How Do I Stand Out Against the Competition?

 [The Muse]( [ADVICE](   [JOBS](   [DISCUSSIONS](   [Ask an HR Professional](  Ask an HR Professional [How Do I Stand Out Against the Competition?](    Dear HR Professional, I feel like I need more than just a traditional resume or cover letter in order to stand out to the tech companies I want to work for. What else can I do to separate myself from the competition that's applying to these innovative companies? Signed, Desperate to Stand Out    Dear Desperate to Stand Out, You really hit the nail on the head. [Competition's]( tough across the board and tech is leading the way. Your first step to getting noticed is to get in the right mindset. What does that mean? Don't think like a recruiter, but more like a marketer. Your product is your experience. Here's how a marketer would sell it. 1. Focus on Presentation Maybe you're not a graphic designer, but that shouldn't stand in the way of creating an eye-catching resume. There are plenty of tools that make design easy for everyone—many even offer [templates]( designed by experts. And don't just stop there. Think of all the other points of contact a recruiter could have with you—including your [LinkedIn profile]( other [social media handles]( a blog, an online portfolio, and so on. Make sure they are all polished and contribute to a cohesive personal brand. 2. Spread the Word A solid resume or cover letter doesn't accomplish anything if the right people don't see it. One surefire way to stand out is to proactively put it in front of the right people and to make it easy for them to notice it. For example, there's a story of a candidate who used Snapchat geo filters to advertise his portfolio in front of creative directors at the agencies he wanted to work for. You may not want to go that far, but that core idea has some merit. Think of how you can make yourself discoverable. Don't be intimidated. This can be something as straightforward as finding an acquaintance who works at the company and asking for a referral, or even dropping a friendly note to the hiring manager on Twitter or LinkedIn. 3. Make it Personal Anything that starts with the dreaded, "To Whom it May Concern" will find it's way to the trash can in a hurry. But, it's hard to ignore a message when it's highly targeted and [personalized](. Start by showing that you took the time to get to know both the hiring manager and the company. Stand out from the competition by finding unique themes, attributes, projects, values, or needs you have in common and then incorporating those into your application materials. Proving that you've done your homework on the role and the company empowers you to present yourself as a seamless fit, while also demonstrating your high level of interest in that opportunity. Getting the job you want with the company you want to work for can be challenging. But, the right mindset and approach will help you reach your goals faster.  SHARE THIS ARTICLE [fb]( [in]( [tw](    More About Ovidiu Voina With a background in digital marketing, Ovidiu joined the HR field a few years back as an employer branding specialist. Leading HP's employer brand, he works towards translating the HP experience to candidates in the digital environment. After getting a minor part in a Bollywood production while working in India, he declares himself a lifelong fan of Indian culture and chai.  [ ] [ ] Content for You [ ] [ ] [3 Questions Smart People Ask Before Starting a Side Hustle](  [3 Questions Smart People Ask Before Starting a Side Hustle]( BY CHRIS GUILLEBEAU  [The 10 Books That'll Bring Out the Leader in Everyone Who Reads Them](  [The 10 Books That'll Bring Out the Leader in Everyone Who Reads Them]( BY AASHISH DALAL [ ] [ ] Top Question [ ] [ ] [What's the best way to reapply for a position you didn't get the first time?]( Colleen [ ]  [SEE 1 ANSWER](      [ ]  [ ] [ ] Hiring Now [ ] [ ]     [Target]( [Jobs]( [See Open Positions]( [Location]( Minneapolis, MN Target is guest-obsessed—they seek to make well-designed products affordable—and that's changed little since... [LOOK INSIDE]( [Voxy](     [ ] [ ] More Muse Goodness [ ] [ ]  [Career Coach](   [CAREER COACH TIP OF THE DAY](   "Every morning, make a list of 3 tasks you want to accomplish no matter what before you go to bed or leave work." — [Emily Liou](  [Â]( [Learn more about Emily](   [FB](  [IN](  [TW](  [INSTA](    [PREFERENCES]( [VIEW IN BROWSER]( [TERMS]( [UNSUBSCRIBE](    Daily Muse Inc. 1375 Broadway, New York, NY 10018                Â