11 Tips for an Effective Job Searching Process
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Posted By: S. Moore on November 30, 2023 The job searching process can be exciting and challenging, but it is often necessary for finding a new job that meets your needs. You should do anything you can to make yourself positively stand apart from other applicants. This can include increasing your understanding of how to do well in the application process, including during interviews. In this article, we offer some tips for a successful job search. Tips for a successful job search You might search while finishing your education, during a period of unemployment or to advance your career with a new company. There are many reasons to look for a new job, but you may find that regardless of your reasons, the approach to the job searching process is similar. Here are 11 tips for being successful in the job searching process: 1. Create a plan Before beginning your job search, it's helpful to create a plan. Determine what industry you want to work in, what types of roles you're looking for, your ideal salary range and what type of company you want to work at. You should consider what is important to you regarding your job at this stage, as it can help you decide as your job search moves forward. It can also be helpful to set yourself goals such as the number of jobs to apply for per week, a goal for hours spent on job research each day or a deadline for improving your resume and cover letter. You might also find it helpful to create a method for tracking what jobs you have applied for, such as an application, document or spreadsheet. 2. Diversify where you look There are a lot of resources for finding jobs, especially online. There are job search sites that have every type of job, sites that focus on one industry and employer's careers pages. Not every company posts their job listings on every job search site, so by diversifying where you look, you may find opportunities you would otherwise miss. It's helpful to create a bookmarks folder in your browser where you can save links you want to check regularly for jobs and to have a plan for how often you want to check those links. You may also want to make a plan for how often you will look at industry publications and how often you reach out to friends and family for help in your search. These sources may not have as many new opportunities as regularly as online job boards, but you may find additional job openings by using them. 3. Understand your industry If you're looking for a job in an industry you already have some experience in, you have an advantage as you likely understand the nuances of that industry better than outsiders. However, if you are hoping to work in a new industry, are returning to an industry after some time away or want to take on a role you're less familiar with, you may want to do some research. This could mean speaking with people who work in that industry, reading books and articles about the industry, watching related videos or listening to podcasts on that topic. Understanding your industry helps you target your resume and cover letter better for the jobs you want and gives you information on helpful skills, networking opportunities and job details. 4. Build skills while you wait Sometimes the job searching process is time-consuming, and you may find yourself waiting to hear from employers at various stages of the process. While you should continue applying as you wait, you can also use that time to build the skills you might need to get your preferred job. This might mean adding a new skill or enhancing a skill you already have. For instance, if you find many of the job listings for the type of role you want are asking for knowledge of particular software that you haven't used, it might be an excellent opportunity to learn about that software. You could take a class, attend a conference, read a book or even work with a friend to learn a new skill. 5. Customize your application materials You are likely to get better results if you tailor each cover letter and resume to individual jobs you apply for. It's still important to have a basic cover letter and resume, but you can adjust those to fit the job description for what you're applying to. It's especially helpful to use any obvious keywords the job listing might have by including them throughout your application materials. You should also emphasize any relevant skills sought in the job listing. One way to do this is to have a base cover letter you can adjust with a specific section you write to target each application and a full resume document with everything you've done. Then you can adjust and edit the resume as needed, including adding keywords that apply and making sure you list necessary skills. You can keep the original documents but save the job-specific files separately for future reference, and so it's easier to know you're sending the right files. 6. Use social media to find jobs You can use many social media sites in your job search. Most businesses have some sort of social media presence, even if they're not on every platform, and you can follow companies you identified as a good fit for you on those platforms. Then, if they post a job or mention they are hiring, you can be among the first to know, and you can use information you've gathered from social media to help you with your application. You can also use social media to see who in your network might know of job openings. Sometimes, if a person's company is hiring, they might make a post about it on social media to connect with people they already know. You can also see where people in your industry work and use that as a starting point for research into those companies. 7. Research potential employers Research companies in the industry you want to work in and how what they offer aligns with what you want in an employer. Depending on the industry, this could be a very long list, so you may decide to limit it based on location or other factors. Then you can use that list to look into individual employers to see what job openings they might have, what past and current employees think about working there and what the company mission statement and culture are like. For example, if you are a server and you want to work in a high-end restaurant in your city, you might make a list of restaurants in that category. Then you can look into if any of those restaurants are hiring, see if you know anyone who has worked there to ask them questions, research the company online and maybe even visit the restaurant to get more information. 8. Prepare your interview responses You can prepare for most potential interview questions by reviewing common ones and how to respond to them. It can be especially helpful to prepare a few stories that show your specific skills or problem-solving abilities. By reviewing common interview questions and preparing your answers, you can speak about your experience and interests in a way that is not generic or vague. You should also know some of the most important statistics about yourself. For instance, you need to talk about things like how many years of experience you have in different areas, the amount of savings you've created for past employers, the hours you spent on a particular skill or task to get it right or how you increased sales for your employers. 9. Network in your preferred industry Networking is often a big help to job seekers and is a skill many people need for their careers. Whether you're looking for a new opportunity in your current field or you're hoping to start a career in a new field, you will probably find value in meeting other professionals in that industry. You can do this at industry-specific events, conferences, online platforms or through other people you know. 10. Send a thank you After an interview, it's commonly recommended that you send a thank you note to the person who interviewed you, but you could also take it further. For instance, if your networking helped you get an interview, show appreciation to those who helped you, or if you had to coordinate the interview with an executive assistant or another professional, you could always thank them for their help as well. Showing gratitude also can show you value other people, which is something many employers appreciate. You don't have to be effusive in your praise, do anything that feels unnatural to you or send a showy gift. A simple thank you email or card can be effective. 11. Be patient Sometimes the job searching process can seem very slow, including between interviews or while waiting to find out if the company is making you an offer or not. You must remain patient because checking in with a prospective employer too many times or letting yourself get upset over the wait is not productive and can lead to unnecessary stress for you. Instead of dwelling on the status of one application or interview, you can move forward with other applications, distract yourself with self-care, focus on building your skills and do your best to remember the job searching process takes time. SOURCE Indeed Editorial team If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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