"Remember, boys, no points for second place." - Slider, Top Gun

Being in or even thinking about entering the job market is a tedious task. There are ups and downs with availability in the market itself alongside strong competition for roles. Chances are, you've submitted what feels like 1,000 job applications with no outcome.

Want the top tips to fly past the competition and roadblocks? Well, too bad. It's classified. I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

I'm just f*cking with you, I'm no Maverick. Here are my top 5 tips to stand out to recruiters/hiring managers and keep ahead of the competition, guns blazing:

1. Use keywords in your CV - If there is a Key Selection Criteria or key tasks or tools that they're looking for- fit those suckers into your resume. They are literally offering you a golden ticket to get noticed. Tools like Seek, Indeed, LinkedIn pull that data so we can find the most qualified quickly!
2. Use Social Media as a tool - I can tell you for a fact- we will hunt down your LinkedIn and cross-check that the details there and on your CV are the same, if you're interacting with your connections. if you've got a professional photo up, etc. It's a great way to show us who you are as a person, not just a resume.
3. Network with Recruiters - Look, we know that a lot of people don't like recruiters. There are some bad cookies out there that give some of us a bad wrap. I suggest looking up agencies and get the vibe of who you're working with. Send a friendly message over with your CV. Recruiters will fight on your behalf to get you in front of clients who they've already established a relationship with.
4. Follow-Up on Applications - Look, not enough people do this. It takes 5 minutes of your time. Checking in with recruiters or hiring managers after submitting a resume is a good thing. You aren't annoying us, this is actually our job.
5. Create a Clean, Well Laid-out CV - Hone in your inner Marie Kondo and ask yourself, "Does this CV spark joy?". As a recruiter, I can tell you that CV's that are well-designed, have personality, and address criteria in a readable manner get picked out of the litter the fastest. We get oodles of CV's a day, but we spend extra time on the ones that look good content-wise and in appearance.

That's it. That's my top 5 best tips to be a hotshot at job hunting. Now get out there and land that job, you big stud!

"Top Gun rules of engagement are written for your safety and for that of your team. They are not flexible, nor am I. Either obey them or you are history. Is that clear?" - Viper, Top Gun