Job Hunting Tips and Techniques

Job hunting is more than sending resume to employers and seeking for open positions. At first, one has to be sure that they are a good fit for the job, well-prepared to appear and answer interview questions even on short notice, have a knowhow of the area they are applying and can hook the hiring manager’s attention with their talent and skills. Below are few useful tips that allow increasing the chances of finding the employment you have always aimed for;

1. Get yourself completely acquainted with career goals
2. Make a plan ahead
3. Build your resume and cover letter
4. Utilize reliable job search resources
5. Customize resumes as per job description
6. Make a thorough research on companies and employers
7. Apply with full confidence
8. Schedule informational interviews to get prepared
9. Must be succeeding in current job
10. Develop network more than often
11. Identify examples of own skills
12. Interview preparation
13. Follow up
14. Expand skill set

1. Get yourself completely acquainted with Career Goals

At first, identify the career you want to get in.  Career switch isn’t an impossible option but challenging to do so.  It is specifically important for people who are entering the workforce for the first time or is dealing with a process of career change. Ask your inner self; what are you passionate about? Things you love to work on and don’t take it as a burden? What subject area you love to read on for emerging trends and current developments? Get recommendations but follow what you feel good for yourself. Never dig a hole where you don’t know what it will lead to. The advice from professors, mentors or from career counselor, but never completely rely on it. Keep a clear and realistic goal; determine what qualifies you for that career path and plan how to reach it. It allows narrowing down the job search to positions that one has interest and passion for, also helps to advance professionally.

2. Make a Plan Ahead

It is important to organize yourself and schedule to search for jobs, more efficiently. Decide the days and hours you want to dedicate for job networking or hunting. Make sure that the cover letter and resume are up to date. There are various sites over the internet such as canva, indeed and many other that help you create these resumes where you can match it with the field and change as per own preferences.

Do remember to keep at least two to three references information in order to provide it to employers.

If you are not on social networking sites like LinkedIn, Indeed or Facebook, then create one. And if already hold an account, update your profile and make a spreadsheet to note down the jobs that you tend to apply and the ones you are done with the interview recently. It is good to create a professional email account so to keep the job search messages separately, and easily find the desired one in the hundreds of email.

3. Build your Resume and Cover Letter

Get you resume and cover letter read by any professional, career counselor, coworker or an employee for errors, as well as to get advice. Do take the feedback positively and consider it. You can also use a professional resume-writing resource or service offered by Edvise Hub to save your time and enhance the chances of being accepted through resume and cover letter.

4. Utilize reliable Job Search Resources

Rather than just bounding yourself to make manual online searches, make a good use of all job search options. It calls for subscribing to newsletter of any company’s, join groups on social networking sites or reaching to hiring managers in person or going out to companies using career counseling services or attending career fairs. Use various job search engines to get notified about job openings on company’s websites, professional associations and more.

5. Customize Resumes as per Job Description

Adapt the resume to various jobs you apply for. Get hands on job description to determine why you fit best for it. Likewise, add experience, skills, interest and other measurable achievements that are pertinent to the job position. Recruiters or hiring managers who skim through many resumes must be able to easily find out if you hold certain skills and qualification for the position.

Making it simpler, use templates of resume and cover letter to get it customized as per job role or description. Keep the key sections such as personal qualification and details the same, but personalize the previous job duties and abilities to fit to the job role you are applying for.

6. Make a thorough research on Companies and Employers

When you come across the job listings that interest you, make a thorough research on the hiring companies and employers before applying. It can give in-depth information about company’s benefits, culture, work environment, products or services, and salary range. It will give you a more clear view on whether you will be comfortable with the environment, is this something you were looking for, or any underlying questions related to it. It also provides valuable information which you can reference in interview or cover letter.

7. Apply with Confidence

Many of the times you don’t find yourself the best fit but the recruiters find you the most suitable for the role. That’s the reason to apply for jobs which interest you even if you meet few of their requirements. Depends on what job position it is, employers may hire motivated candidates who hold quick observing and adaptability quality and give them training on the job. Apply, if you meet even a small part of the job’s qualifications or a little of what job qualification calls for, and believe that you can succeed in the given role. Count the examples of ability to learn new skills and work ethic in resume. Highlight how your personal goals align with those of the company which you are applying for.

8. Schedule Informational Interviews to get prepared

Informational interviews are known as informal conversations with experts or professionals in company or industry that you are willing to work for. To check if you are a good fit for the job, place a request for informational interviews with an individual in that particular field. Look for potential interview matter or subjects on member organizations or professional networking sites. Such interview allows getting first-hand experience, learning tips to succeed in that role, discover what employee look for in the candidate and to build professional network.

9. Must be succeeding in Current Job

When employed on any job and meanwhile looking for different career or better job, try to perform with commitment and positivity on current job. Develop good relationships with managers and coworkers till and after you work with them. Professional effort and attitude matters and can result in better job opportunities or references in the future.

10. Develop Network more than often

Interacting with professional and developing contacts both in-person and online allows finding better job opportunities. How? The person can be referred upon the capabilities and qualification h/she possess, or the passion he holds to take the work a step forward. Make conversations with people at social events or seminars. Let them know that you want to work in a certain industry. May be their connections or advice can work best for you in job search. Higher chances are that people may refer you for future opportunities.

11. Identify examples of skills

Over the list of facts, people tend to remember engaging examples and stories. Plan ahead by figuring out accomplishments or personal experiences that highlights the skills required for a certain job. Place these elements in cover letter and fully use them during networking opportunities. The STAR (situation, task, action and result) method can be used to tell individual story effectively. It helps to make an easy-to-follow story with a clear resolution and conflict.

12. Interview preparation

Make a research for common interview questions, generate answers for them and practice those prior you go for an interview. Ask a professional expert or a friend to do a practice interview with you. You will be more comfortable and confident when you go for the interview.

13. Follow up

Right after a job interview, do send your recruiter a thank-you note.  And if they don’t get back to you after few days or week, follow up with an email or phone call. Show your interest in the job while doing this. For the time you are waiting for a response, search for more jobs that matches your interest.

14. Expand skill set

When starting a new career or entering the workforce, there is a need for experience or training to get a job. While applying for jobs, consider volunteering or doing internship with an organization and interested industry. Expand your network of contacts using these. Workshops and online courses can be an additional benefit to learn technologies and processes and develop certain skills relevant to your industry. Resume must be updated as you gain accomplishments and more experience.