The first step in this process is to first assess what it is you actually are looking to do. Ask yourself “why do I want this job?” or “what is it about this job that truly sparks my interest or relates to what I WANT to do in my career?” Once you are able to convince yourself that you are right for the role and this position makes sense for what you want, convincing the hiring manager of the same realization will be a cake walk.

It is important to remember that using the exact same resume for every job that you apply for may not be the best strategy. You want your resume to be tailored specifically for not just the job you’re applying for, but to the outlined job duties. Be sure to update and highlight specific job description details from past employment on your resume that are easily and readily recognizable as transferable skills. You want to focus on past experience that can directly relate to the new role in question. In an effort to try and match up your experience to a new role, do your research. Get to know the company’s culture and all around mission to grasp a better idea of what type of position this may be. This will help you be prepared to prove to the hiring manager how you are THEIR solution and not just another resume.

Unless you work in some form of design, fashion or other creative industry, less is certainly more when it comes to the formatting and layout of your resume. While you want your resume to look professional and stand out, if the layout, font, colors, etc. are too distracting, the hiring manager may not even bother reading it. It is important to keep your resume simple, concise and with a lot of white space. Although, you may feel it necessary to list all qualifications, duties, etc. on the resume, by keeping it simple and to the point, you can better convey your value to the Recruiters reading it.

Whatever you do, do not rely solely on applying online or leaving your resume out there on a job board, hoping that someone will locate it. If you want to stand out among the crowd, you need to be proactive in your strategy. Try reaching out directly to Hiring Managers or start building relationships with individuals in your industry. Networking can be huge when it comes to getting in front of the right people. By cultivating these meaningful relationships, you may find out about openings before they are even posted and could, in turn, get your resume in front the proper decision makers before your competition.

If you have concerns about your resume or are trying to figure out why you are not getting any hits or responses, take these tips to heart and maybe re-evaluate your current job seeking strategy. Your resume should never be the only arrow in your quiver; but should be the catalyst to get you noticed so you can truly sell your skills and value to your future employer.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, Trillium Hospitality and Trillium Techs. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

According to smartasset.com, these are the top 10 cities in 2018 and why they may make a great place for young professionals.

1. Sioux Falls, SD:
   1. Second year in a row at #1
   2. Boasts a 1.49% unemployment rate (even by today’s standards is unheard of)
   3. Estimates that 90% of young adults are participating in the job market
   4. It is estimated that potential workers would only have to contribute 23% of their total monthly income towards rent in this city
2. Raleigh, NC:
   1. 89.8% of young adults are either working or looking for work
   2. The median worker earns an average of $49,000 (top 30 rate) with an expectation of this continuing to rise
   3. Average rental will only account for 25% of total earnings each month
3. San Francisco, CA:
   1. 3rd highest proportion of young adults and 4th highest median earnings
   2. Cost of living is higher here, with the average rent sitting at $1,800 per month, equaling 27% of monthly earnings
4. Pittsburgh, PA:
   1. Almost 21% of total residents in this city are between the ages of 25 and 34
   2. Cost of living is low with an average monthly rental of $874, equating to 23% of earnings
5. Seattle, WA:
   1. Estimated that 23% of residents are between the ages of 25-34.
   2. 91% of young adults are participating in the work force
   3. Higher earnings but also higher rent – Average rental is $1,450 per month and average salary is $66,000 per year
6. Austin, TX:
   1. Lands in the top 15 for 4 different metrics (% of young adults who are residents, unemployment rate for young adults, % of young adults participating in the labor force and an increase in median full-time earnings
   2. Downside, rent is expensive, averaging $1,200 per month or about 30% of monthly income
7. Minneapolis, MN:
   1. Ranks 4th highest in labor force participation and the median full-time worker makes more than 70% of other cities
   2. High density of entertainment choices (city ranks 32nd)
   3. Higher than average unemployment rate, 5.7% for young adults
8. Omaha, NE:
   1. Saving money is the name of the game in Omaha. Average rent is 23% of worker’s income
   2. Seeing a continual increase in overall wages, 15% increase between 2012-2016 (ranking in the top 10 in this regard)
9. Arlington, VA:
   1. The highest proportion of young adults within this study and the 3rd highest labor force participation rate
   2. Highest median earnings for full-time workers, going up 20% between 2012-2016
   3. Downside is the lack of diversity with available jobs and the cost of living. Average rental cost $1,900 per month.
10. Anchorage, AK:
    1. A very diverse job market, ranking 28th in the metric overall
    2. Unemployment rate of 3.8% and median earnings of over $55,000 per year
    3. Downside, rent is a concern costing workers 28% of total monthly earnings

If you take anything away from this information, just remember that opportunity is out there in a wide array of locations across the country. If you are seeking something new or different in your career or maybe just in your surroundings, now may be the time to go for it! For more information and a breakdown of the top 25 cities in the US for young professionals, please visit smartasset.com.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.