Best Ways To Improve Your Job Hunt

In the past, it was much easier to find a job. Many employees were able to get entry level positions after finishing school, staying with the company for many years until they were ready to retire. The job market is different today. It is more common for employees to shift careers and pursue other opportunities or work multiple jobs at the same time. The job market is much more competitive as well. Part of what makes the job market so competitive is the number of new resources to help job seekers. While these methods are effective, it ultimately means there is a wider pool of potential applicants, causing job listings to close faster.

While finding gainful employment is challenging, there are several tips you can use to find job listings and improve your chances of getting hired. There are also plenty of online tools you can use to quickly find and apply for jobs as they are listed, or even receive offers before an employer posts an ad.

Networking

One of the keys to successfully finding a job is networking. Networking is your ability to make connections with both employees and employers that help you advance your profession. In many cases, this means interacting with other individuals in your industry, but some networking contacts may be unrelated to your job. The simplest form of networking is word of mouth. The more contacts in your network, the greater the chance a friend, family member or former colleague informs you about an upcoming job listing, or even directly recommends you to the hiring manager.

There are many ways to build your network. Most networks begin with friends and family members, but this is rarely enough. A good time to start building your network is in college. Do not view your fellow students as potential competition, even if you are in the same field. Graduating students often share job listings with one another. If you are already done with school, consider joining a college alumni club.

Social media is a huge networking tool in 2022. Follow industry professionals and join groups relating to your industry. If you join a group, make sure you are at least somewhat active in discussions. Always be polite and professional. You never know when a potential recruiter is hanging around in the same groups.

Job Fairs

Another way to build your network is to attend job fairs. During a job fair, recruiters set up booths and look for new employees. In addition to submitting your resume or sharing contact information, you get the chance to speak directly with a recruiter and learn more about the business. Meeting with a prospective employer at a job fair is similar to a traditional job interview. Some job fairs are for specific industries, while others are generalized and feature recruiters from all professions. 

The biggest benefit of submitting your application during a job fair is you are considered a priority higher. Placing a job listing and going through the interview process is daunting for hiring managers. Many companies prefer to privately reach out to a smaller pool of qualified candidates, only resorting to posting a public job listing if they are unable to privately find a new hire. Additionally, partnered companies may share resources and recommend you as a potential candidate.

Internships and Temporary Employment

Many job seekers overlook the benefits of internships or temporary employment. In their mind, these job listings are not worth it because they want a permanent position. While it is not guaranteed these positions lead to eventual employment, it is more common than job seekers realize. 

The reason internships and temporary positions often become permanent is companies prefer to hire and promote from within. Interns are already familiar with the company atmosphere and have gone through the training to understand how everything works. You also have a chance to directly show the business your skills. Even if the job does not directly lead to employment, your information is in the system. It also provides valuable experience, which you can list on your resume to help you find future jobs. You are also building your network.

If you are concerned about pay, many internships and temporary jobs provide a standard salary. Do not be afraid to ask about the prospects of getting hired for permanent work. It is a normal question, with some listings even including whether there is a possibility of being hired full time. To employers, it signals you are a dedicated worker and interested in remaining with the company.

Indeed

Indeed is one of the largest job search websites. There are over 250 million users using Indeed each month, and every second there is an average of 10 new job postings. Part of what makes Indeed so popular is it caters to every industry. The site has plenty of filters to help you narrow down your searches. In addition to searching for specific careers, you can also list your desired hours, what position you want, starting salary and required experience. You can further narrow searches by location or the date of job listings.

Once you find a listing, you can read about both the company and the listed position. This allows you to compare the average starting salary compared to what the listing provides. There is also a company review section, where you can learn more about your potential employer. When you make an account, you can also save your resume and cover letters, and there are options to directly communicate with recruiters. 

CareerBuilder

While most job search websites are aimed at job seekers, CareerBuilder was designed for job recruiters. While there are options to post and search through job listings, many recruiters use the website to look through resumes to find new hires. This means you cannot be as active with CareerBuilder as traditional job search websites, but it is a good way to get your resume posted online.

Glassdoor