If you’re trying to find a job, but not having much success it may be because your job search strategies are outdated. Find out how to keep your job search current.
“Back in the day” the best way to start your job search was to check out the Want Ads in the Sunday paper and see what jobs were available. Then the internet exploded and literally changed everything.
At that point, the best way to find a job was to look at the job search sites and send in an online application. Are you ready to be surprised? I mean really surprised?
That doesn’t work anymore. Here are the updated strategies you should be using for your job search.
1Don't Focus On Online Applications
That statement is probably a bit of a surprise to most people, but give me a minute to explain.
It is so easy to apply for jobs online that everyone does it… a lot. In fact, people post for so many jobs that it has almost become a form of spam for many hiring managers.
Many times, landing a job isn’t about having the right credentials and references, it’s about getting those credentials recognized.
If 400 people apply for a job, it’s pretty likely that nearly half of them are qualified for the position. How do you get noticed from that group of 200 people? You do it by sending an old fashioned cover letter and professional resume through the mail.
Sending a paper resume almost guarantees that the hiring manager will at least look at it. That can’t be said for the hundreds of applications they get online.
2Be Proactive in Your Job Search
The truth about most of the job postings that you see is that many of them are essentially filled by the time you see them. These days, many companies have regulations that require them to make every position they have available open to the public. That means they have to post the job even though they already know who they will hire.
Internal candidates are usually the first option. After that a “friend of a friend” is also likely to know about the opening before it is even published. If you wait to see the job posting through public channels, you will likely be too late.
How do you know about postings before they are made public? Keep reading…
3The Key to Your Job Search is the Hiring Manager
The most important factor in finding the best job openings isn’t a new idea, but people still don’t use it nearly enough. The key has been, and continues to be all about the hiring manager. Instead of blindly sending out hundreds of blind resumes, focus your job search on contacting the hiring managers at the companies you are interested in.
The best way to find job openings is to find a way to contact the hiring managers directly and get to know them. Some companies make this a little more difficult than others. However, a little bit of perseverance and some phone calls can get this done for you.
4Don't Focus Your Job Search on Too Many Options
The internet age has made it much too easy to apply for hundreds of positions in just a few minutes. But as we discussed above, that isn’t a very good tactic for your job search these days.
The reason hiring managers are beginning to regard online applications as spam is that because it is so easy to apply for a huge number of jobs, people apply for positions they aren’t really qualified for.
If you are applying for hundreds of jobs in a short time, it also means you are sending a nearly identical resume and cover letter for every position. This is a major mistake that most people make.
You should focus your job search on the jobs you really want. Then, instead of spending time spamming hiring managers, you should take that time and customize your resume and cover letter to the specific job you are applying for.
5Summary
The best way to handle your job search in today’s world is to start with the hiring managers to find out about the possible open positions they have. Then, spend time making sure your resume and cover letter are updated to address the specifics of the job you are applying for and the things the hiring manager will be looking for. And finally, send your application through the mail instead of posting it online.
Chances are that your job search will be much more successful if you follow these tips.
What Do You Think?
Are there other job hunting tips that you know about that might help someone else land the job they’re looking for?
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