Whether you’re a first-time job seeker or changing careers, these top-notch tactics can help you maximize your job search.
How to get a Job?
Obtaining a job can be accomplished through various methods, which depend on the specific job type, industry, and level of competition. While some job seekers may find success through networking and personal relationships, others may opt for the conventional method of submitting job applications and attending interviews. Although the process can appear intimidating, these tactics can assist you in gaining direction and assurance as you commence your job search.
It can be more rewarding and successful to begin a job search by considering your career goals rather than randomly applying for any position that fits your qualifications. Thinking back on your interests and passions can help you focus your search.
- Examine possible career paths and industries.
Following that, contemplate the industries or job positions that align with your previous experience or stimulate your curiosity. Conduct extensive research on the industry of your choice.
For instance, if you hold a marketing degree, would you like to pursue a career in that domain? If yes, do you prefer to work for an agency or an in-house position for a company or non-profit organization? Which branch of marketing would you like to specialize in—social media marketing, digital marketing, or content marketing? Analyze your search in-depth to comprehend the various roles that you could undertake within a specific field or industry.
Alternatively, if you prioritize your lifestyle, examine jobs that enable remote work, offer travel opportunities, or cater to introverted individuals.
- Acknowledge your transferable skills.
After determining your career aspirations and the types of jobs that attract you, consider how your prior experiences can be relevant to these positions. Pinpoint your transferable skills, including technical and workplace abilities that you have acquired through personal and professional circumstances.
If you are a first-time job seeker, your transferable skills may originate from extracurricular activities, volunteer work, or daily responsibilities such as taking care of siblings or children. If you are transitioning careers or changing jobs, you can leverage your previous work experiences for technical skills such as data analytics or data entry, as well as workplace skills such as leadership, creativity, and critical thinking.
- Increase your web presence.
Presently, an increasing number of people are securing employment via LinkedIn. In fact, six individuals are hired every minute through the platform. A significant percentage of recruiters (approximately 87 percent) employ LinkedIn during the hiring process, particularly when screening potential candidates. Your LinkedIn profile should showcase your current resume, along with links to projects, videos, and content you have contributed to. A professional and amiable profile photo can help recruiters connect a face to a name, while a list of achievements presented in bullet points using relevant keywords can enhance your credibility.
Although posting on LinkedIn may not guarantee a job, engaging with posts through sharing and liking can increase your visibility and attract potential employers. If you decide to post, share photos and summaries of projects you have worked on or articles that demonstrate your expertise in the industry.
Moreover, you can initiate communication with recruiters on LinkedIn by sending a connection request or messaging them via InMail. While crafting your message, introduce yourself, specify what you are seeking, and explain why you would like to connect with them.
- Schedule informational interviews.
Entering a new industry or field can be challenging, especially if you are unsure whether the career path you are considering is suitable for you. This is where informational interviews come in handy. Job seekers can conduct informational interviews to gain insights into a potential field or job role.
Here’s how you can conduct an informational interview:
- Determine the information you want to gather.
- Reach out to the person and request a meeting.
- Prepare a list of questions to ask.
- Get to know the interviewee.
- Send a thank-you note.
- Keep in touch.
Informational interviews help establish relationships, provide practice for interviews, and may even lead to future opportunities, particularly if you take the initiative to keep in touch with the person you interviewed.
- Customize your cover letter.
Customizing your resume for each job you apply to is crucial. This means adjusting your resume to match the job description, highlighting relevant experiences and skills, and using the same language and jargon as the company. It’s also important to double-check your resume for spelling and grammar errors.
In addition, many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter resumes. To increase your chances of getting through the initial screening process, you should strategically include exact keywords and phrases from the job description in your resume. This will help your resume get noticed by the ATS and increase your chances of being selected for an interview.
- Compose a cover letter.
Writing a customized cover letter is essential when applying for jobs. While it may seem like extra work, you can create a basic template for each type of job you’re applying for and then tailor the information to fit each job. This way, you can demonstrate your enthusiasm for the specific job you’re applying for, and list out the skills and experiences relevant to each job type. When customizing your cover letter, be sure to swap out your interest in one company for another and tweak your language to fit the specific job.
- Get ready for the interview.
When preparing for an interview, it’s important to approach it mindfully. Remember, an interview is a two-way conversation where you assess whether the employer and role are a good fit for you, not just a chance for the employer to evaluate you. To feel more confident, prepare by thinking about common interview questions and how you would answer them, as well as considering the role’s responsibilities and required skills. If your interview is virtual, it can be helpful to practice with a friend and make sure your setup is clean, reliable, and ready before the interview.
- Appreciation mail
After your interview, it is important to follow up with a thank-you email. This gesture not only shows your appreciation for the interviewer’s time and consideration but also keeps you top of mind as they make their final decision.
In your thank-you email, reiterate your interest in the role and the company, and briefly highlight key points from the interview that you found particularly engaging or important. Use the opportunity to ask any follow-up questions you might have or provide additional information you may have forgotten to mention during the interview.
- Negotiation of pay and benefits
Congrats on getting hired! It is now appropriate to talk about pay and perks. Make sure your salary expectations are realistic before starting any talks by researching job position, industry, and business compensation on websites like Glassdoor. Salary and benefit negotiations are totally acceptable these days. It is always a good idea to haggle for 10–20% more than their initial offer, coupled with benefits packages, even though the job offer may contain information about income. Bonuses, paid time off, and other benefits may differ even though these packages are typically the same for all corporate employees. Always do your assigned reading, and before accepting the job offer, don’t be afraid to ask the hiring manager any questions.