In a tough economy it can be difficult to get noticed by the hiring managers, which results in many people staying unemployed for lengthy periods of time. Have you found yourself in the situation where you are sending in a lot of resumes, but not hearing back from the hiring managers? Here are a few things that you can do to make your resume stand out from the rest:

1. Talk to the hiring manager. It is easy to simply fill out an online form or send a resume via email, but those methods will result in your resume getting shuffled in with all of the other applicants. Having a conversation with the person in charge of hiring will make your resume stand out, because they will remember the conversation that you had together. Be proactive about visiting the office or making a phone call when you turn in your resume. The best approach is to present the resume in person so that they can meet you.

2. Talk with an employee who works for the company. Having an inside connection makes a big difference in getting your resume noticed, so have a friend take your resume to the hiring department if possible. They will be able to provide you a good recommendation, especially if that person is already familiar with your skill set and work ethic.

3. Customize every resume and cover letter. Gone are the days when the same resume can be sent to every company that is hiring. If you want your application to get noticed, then it’s important to make it as custom as possible. In the cover letter, list the reasons why you want to work with that particular company and what makes you qualified for the job. Adjust your skills and job details on your resume to closely match the requirements on the job posting.

4. Be creative with your application. Instead of turning in a simple, boring piece of paper with your resume, consider ways to make it more noticeable. For example, provide a link to a social media page that relates directly to the industry to show that you are familiar with the company, or provide a YouTube video link that has a 2-minute video of you introducing yourself and talking about why you are interested in working for the company. Be creative and look for ways that you can show how you are capable of going the extra mile for your work.

5. Follow up consistently. Things can get busy at the office, which is why it is important to follow up with the hiring manager so that your application is not forgotten. Keep in mind that there is a fine balance between following up and nagging… placing an occasional phone call is all right, but you don’t want to be calling multiple times every day. Follow up with a phone call after you turn in your resume, send a thank you card after an interview, and touch base if you haven’t heard from the hiring manager in a few days.