• The official blog of Abacus Group — a place to share our knowledge and thoughts on trends in recruiting •

Job seekers are more active than ever, meaning it is critical to set yourself apart from other applicants. To do so successfully, you must put time and consideration into every application you submit.

There is no denying that LinkedIn is the leader in professional social networking and can be an incredible tool for job seekers. While many applicants focus on finely tuning their resume and cover letter, it is important not to disregard your LinkedIn profile.

When job searching, most prospective employees first evaluate the job description. They assess the responsibilities requires, the background needed, and the benefits and growth that could come with taking on the role and apply if they think it’s the right fit.

When preparing for an interview, most candidates focus on position-specific questions and don’t think much about the standard, get-to-know-you questions that are asked in every interview.

Every professional knows they need a cover letter, yet there is no universal standard for what it should entail. A cover letter is your opportunity to present your experiences and your personality together to show that you are the best candidate for the position.

After the excitement of getting an in-person interview settles, it is time to start your preparing. Depending on how far in advance you have scheduled the interview, you might not need to begin immediately, but you also don’t want to push it off until the day of.

After weeks of feeling like your current position is no longer the right fit for you, you know it’s time to find a new job! Searching for a job can be an extensive process, but there are a few things you can do before you start sending out applications that will make it go smoother.

The job application process can be very complexed. Between drafting cover letters, formatting your resume, searching for positions and scheduling interviews, it is easy to neglect organization and end up in chaos. However, starting your job search with a plan to stay organized will keep you focused, on track, and might even result in you finding your next position sooner than you would have otherwise!

When writing your first professional resume, GPA and internships are not the only thing interviewers and recruiters will be looking at. Having participated in a variety of extracurriculars not only shows that you are a well-rounded individual, but also that you have gained experiences and skills that are not always attained in the classroom.

As the job market shifts and develops, so do the most sought-after skills. Regardless of if you are two or twenty years into your career, it’s important to become familiar with these skills and see if/how they can be applied to what you do.