There’s a very big difference between filing a job application and actually standing any real chance of landing the job. Now more than ever, those looking to become equity research analysts face an uphill struggle when it comes to standing out from the crowd – the reason being that such posts have never been in greater demand. Of course, there will always be those who seem to breeze from one great post to the next while others get left behind, but for the most part it all comes down to the way you approach the application process.
According to www.researchwatercooler.com, taking anything for granted is a terrible idea. There are so many ways and means by which jobs can be both advertised and applied for these days that there’s really no such thing as doing too much or even enough to help your own cause. Above all else, there are five extremely important rules to live by when it comes to searching and applying for those golden posts – none of which should ever be overlooked.
Use Dedicated Online Portals
For example, there may be tens of thousands of jobseeker portals on the web right now, but very few focus on this line of work specifically. More often than not, those looking to pick up elite professionals in this particular industry will only ever list their posts via dedicated equity analyst sites, as opposed to those sites that cover all bases and all areas. What’s more, these dedicated sites tend to be the very best places to head for a strong chance of being head-hunted, so if you’re not already signed up and involved with such a site or service, now’s the time to make it happen.
Make Direct Contact With Companies
Along with using all online resources as and when possible, it’s just as important to acknowledge that they are far from the be all and end all. There will always be so many businesses that never even consider listing their free posts online for the simple reason that they already have candidates in mind before any jobs become available. As such, it’s up to you and you alone to make sure that you are one of these candidates that are known to the employers, in order to ensure that your name comes to mind immediately when there is a vacancy on the horizon. Use any and all means necessary to reach out to the company – social media being a great place to start.
Network With Employees at All Levels
Even if you can’t immediately get in contact with the real movers and shakers, it’s still very much in your benefit to network with current employees at all levels. The reason being that while these workers may not have any direct influence in terms of whether or not you get offered a job, they can teach you things about company culture and the way business is done in a way that you’d never have been able to find out otherwise. They can alert you to job postings before they come up, offer you interview tips and even put you in touch with the hirers and firers. In terms of inside information, there’s no better way of gaining access than with a few friends on the inside.
Have a Clear and Direct Selling Point
One of the areas in which so many applicants go wrong is that of failing to pinpoint what it is about them that makes them well and truly unmissable as a hiring prospect. Instead of focusing on what it is in specific that makes them great, they instead try to pitch themselves as something of a jack of all trades which more often than not makes them less than attractive to the recruiters. You of course want them to know that you’re no one trick pony, but at the same time you need to identify what it is about you that makes you a unique employment prospect – and then market the living hell out of it.
Be Willing to Compromise
Last but not least, it’s one thing to gun for long-term glory but it’s something else to expect everything you’ve ever wanted in an instant and your first time at bat. It’s no secret that a foot in the door can be worth its weight in gold many times over, but there will always be those who stubbornly refuse to take lower-level posts as they think they’re too good for them. The trouble here being that when that prime post does come up, it’s about 99% more likely that the lower-end employee will be singled out and given the job before it even gets advertised, once again only leaving a lower-end position to apply for.
