How to Make the Best of Your Job Search

Looking for employment can be tough. Luckily, there are already many resources available to help you out.

One of the hardest parts of unemployment is job hunting.

It’s exhausting to sift through employment listings, and discouraging to find a listing only to realize that it requires more experience or education than you have. Not to mention how lengthy the process can be to fill out an application, all without guarantee of a response or an interview from the employer.

And with steep competition in the job market right now, job hunting can feel even more hopeless than ever. Luckily, there’s a few tips, tricks, and resources you can use to make your job hunt go more smoothly.

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A computer’s screen is filled with sticky notes and pieces of notebook paper. Job hunting can feel like a huge undertaking, but there are many ways to make your search feel less intimidating without sacrificing your chances at a dream job.

Tips, Tricks, and Tools for (Getting the) Trade

  • Tailor your resume toward a targeted job. This may be a common piece of advice, but it bears repeating anyway; by editing your resume to reflect similar employment experiences and skills as what’s relevant to your desired job, you demonstrate an understanding of what would be required in this position, as well as a history of working in similar fields.
  • Include interesting skills or hobbies that you may have. The problem with resumes is that they can wash out any sense of individuality from a job candidate. You can fix this by adding in a few details to express your own personality; if you like sports, include that under the “Interests” or “Skills” section, and if you enjoy writing or reading, you can include that as well. This way, employers will have a better sense of who you are as they sift through applications.
  • Use websites like Indeed or LinkedIn. By developing a strong profile on LinkedIn, you open yourself up to more opportunities and interested employers. Similarly, by using websites like LinkedIn, you can tailor your search down to specific needs, locations, and subject areas.
  • Stay active on social media. Social media presence has been a proven resource for job hunting in 2021, and maintaining a positive, proactive profile on social media websites is demonstrably beneficial for employment prospects for many people. So, posting regularly on your social media is probably a good idea if you’re in the job market.
  • Research the company you’re applying to. While getting a job is paramount when you’re searching for employment, it’s also important to prioritize a healthy and safe work environment. When applying to a job, research what people have had to say about the company, what employee experiences are like, and what you should expect from the position. In this way, you can temper your expectations for the job and better understand what this position would encompass if you were hired.

Takeaways

Searching for employment is always a bit of a stressful experience, but hopefully these tips will help the next time that you’re job hunting.

It’s also important to remember that searching for employment takes time. Research indicates that the average job search lasts three to five months, with ten to twenty applications required before you have a strong probability of getting hired. So be kind to yourself, and patient as you fill out applications.

Good luck out there.

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