5 Essential Tips for Job Seekers
Finding a job isn’t easy. If you don’t know where to look or what to do, the process can be daunting and exhausting.
Rather than throwing in the towel, take some time to ensure that you’re doing everything you can to maximize your chances of landing a new gig.
Here are the five essential tips for job seekers you may find helpful.
1. Take advantage of online applications
The application process can be daunting, especially when you’re trying to get your job search volume up, so it’s essential to make the most of these opportunities.
Online applications are a key way to do this, as they help you apply for more jobs in less time. They allow you to easily track and edit your basic information across multiple job sites.
There’s no need to fill in your information every time. As a result, this lets you spend more time customizing cover letters or polishing resumes for each position instead of filling out the same forms over and over.
Online applications are also an efficient way for employers to manage their hiring workflows, making it easier for them to decide who they want to interview.
Online applications are an ideal way to get noticed by an employer who is eager to fill a position and, ultimately, land a job you love!
This especially goes for platforms such as LinkedIn, Monster, and Indeed. Just be sure to know how to market yourself online and display attractive skills that employers will find attractive.
2. Don’t forget networking
While online applications are undoubtedly convenient, they don’t come close to the effectiveness of networking.
When you’re considering your next career move, it’s essential to take a step back and think about what you want out of your career in the long term.
If you’re applying for jobs that don’t speak to your interests or long-term goals, you risk being disengaged and unhappy with even the best possible outcome, getting hired.
If this sounds like you, there is good news: there are plenty of ways to make connections outside of the digital space. These avenues may be more fruitful than simply filling out an application online!
Would you rather have a recruiter find your resume among hundreds or suggest your name through someone in their network?
3. Fix your resume
Your resume is a living, breathing document. It should evolve just as much as you do throughout your career.
By continually updating and improving your resume, you’ll always be able to tailor it for specific roles or applications.
The more you customize it, the better your chances will be of hearing back from employers or landing an interview.
To start customizing your resume for each role you apply for, review the job description to identify important keywords or phrases that describe the skills and experience necessary for the position.
Then, tweak both your summary and work history sections to include this language so that you match what recruiters are searching for in a candidate’s resume.
For example, a job description asks applicants to have expertise in software development and database management systems like Python and SQL.
You should add these keywords throughout your summary as well as in work history descriptions so that searchable databases can easily pick up on these terms when a recruiter or employer runs a search using those key phrases.
4. Create a specific cover letter for each role
When writing a cover letter, it’s important to do your research.
While your resume acts as a general overview for the employer about why you’re applying, your cover letter is the place to dive deep into what makes you a good fit for that specific job.
Because of this, you shouldn’t use the same cover letter format for every role.
If possible, address your cover letter directly to the hiring manager or recruiter by name and make sure that you’ve adjusted it to talk about relevant experiences listed on the job description.
A good way to do this is to look over the job description and highlight any keywords that stand out with specific examples of how your experience aligns with those keywords.
For instance, if one of the requirements of a software engineering position says “experience working with product managers,” briefly explain how you’ve worked closely with product managers in a previous role and what responsibilities were included in that position.
Doing so will demonstrate that you understand what they are looking for and show that there is something unique in your background that makes you stand out from other applicants.
5. Applying too much is better than applying too little
Applying to a lot of jobs is better than applying to too few.
Don’t be afraid to apply for jobs that you might consider out of your reach. If you don’t try, you’ll never get hired.
The same goes for jobs that are not your first choice. If a job is at least somewhat related to your skillset, then it’s a good idea to apply.
You might be concerned about the time spent applying for many postings, but this is time well spent. Unless you have an interview scheduled or some scheduled networking time, you should be applying for jobs anyway!
In fact, we recommend spending at least two hours a day on the job hunt applying and researching companies that are hiring in your area.
Basically, don’t overdo it. If every waking moment is spent searching and applying for jobs with no breaks, then burnout will likely set in fairly quickly.
It’s important to find a balance between searching for new opportunities and taking care of yourself through exercise, spa massages, meditation, or whatever self-care habits make you happy.
Finding a job can be the most stressful and exhausting experience, especially when no hiring manager notices your application. Aside from the tips mentioned above, you may also take advantage of recruitment agencies, as they may help you land a job.
It’s certainly challenging to land a job, whether if you just graduated or want a change in career. The links listed below show companies that can give you potential opportunities in your different fields.