3 Job Search Tips That Increase Your Success
It's not easy being unemployed. You can feel perpetually out of touch with what people really want, and you don't know how long it will take for something to finally click for you. That's why having a job is so important; it provides a sense of security, purpose, and social engagement. The first step in achieving your dream job is to understand what it takes to succeed in the current market climate. However, you might be wondering how the process should work now that the economy has turned around.
There's no sure-fire way to work through a job search these days, and that's why we've put together this list of the top five things you can do to ensure your search results are positive.
Be in touch with yourself
One of the first things you'll want to do when searching for a new job is to figure out what qualities you're looking for in a potential employer. This makes sense, since your ideal work situation should be something that yields both happiness and economic stability once you're established in it. However, what's equally important is understanding why these qualities matter and then being honest with yourself about whether or not they're compatible with who you actually are as an individual. For example, if you love being in charge of people, then turnover is a major red flag for you. However, if you're more of a 'people person' and thrive off of interaction with others, then high turnover might not matter to you as much. If this is the case, then you can use these traits to refine your job-search efforts. Also, it's important to be realistic about what your biggest strengths are and how they can be applied to the corporate world. If you're an expert at handling social media and don't want to work in a stuffy office atmosphere (or vice versa), then don't force yourself into something that won't suit you well. Know what you're looking for
Obviously, the most important thing you can do when looking for a new job is to scout out your dream job and then make it a goal. But another aspect of this crucial process that might not be as obvious is how you can use this information to your advantage. For instance, if you're more interested in working in higher paying industries, try searching out companies that offer generous salary packages. If you're concerned about finding a position that's tailored to your skill set, then consider using social media networks like Linkedin or Facebook to share your resume with different companies in the same field. Additionally, it's also a good idea to educate yourself on the industries and specific positions before submitting an application. While it may be tempting to jump at the first job offer you get, you might want to negotiate for more money or better benefits if you have leverage in the situation.
This is a strategy that's largely based on knowledge. If you know what your ideal job looks like and what salary range you're looking for, then it makes the application process a whole lot easier. It also makes you more attractive to recruiters, who can't waste time reviewing applications from people who don't match their needs very well.
Be honest about your work history
One of the most common mistakes people make when searching for work these days is neglecting to mention an important experience or skill set because they're embarrassed about how it reflects on them in some way. For example, if you were fired from a previous job, then you might feel that listing it on your resume would make you look bad. However, this is the wrong way to think about things because companies are more interested in knowing why it occurred in the first place (i.e., did they fire you or did you leave on mutual terms?) than they are in knowing that it even occurred at all. From a recruiter's point of view, it's better to know ahead of time what kind of experience a candidate has had with previous companies and whether or not they'll be able to handle themselves appropriately in a corporate environment.
If there's something that makes sense to omit from your resume (e.g. a stint in the military) then of course that should be omitted. However, don't leave off any major accomplishments or achievements just because they might relate to embarrassing circumstances.
Be prepared to be persistent
Unfortunately, there's no way around this one: if you're serious about getting a job these days, then you're going to have to be persistent in your job search efforts. Even if your resume is strong and your interview skills are relevant, it's easy for a company to overlook you as an applicant if they have a large pool of other qualified candidates applying as well. Recruiters will spend so much time scouring job boards and researching the qualifications of other applicants that they'll never have enough time to review all of them. That's why you'll need to make sure that you stand out from the rest, either by introducing some new information about yourself in your resume or by showing them how well you can handle a specific task or skill set.
And although it certainly helps, it's not going to get you the job if you don't go after it with everything you've got. For example, if you don't send out a ton of applications and spend too much time on social networking sites, then you'll be doing yourself a disservice. The more evidence of your enthusiasm that you can provide, the more likely it is that they'll find you to be an acceptable candidate.
Make sure your LinkedIn profile fits their needs
Many recruiters and HR professionals spend so much time scouring job boards, talk to others and gather information on candidates that they forget to check them out on social media. However, the best way to get the attention of these individuals is by posting high quality content on your own personal LinkedIn profile. This should include things like bullet points about what type of experience (i.e. managerial, sales, marketing), qualifications and skills you have that are relevant to the position, as well as links to any correspondence you've had with previous companies. It's also a good idea to post a photo of yourself so that you can show them what kind of person you are (and showing off your resume and having good communication skills isn't enough).
A great way to improve your LinkedIn profile is to use social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. For example, if you're in charge of recruiting for a certain department and need to find a talented candidate for an upcoming position, then it can help to have a Twitter feed that also gets looked at by recruiters. This is because Twitter is a great way to find out about the latest news and accomplishments of candidates who are in your field.
This can give you a leg up on the competition, provided you're using social media websites in an effective manner.
Think about what's going to separate you from other candidates
In order to stand apart from other applicants, you're going to have to try to think like a recruiter and see what makes other people appealing or unappealing for different positions. For example, if there's a skill set that most people don't have (e.g.
Conclusion
This is a very popular topic on a lot of sites and forums and it definitely deserves that level of attention. When it comes to job searching, the more you can focus on being yourself and being confident about your skills and experience, then the better off you'll be. Companies are going to be able to see right through any "bullsh*t" when it comes to responding back to resumes or chatting with job applicants. That's precisely why they're always looking for candidates who have relevant experience and are qualified for specific positions.
Once you've aligned yourself with these guidelines, then all you can do is sit back and relax while your resume gets reviewed by an interested employer or recruiter.