Tips for Job Hunters
If you’ve ever had to look for a job you know that it can be a rough task sometimes. It either seems like no one is hiring for the type of work you are looking for, or people are hiring, but no one is hiring you. Job hunting can be time consuming and frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some tips for a smoother and more efficient job hunt.
Polish Your Resume
First things first, make sure your resume is up-to-date and polished. With all the technology available now, it’s more important than ever to make sure that your resume is tailored to the specific job you are applying for. If you are submitting an online job application, using keywords that specifically apply to the job description will help you get past the first round of automatic filters that it goes through before someone actually reads it. If you have a lot of things to put on your resume, consider shrinking it down to the things you think will make the most impact for this specific job you are applying for. If you are applying for several different types of jobs, your resume could look slightly different for each one depending on what kind of job it is.
Google Yourself
The next thing you want to consider is how you appear online to someone who has never met you. You do this by simply running a Google search on yourself. See if you look like someone you would want to hire from your pictures, social media posts, and news articles. If you don’t necessarily like what you see, remove those items or set your social media profiles to private. You can be assured most employers looking to hire are going to be stalking candidates online, so it’s best to get ahead of the game.
Network, Network, Network
Networking is vitally important in a job search. The old saying, “It’s all about who you know,” is absolutely correct. It’s always been this way, but now there are more tools for job hunters to take advantage of when it comes to networking. Social media is a big tool for networking. Simply make social posts announcing that you are looking for a job, tell what kind of job and where you are looking and more than likely, someone will give you a contact they know.
Additionally, there are also online places where recruiters go to specifically look for new hires. Job sites like Indeed.com, ZipRecruiter, Simply Hired, Monster, Career Builder, Mighty Recruiter, and even LinkedIn are sites where you can search available jobs in your area of interest and even apply online for some of them. Employers will scour these sites looking for promising candidates, so it is important to make sure that you are looking at them too.
Another way to network is just by good old fashioned cold calling. Call up a place you would like to work and question them about their job openings and employees. Get to know someone in the organization that will vouch for you if a job becomes available and you apply. Usually, if you know someone on the inside, your chances of getting hired improve.
Always Follow Up
When you send a cover letter and resume and don’t hear back within a week or so, follow up with the company. Don’t be shy to contact them. It will show that you care about the position and that you take initiative. If the position has been filled or they aren’t interested, they will let you know. It’s important to keep track of where you applied and how long it’s been since you submitted your application so you can remember to follow up. Also, if you get an interview, follow up the next day with a thank you note. It can be an email or a written note, but leave them with a good taste in their mouth by being polite and thanking them for their time.
Finding a great job takes being proactive and putting yourself out there. It can be tough, but it’s well worth the reward of landing a great job. So, next time you are on a job hunt, try out some of these basic tips and see if they can help you find your dream job.
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