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Finding a new job can feel like a job in itself! Here are 10 things you can do right now to instantly amp up your job search.
Sep 30,2016
A new job means new beginnings!
You’ve just started your job search and are feeling crazy excited.
Well, you were feeling crazy excited until you had the crashing realisation that job hunting isn’t easy. So now you just feel crazy.
Finding a new job can feel like a job in itself! And oh man, now you’re getting cold feet, and wondering ‘What am I even doing?!’
Relax.
Take a deep breath.
You’ve got this.
Actually, you’ve got 10 of this! Here are ten things you can do right now to help you land the job.
It might sound ludicrous, but when you’re hating work and desperate to get outta there, you can find yourself jumping head first into a job hunt without really knowing what you’re looking for. It’s easy to let the novelty and shininess of a new job distract you from what’s really important – whether the job is right for you.
Make sure you put together a ‘must-have’ and ‘nice-to-have’ list, and ask yourself questions like:
Unless you’re in a situation where you need a job, any job ASAP, you should be absolutely sure that this job is worth applying for and that you’re looking for job perks that will actually make you happier. Even if it’s not your ‘dream job’, it should tick most of your ‘must-have’ boxes and at least some of your ‘nice-to-haves’.
As a jobseeker, you can’t afford to ignore the digital extension of your professional self. Prospective employers, recruiters and companies will search for you online. If you have a LinkedIn profile, it’s very likely to be the first result they find, so make sure that you give it as much love as your other social media accounts. And if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile at all, you risk seeming like a Luddite…seriously, get one!
To make a killer first impression, you need to optimise your profile. This is how to really stand out:
Ideally, you want to do everything in your power to impress recruiters and employers before they even meet you – and your LinkedIn profile is a great way to do just that!
Speaking of a great first impression – get your digital presence in order!
It’s important to clean up your digital persona and make sure that you’re putting your best (and most professional) face forward. Here’s a spring clean checklist to get you started:
Google yourself, see what comes up and remove anything unprofessional. Take the time to check every single social account you own, and delete posts that you’re not proud of, or tighten the privacy settings.
Before you even think about tidying up your resume or writing a kickass cover letter, research the hell out of the company you want to work for, the department you’ll be working in, and if possible, the team you’ll be joining. Get an understanding of the company’s latest projects, and gauge where they’re at in their growth cycle. You can do this by setting up Google Alerts for the company’s name, competitors’ names, and any relevant industry keywords. ?
These insights should help you put together a more tailored job application that will resonate with whoever’s reading it, and also come in handy when (not if) you get called for an interview.
Before you even think about tidying up your resume or writing a kickass cover letter, research the hell out of the company you want to work for, the department you’ll be working in, and if possible, the team you’ll be joining. Get an understanding of the company’s latest projects, and gauge where they’re at in their growth cycle. You can do this by setting up Google Alerts for the company’s name, competitors’ names, and any relevant industry keywords. ?
These insights should help you put together a more tailored job application that will resonate with whoever’s reading it, and also come in handy when (not if) you get called for an interview.
A standout resume should complement your cover letter, and needs to be tailored specifically to the job ad.
To write a great resume, you need to:
Once you get a callback for the interview, your first instinct will be to prep like crazy.
And yes, you should do this, but only after you’ve locked down at least two referees who will sing your praises and stand behind your work.
Why?
Because, when an interview goes well, one of the first things the interviewer will do is call your references and ask them a few questions about you.
When this happens, you don’t want to slow down the momentum by having to wait for your referees to confirm that they’re happy to be contacted etc. This will come off as unprepared at best and slightly dodgy at worst.
So pick your referees now, and be sure to brief them on the sorts of job you’re applying for. Choosing the right referees is extremely important, so be sure to follow our pro tips for picking the right referees!
Interviews suck. Full stop.
They’re marked by awkward small talk, clammy hands, and pit-stain inducing waits outside the interview room. The good news is, the more you prepare, the less jangled your nerves will be on the day.
It can feel pretty overwhelming, but if you focus on these five main areas you should be covered:
What you wear matters.
According to Princeton University researchers, it only takes a tenth of a second for someone to form a first impression of you.
That’s right. A tenth of a second. That’s barely enough time for a smile – much less a ‘You had me at hello’.
These snap judgements aren’t always right, but they inform the entire interview process because it takes a lot to change people’s initial perceptions. So think hard about what your interview outfit will be and what you want it to say about you.
You need to:
The reality is that you’ll probably be applying for a few different roles at a few different companies. Over time, it can be difficult to keep track of where you applied, and which job is which.
So it’s really important to stay on top of everything, because not knowing who’s calling you, or which job they’re referring to, will make you seem disorganised and unprofessional.
And nothing kills a potential job offer faster than seeming – guess what? – disorganised and unprofessional.
So, stay on top of your job search by doing the following:
Finding a new job can be stressful, nail-biting stuff. But don’t let that make you throw it into the ‘too hard basket’ and keep you trapped in a job you hate. Use these 10 steps as a guide to push through the pain, and your career will thank you for it!
Viv is a writer who enjoys researching and writing about creativity, how the human mind works, and neuro processes. She values creativity above all else and admires people who pursue their career dreams, no matter the sacrifice. In her spare time, she binges on HBO shows and epic fantasy novels.
