The job-searching process can be excruciating. Going to countless interviews, or worse, applying for jobs and not hearing anything back, can be soul-crushing. You should not allow this to make you worthless, because the truth is you may be making miniscule mistakes that are causing you to fail in obtaining that job. Continue reading to learn great advice you may not be using during your job search.
When you’re looking for a job, make job searching your full time job. If you already have a job, take time out of each day to search as well. You won’t get anywhere if you only try to work for one or two places. Take your time and create a list of places to apply at each day.
It is good to make weekly goals when you are looking for a job. Make a schedule and aim for a certain amount of job search activities each week. This will make it easier for you to stay organized and it will increase your chances of going on more job interviews.
After you are done with your interview, be sure to send a thank you letter to the person who interviewed you. This not only is an act of graciousness, but also shows that you are following up in a professional manner. This will make a great first impression if you did not make one already.
If there is a particular company you are interested in working for, do not hesitate to contact them directly to see what they have available. There may be some jobs available that they have not had to chance to publicly advertise for. Getting in contact with them right away can give you a bit of an advantage.
It is a good idea to have clear job goals in mind before you start applying for any jobs. Many interviewers ask where you see yourself in the future, and it will make you look good if you can give them a solid answer without any hesitation or deep thought.
During your first week on the job, stay as late as you possibly can. This will show that you have a great work ethic and mean business. Furthermore, it serves to form a quality first impression with your co-workers and upper management that will be responsible for promoting you in the future.
Try doing a practice interview before you go to interview for a new job. Have a friend or family member play the role of the interviewer. This will help you be prepared when you go to your interview. It will also help you remain calm and collected when you are at your interview because you are better prepared.
Networking in all areas of your target industry can be a great idea. Networks, even very informal ones, allow you to corroborate with others who have the same skills and goals that you do. Go to seminars, classes, meetings and join organizations in the field. Learn all that you can from your networking to become a though-provoking leader in your field.
Be very clear about what kind of job you’re looking for before you begin job hunting. Many people get too caught up in looking for “a job” instead of for their dream job, and that causes them to apply for jobs that don’t fit them well. If you restrict your job hunt to jobs you would be excited about taking, you are more likely to find the right job for you.
The quickest way to find jobs online is to use a job search engine. This type of site indexes all the major job boards, allowing you to search them all at the same time. I highly recommend Indeed.com as it found my husband the job of his dreams!
Use a one page resume. A lot of people really want to use more than one page, but here is the truth: People don’t care about the resume as you think they do. They use a resume as a first step. They call you in for an interview, so they can learn more about you as a person, so keep that resume short and use only the most relevant information.
A common mistake people make when they are on the job market is to consider certain jobs as ‘beneath them.’ The bottom line is that you need to make ends meet. If you have considerable savings, that’s one thing, but you may want to consider accepting a job that may not be your ideal job but that would allow you to pay the bills while you look for another source of employment.
Eye contact is one of the more important things to focus on as the interview in progress. When you make eye contact with your interviewer, it shows that you are not only paying attention to them but are confident as well. These attributes are important to companies for hiring purposes.
When answering questions on an interview, stay as direct and concise as possible. The interviewer will know if you do not understand something so try not to beat around the bush. Clear answers will show that you know what you are talking about and not making up answers on the spot.
Take steps to make your resume stand out. If you are applying for a job in advertising, print up a resume if the form of a marketing plan. If you are looking for a job in web development, create your own website with all the information for your resume. Whatever field you want to work in, you can come up with a unique resume personalized to that field!
Although having your past work experiences on your resume is great, it is also good to put other information on it. For example, discuss your strengths and personality strengths. You do not want an potential employer to look at your resume and be bored with just every detail of your work history.
You now realize that finding a great job is an art. No matter how qualified you may be, you must do everything right in order to land this job. Now that you are armed with excellent job-searching advice, you can find and obtain that great job you have always wanted. Go and get it!