Mastering The Job Search Process

Finding a job in tough economic times

What can you do to be competitive when looking for a new job? Writing a quick resume late at night and applying for random jobs is NOT going to get you the job you are looking for. Is there an educational or university course being offered which could help you now or in the long term? What skills do you have to shine above and beyond other candidates. Make a portfolio of your accomplishments you have achieved in your academic or professional life. In the current economic climate employers want to know what YOU have to offer them. You need to sell yourself! and sell your success.

Below are some further ideas and suggestions to find yourself a new job

Learn new skills: It’s never too late to try to learn a foreign language, or a new piece of computer software. (Best example was a senior archaeologist of 10 years who came to me wanting to change life direction. After 6 months learning Spanish then travelling through Spain for another 6 months, The senior archaeologist is now a junior English/Spanish translator)

Research: Find out where the demand is. While many industries are having trouble in this recession and laying of employees other areas are increasing employment

Sell yourself: Take time writing your resume, and tailor your resume specifically to each job you are applying. Do not send out the same resume to every job advert you see. Remember if you’re sending out generic resumes then you will get the same generic responses

Use your social network. Don’t be embarrassed about looking for work. Tell your friends and family. You never know who may be looking at hiring staff with your set of skills

Use free networking sites to advertise yourself and your skills. Promote yourself via sites like LinkedIn.

Use a recruitment agency that specializes in your particular area. Get to know the recruitment consultant, and follow them up weekly. The more you appear visible, the more they will remember you

Share with friends: Brainstorm ideas and share experiences with friends that are also looking for jobs. Exchange advice, strategies, and plans

Act straight away: When you get a lead or hear about a job opening apply immediately. There is no need to wait. Prepare your resume and send it immediately. The longer you wait the more likely another candidate will apply ahead of you

Don’t let a lack of experience discourage you from applying for jobs: When tailoring your resume towards the job you are applying for, concentrate on the skills and abilities you have to match that certain job

Most importantly: Don’t give up – Never stop looking. While you’re searching for your new job is there something else in the meantime you could be doing. Do you have skills to freelance? Maybe you can sell goods online. Keeping yourself occupied helps you to stay positive and upbeat rather than moping around the house feeling sorry for yourself.

In the last decade, job seeking has changed and competition for every role is more competitive than ever. The prosperous decade of the 1990s, when jobs were plentiful and money (not to mention credit) was seemingly free flowing, failed to give way to an equally prosperous 2000s. Individuals seeking employment in this market are finding it difficult to do so, mostly because jobs have disappeared, having been shipped overseas or completely phased out. (Does anyone remember the door to door salesmen selling encyclopedia sets!) Job seekers are finding that they must be more strategic then ever in their search for employment.

Preparing the job search strategy

In order to succeed you need to have an understanding of what it takes to stand out in this tough job market. Those that fail to adequately prepare a job seeking strategy will likely find themselves without a job for the foreseeable future. Job seekers must learn to utilize their personal and social networks, professionalize their resume and develop great interview skills. Each of the aforementioned will greatly improve an individual’s chances of landing a job.

Networking

Networking is a strategy that many job seekers don’t focus on enough but in today’s society should be the number one strategy at the top of the list. The fact is, many workers can trace their current employment to someone who was kind enough to give them a job lead, a foot in the door or point them in the right direction. Today, networking has become easier then the ever, thanks, in a large part to the growth of online networking websites.

Social networking websites such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are great places to meet people who share similar interests or who work in the same industry. However, even with the power and reach of social networking websites, a person may want to start their job search using the contacts they’ve developed in their own, personal network. Speak to your family and friends and make them aware that you are job hunting. Don’t be scared to reach out to people who are in a position to help.

Professional Resume Writing

Having a strong resume is a vital part of the job search process. With unemployment on the rise, the competition for jobs is as fierce as ever. Human resource professionals routinely receive hundreds (sometimes thousands!) of resumes for each and every job opening. In order to even be considered for a job, an individual’s resume must stand out from the pile. If it fails to impress in the first few seconds, the chances of being called in for interview is greatly reduced. Without a professionally written resume that highlights an individual’s skills, experience and achievements the chances of actually getting the job becomes an impossibility and only leads to further despair and stress.

If you are not having the success you desire from your existing resume consider having your resume professionally written or edited. The cost of a online resume writing services is far less than the cost of not having a job.

Interview Skills:

Having great interview skills is extremely important and gives you the opportunity to shine in person. Actually receiving an interview request is often the hardest part of the job search, therefore make sure you are well prepared for the job interview. Research the company and practice answering potential interview questions. The more information you have on the company the more prepared you will be to answer any tough questions that come your way. The best way to becoming a master interviewee is practice!

Staying Positive

In today’s tough job market, job seekers should be prepared for a lengthy job search. However, being strategic about your job search can help you remain confident and upbeat during this period. Positivity is important so make sure you surround yourself with positive people. The last thing you need is negativity in your life.

Should I Use A Specialist Recruitment Agent to Help Me Find A Job

These days, landing a regular job can be quite an arduous task. The world economy is in turmoil and job seekers are experiencing uncertainty and distress. Even though jobs are hard to find that does not mean that there are none available, you just need some help in tracking them; and this is where a recruiter comes in handy. If you are still unsure about using a specialist recruiter to help with your job hunt, then maybe these benefits will be able to change your mind about job recruiters.

Three Benefits to Using a Specialist Recruitment Agent

Job Recruitment Agencies Know Where the Jobs Are:

As mentioned previously, due to the financial crisis, many companies have started downsizing their workforce in order to cope, but not all of them are doing that. There are still quite a lot of companies that are looking for skilled workers to help them with day-to-day operations, and these companies often hire recruitment agencies to help them find the best employees. If you go to a recruitment office and they believe that you may be a perfect fit for a job opening that they have, then they will send you to the company with their recommendation.

Recruiters Know What Kind of Person the Company is Looking For:

Companies do not just hire any person to fill in the vacancies; they need people who have certain skills, experience and qualities that will make them perfect for the job at hand. If you consult with a recruiter about a job opening at a certain company, they will usually tell you what kind of people that company is looking for and type of culture of that company. When the time comes for you to interview, you can use this inside information to stand out against your competitors.

Recruiters Know What Kind of Job is Perfect for You:

If you have recently been laid off from your job, you may be in a situation where you need to think about changing your career. A professional recruiter can provide you with advice on alternate career paths where you can transfer your current skills into a new role. Just because you have experience in one particular industry or one particular position, this does not mean that your skills are not required within different industries.

What Else Can I Do?

Using a recruiter to help you find a new job is only one strategy you should employ. Ensure you network with as many people as possible to find out different opportunities that may exist. Also, don’t forget to keep your resume up to date and keep practicing your interview techniques.

Staying Busy During The Job Search

If you suddenly find that you’re finishing your studies or your job is ending before you’ve landed a new one, don’t panic! Unfortunately nowadays it can take longer to go through the application and interviewing process and successfully secure a position. It’s important to stay focused in the job search while building your skills in other areas. Below are some tips of activities that can help you build your skills and stay productive while looking for work:

Learn a new language or brush up on your skills:

Knowing a second, third or even fourth language is always considered an asset in the job market. While some fields require it more than others, it is typically valued by any employer as you can communicate with particular clients/ customers for the company or organization.

Volunteer:

Find a local community organization that interests you or that you have an interest in and see how you can get involved. Volunteering will get you out and allow you to give back to the community and gain a different perspective. It’s also good to show employers that you’ve been making use of your time, even if you haven’t been working. It can also help you meet more professionals in the community you live in.

Intern with an organization:

Look for internships with companies or organizations you want to work for, or in a related field. This will help you gain contacts and get your foot in the door in case any open positions open up within the organization. Even if the internship doesn’t directly lead to a job with the company, you’ll still learn valuable skills directly in the field which will make you a more competitive candidate for other positions you apply for in the field. While you might not get paid for the work you do as an intern, the experience you gain will be worthwhile and beneficial to you.

Find temporary work:

Ask family and friends if they have any odd jobs they need done around the house, look for babysitting gigs, tutor students after school, or provide music lessons. Whatever your talents or skills, try to use them to help you gain part-time or temporary work while you look for something full-time in your field. Having some temp work will help you to earn some income and take a little of the pressure off from immediately finding a job.

Take a related course:

It’s always good to update or improve your knowledge on certain areas or skills you need in your field. Try taking a related course to brush up on your knowledge or learn a new component of the industry. This can help you become better-rounded in your career and prepare you for when you do land a job in the field.

Take up a hobby—for fun!

Whatever it is you love to do, be it sports, dance, theatre, crafts, etc. take some time to do things that you like doing. Job searching and especially being unemployed can be tiring and disappointing, so it’s important to focus on some things that you enjoy doing and take your mind off the stress of being without work.

Whatever you choose to do with the extra time you have if you’re unemployed, taking up an activity whether work-related or just for pleasure will help you to stay motivated and positive during your job search!

Tips To Avoid Job Searching Burnout

When I first found myself unemployed after college, I was so stressed about finding a job quickly that I devoted myself to constantly being on my computer searching and applying for jobs. Every time I was home, my laptop was open with the objective of looking for jobs. It was the first thing I did in the morning and even when I ate or sat down to watch a movie, I had those career sites open next to me. Soon I began to feel that job searching was the only thing I was really doing, and it quickly became discouraging and draining.

My best advice is to devote a few hours every day to the job searching process (preferably around the same time each day so you can develop a routine). The rest of the time you can spend improving your skills, taking courses, practicing hobbies, and enjoying your time with family and friends. This way, you’ll spend time searching and applying for jobs, but you’ll also maintain a healthy balance. It may be hard for you to pull yourself away from job searching after a few hours at first, but it’s better to spend focused, productive time job searching rather than long periods of time where you are tired and wasting time. Trust me, in the long-run you’ll be much happier and you’ll also end up being more productive.

In order to make your time most useful, you should focus your energy on particular tasks each day and organize your time wisely. Set weekly goals for yourself—explore new career websites, make a list of organizations you want to research, find positions you want to apply for, create social networking profiles and network. Unfortunately, you typically have to apply to many job postings before hearing back from one. Try to stay focused and motivated. Keep in mind that you’re not only competing with recent grads, you’re also competing with professionals of all levels who may have several more years of work experience than you do, so don’t be discouraged if you apply to numerous positions without hearing back.

Take your job searching process seriously, but don’t let it take over your life. Dedicate time to physical fitness and social activities and never underestimate the importance of developing new skills. Enrolling in a relevant course, taking up a new hobby or learning a foreign language will serve as a constructive use of your time and will also help you to become a more marketable candidate.

Remember to be patient and target your job search to the right positions. Stay positive and persevere!