Being out of work for an extended period of time can be very difficult. Some job candidates let the pressure get the best of them. Whether it has been six months, a year, or longer, use these ten tips to help yourself get back on track.

1. Be Specific

Make sure your cover letter is specific to the job and compelling to that position. If you wrote it as a generic cover letter then that is how it will feel to the hiring manager. Work hard to get them to stop and take notice.

2. Address the Mess

Don’t be afraid to explain the gap on your resume. Address the questions that you know are going to be asked. Meeting these questions head on makes you appear confident and comfortable.

3. Present the Perfect You

Proofread, edit, proofread again. One avoidable mistake could cost you the job. Why lose an opportunity over spelling or grammar errors? A hiring manager has a stack of qualified resumes, and they are also looking for reasons to disqualify a candidate. One misspelled name or a punctuation error might be all it takes.

4. Be Professional all the Time

What did you name your resume? My Resume Version 8 may be easy to find on your computer, but not on anyone else’s. Be sure to call it something that will allow a hiring manager or recruiter to easily identify you. The same goes for your email address. Also, the professionalism principle extends to your phone numbers. Have a professional message, preferably on your cell phone, so that number is specific to you.

5. Honesty is the Best Policy

Be careful with your superlatives; try not to oversell. While you always want to come across as confident and well-matched for the position, you need to be authentic in your approach.

6. Be Considerate

We all know that we need to arrive to an interview early, but be sure it’s not too early; 10 to 15 minutes should be the max. If you are there too early, the hiring manager may be anxious or annoyed that you are sitting out there waiting.

7. Practice Makes Perfect

If it’s been a while since you have interviewed, role play with someone you feel comfortable with. Research interview questions and practice answering them, especially the more challenging ones. Your responses can’t be canned, they need to be natural and in your voice.

8. Review your References

Have you spoken with your references lately? Are you completely comfortable with what they are going to say? Are they expecting the call? If it’s been a long time since you last spoke, let them know that you have recently interviewed and that they may be hearing from a hiring manager.

9. Use the Magic Words

A timely “thank you” still resonates with people. Don’t forget to say thank you. Ideally, send a well written, specific, electronic thank you note to everyone you met with at the company – and do it as soon as possible. Make sure you personalize the notes as colleagues will likely compare. It’s also nice to follow-up with a hand written note, which is becoming less common and can help you stand out.

10. Be Confident

Pessimism and doubt are not your allies in a job search. Yes, you are competing with lots of people. Doubts won’t change that. Use these ideas to help you succeed in an ultra competitive job market.

Photo credit: Pexels