Navigate career journey by interpreting recruiters’ valued green flags

Are you a fresher looking for a job? Are you struggling to find how to catch the recruiters’ eyes? Are you clueless about the things that employers are looking for in a newbie? Fret not. Let’s see how a newcomer can attract a recruiter’s attention.

We all know that in the competitive landscape of job hunting, standing out from the crowd is essential. While much emphasis has been placed on avoiding red flags that turn recruiters away, understanding and embodying the concept of “green flags” can significantly increase your chances of landing that coveted job.

So what are green flags? They are the positive qualities and attributes that recruiters actively seek in candidates. By embodying these traits, you not only make a lasting impression but also show that you possess the potential to excel in the role. Let’s delve into the qualities that can set you apart, the significance of green flags, strategies to attract recruiters, and the words that resonate with them.

Qualities that can set you apart

Recruiters are on the lookout for candidates who display a combination of technical competence and soft skills. While technical skills vary depending on the job’s nature, there are several universal qualities that make a candidate stand out. Adaptability, for instance, is a prized quality in today’s rapidly changing work environment. The ability to embrace new technologies, methodologies, and challenges demonstrates your versatility and willingness to learn.

According to Ankit Kumar Malyan, Assistant Professor, Still/Digital Photography and Electronic Cinematography at Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, the most essential words in a resume for a fresher are the ones that reflect their accomplishments, understanding of the job they are applying for, and their soft skills.

“Freshers need to use industry specific terms to reflect the technical skill set. For soft skills, nclude words like meticulous, detail-oriented, proactive, improved, and enhanced to reflect their potential. The accomplishments and learnings from a fresher’s time as students should be highlighted using words like participated, won, placed, and collaborated,” Professor Kumar stressed.

Collaboration and effective communication are highly valued green flags. Employers seek candidates who can seamlessly work within teams, articulate their ideas, and actively engage in discussions. Leadership potential is another attribute that garners attention. Therefore, taking initiative, and inspiring others shows that you have a broader impact even if you are new to the organisation.

According to Dr Payal Arora, Assistant Professor, Commerce at Apeejay College of Fine Arts, in order to get your dream job, it is important that the resume of the newbie is impressive; it is a fact that can’t be undermined. Appropriate use of self-descriptive action words can be a game-changer for the candidate,” Dr Arora stressed.

Understanding green flags

Remember that green flags emphasise the positive aspects that make a candidate appealing. Understanding green flags is crucial because it helps you craft a compelling narrative in your job-seeking journey. By identifying and cultivating these desirable qualities, you align yourself with the expectations of recruiters and enhance your chances of getting noticed.

Important to understand recruiter expectations

Recruiters are inundated with resumes and applications on a daily basis. They often have limited time to review each one thoroughly. Therefore, showcasing the green flags that recruiters seek is essential to capture their attention quickly. By doing so, you’re not only making their job easier but also positioning yourself as a potential solution to their hiring needs. Recognising what recruiters are looking for allows you to tailor your resume and cover letter accordingly, effectively highlighting the qualities that align with the job’s requirements.

Strategies to use

To attract recruiters’ attention, the fresher must start by conducting in-depth research about the company and the role. Tailor your application to the specific needs of the employer. Craft a compelling summary or objective at the beginning of your resume that succinctly showcases your relevant skills and attributes. Since you are fresher, enumerate the projects, internships, and freelance work while pursuing your programme.

Words that resonate

Recruiters often skim resumes for specific keywords that align with the job description. Incorporating relevant industry-specific terms and action verbs can significantly improve your resume’s visibility. So as a fresher it’s important to use words and phrases in their resumes and cover letters that resonate with recruiters and highlight their potential and enthusiasm. Use words like adaptable, eager, driven, quick learner, tech savvy, passionate, resilient, and resourceful in the resume.

Dr Arora opined that the candidate should highlight the skills possessed by him/her, tailored as per the requirement of job given in the advertisement. “Some specific words that may be included in the CV to make it effective are: Motivated, passionate, competent, organised, reliable, creative, diligent, persistent, empathetic, flexible, result-oriented, and forward-thinker,” Dr Arora advised.

Real-world examples

Let’s bring these concepts to life with an illustrative example. Consider Ajay, an aspiring graphic designer with proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite can say that he created impactful visuals for university events. “Eager to bring creativity and fresh perspective to your design team” catches the recruiter’s eye.

By using quantifiable achievements and highlighting his collaborative skills, Ajay not only showcased his technical expertise but also demonstrated his alignment with the company’s values. This strategic approach ensured that Ajay’s resume stood out from the stack and secured him an interview.

Understanding and embodying the green flags that recruiters seek is a proactive approach to elevate your job-seeking journey. By focusing on qualities that set you apart, adapting your application strategy, and incorporating resonating words, you increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Dr Ishita Adhikari, Area chair-HR and head-Corporate Resource Centre, Apeejay School of Management opined that writing a resume can be a very daunting task for a fresher. “The recruiting panel members try to analyse the candidate based on their resume objectives because it serves as the first impression. The career objective should define the inspiration and aspiration of the student, ” she said and shared words that need to be incorporated in the resume.

1. Soft skills, communication, presentations, selling.
2. Microsoft office, Canva, Coding, C++, SAS.
3. Advance skills – negotiation skills, analytical skills, collaborative or team management, problem solving, creative thinking, project management skills.
4. Summer internships, projects, live project.
5. Certifications in TQM, Behavioural Interview, Six sigma, CMQ/OE.
6. Key achievements – honours, and awards.
7. Write a professional email ID .

Remember, every opportunity to showcase your green flags brings you one step closer to success in a competitive job market. So, go ahead and infuse your application with the qualities that make recruiters stop, take notice, and envision you as an asset to their team.