantage over the competition. In every single job you have, be sure to bring your best self to work every day. Work hard, help others, and be the kind of person people want to be around. That way, when it’s time to ask for a letter of recommendation, people will be eager to help you out.

Boost your search efforts

All of the above can help your chances of getting a job, but you also need to be proactive on your end. Need some help with that? Join Monster today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of jobs that interest you. Recruiters search Monster every day looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you. Additionally, you can get job alerts sent directly to your inbox so you can apply as soon as something catches your eye. Those are two of the quickest and easiest ways you can increase your chances of getting a job.

Read Vicki Salemi's answer to "What increases your chances of getting a job?" on Quora.