How to Get Hired in a Sea of Competition (Hint: A Traditional Cover Letter and Resume Won't Cut It)

You’ve polished your resume, written an engaging cover letter, and even figured out how to navigate interviews in challenging situations, such as when you are pregnant. But while you may think that your job application was as strong as possible, an employer might find it lacking in one important area: If you don’t share an employer’s vision, they might pass on you.

Employers want more than job applicants with relevant experience and skills that would allow them to succeed; many are seeking team members who are enthusiastic about the business’ or nonprofit’s vision. When an employee’s goals align with a company’s, that employee becomes a powerful driving force behind that company and can take on a more active role in seeing projects and events through to ensure that they’re successful.

A traditional cover letter and resume won’t cut it for these companies. Instead, you need to find a way to show them that your goals and vision align with theirs.

Photo: Courtesy of Create & Cultivate

Volunteer and Get Active

Prospective employers look at more than just your work history to determine if you share their goals and vision. Your volunteer experience can indicate whether you’d be a good fit for their goals. Volunteering in the community offers many benefits and is a great addition to your resume. If you volunteer in a way that is relevant to a desired position, you can demonstrate to an employer that you’re truly dedicated to a job.

For instance, if you’re applying to a position at an anti-hunger organization, volunteering in a food pantry or soup kitchen would help you to stand out from other job applicants. Employers want to know that you’re driven by more than just a paycheck, and volunteering demonstrates that you have a passion for the work you do. 

Update Your LinkedIn Profile

Many employers turn to LinkedIn when screening job applicants, so update your LinkedIn profile before applying to a position. Even if you’re still currently employed and worried that your updates may upset your current employer, there are ways you can make the updates without setting off red flags. Be transparent about the updates with your employer and remember that updating your profile doesn’t necessarily mean you’re looking for a new job. Instead, it should be seen as a professional development effort.

When updating your profile, be sure to highlight your recent accomplishments and major projects that you’ve worked on. Try to work in volunteer experience and personal projects too. You can also shape your LinkedIn profile to show your values by strategically sharing or posting content that is meaningful to you.  

“Before you apply to a position, do your homework.”

Do Some Research

Before you apply to a position, do your homework. Research the company and thoroughly read through its website, paying particular attention to any mission statement or “about us” pages. Be sure to also read the staff biographies carefully, taking note of the types of previous work staff have done, any volunteer experience, and anything that gives you some insight into their personal interests.

Then, do a Google search on the company, its founder, and the person who will be supervising the position. Try to get a sense of their values and what drives them to do this type of work. Read the job description carefully and see if it identifies or references desirable qualities in a job applicant or if it identifies a goal for the position.

Projects fail for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common issues behind a project’s failure is that the people driving that project don’t recognize or identify with its goals. If you are able to identify the company’s mission from the start and show that you share that same mission, you’ll immediately give an employer a reason to interview you and learn more about how well you fit with the company.

Reference Your Vision in Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter is your first chance to truly communicate with a prospective employer, and it’s also the perfect way to highlight how your vision aligns with theirs. Pull from the research that you performed earlier and highlight your activities, accomplishments, and values that align with the employer’s vision and goals. 

If possible, try to identify that you understand the importance of the position and how it would contribute to the employer’s goals. Highlight ways that you’ve previously helped other employers progress toward and achieve their goals, and reference why this new position is important to you.

Convey Your Passion in an Interview

The interview is your chance to develop on the connections you’ve identified in your cover letter, so be prepared to answer questions about company culture, the factors that motivate you, and what actions you would take to help the company reach its goals. A company that values these intangible qualities should ask interview questions that allow you to elaborate on your personal connection to the company’s values. Give some careful thought to how you will convey these qualities before the interview.

When preparing for your interview, consider factors such as how a company produces products or serves its customers, and think about the vision behind those methods. For instance, a company that adopts a human-centered design approach may ask some unique questions during an interview. The more you can understand about a company’s design and production approach, the better you’ll be prepared to navigate these types of questions.

Don’t forget to brush up on your interview etiquette, too. Knowing that you’re well-prepared for your interview can help you to relax a bit so that your true personality comes through. Don’t be afraid to discuss why the job matters to you, and working in a personal story about why the company’s vision means so much to you can help as well.

While it’s tempting to be reserved and formal in an interview, it’s also important to be honest about your vision. Establishing this connection with a company’s vision can help you to stand out from other applicants and can show that you’re the right person for the job.

About the Author

Jori Hamilton is a feminist writer from the Pacific Northwest who enjoys discussing social justice, empowerment, and how to improve the workplace. You can find more of her work in her portfolio here.