job search

Job searching can be an enjoyable and experimental time for you. It allows you to dream, get specific and try something new. But we’re all busy and we don’t want the search to become endless without success. Knowing exactly HOW and WHAT to do when job searching, can keep it fun and speed up the process. Check out these six tips to help your search, be successful!

1. Don’t Solicit Your Resume

Blindly sending out your resume to a handful of companies does neither party any good. Unless an employer knows who you are or has a reason for filling a job, your resume will most likely sit in their inbox. To avoid this? Find someone in your circle or network, who can give you an “intro” to a company you’re interested in.

2. Go through Your Network

Following #1, as a society, we are starting to revert back to our old ways. Relationships and connections are taking priority. So use your resources when looking for a job. If you are searching for a marketing position: ask family, friends and even co-workers if they know anyone looking to hire for that position. This will not only save you time but it could also land you in an unexpected job. you wouldn’t have even considered. More importantly, if you’re being referred by someone within the company, the employer is more likely to give you their time.

3. Know What You Are Looking For

Mindlessly scrolling job sites can get tedious. Start by writing down a list of places or companies that you’re interested in. First the industry and work your way down to the companies you admire. By looking for jobs that excite you, it will encourage you to be MORE proactive and in-turn save you time.  Know the location, pay, industry, and what role you think you’d be most suited for. You are making it simpler for you, AND the companies you interview with. So when it comes time to discuss preferences, you can answer those questions with certainty.

4. Include Relevant Information In Your Resume

Cover letters are important, but your resume holds the weight. Generally, when your resume is being passed around within a company, or from a recruiter to a company, the cover letter is rarely included. Make sure your resume is as detailed and relevant as it can be without using the cover letter as a crutch. Something you may have left out in the resume that you included in your cover letter, could have been the one crucial thing that made you stand out. Don’t drag on, but be specific.

5. Have a Polished Resume

As shared before, a recruiter scans a resume in an average of six seconds. Companies probably take a minute or two to review them as well. So here are a few tips:

Make sure your resume is legible.  Check for any spelling errors, grammatical errors or repetitive sections you may have.  Grammarly is a great Google Chrome add-on that you can download (there is a free version!) to help find grammar and spelling errors.

Put Your Resume in Chronological Order- Backwards. Organize your job experiences from newest to oldest. This will show what you are most familiar with first, so it’s easily spotted when a company or recruiter looks at your resume.

Organize it. Split it up by section. Put all job titles in one format, all company names (of places you’ve worked) in another, and add bullet points to list your job responsibilities. Large paragraphs explaining what you do takes more time to review. So if you separate job responsibilities individually and with bullets, they are much easier to read.

Get Feedback. Have a colleague or friend look it over! Choose someone you trust with giving feedback to ensure your resume is cleaned up and ready to share. That way when you DO have the opportunity to give your resume to someone who wants it, you’ll feel confident in its entirety.

6. When You Land an Interview

Stories win. Always. To get someone’s attention, tell a story about your accomplishments and the impact it had. When you mix in experiences with knowledge, you are more likely to catch the reader’s attention and thus stand out.

All in all, going that extra mile will benefit your job search. Do your research, use your resources and get specific!