Looking for the right job can be really challenging and with unemployment rates across the country at a high, it can seem like you will never find a job in this economy. To help look for a job, there are more ways than your typical job search websites. It’s about time we started using “out of the box” search strategies to find a job and land an interview. Here are a few strategies that really stand out when looking for a job.
1) Attend Industry Seminar and Conferences
Sometimes the best way to find a job is simply by talking to someone in your industry. Many job openings are told through word of mouth and who you know, so it’s time to get out and know more people! Attending industry conferences or seminars introduces you to people in your field and what they do. Just by talking to them you could find out a new company to look at.
2) Know What Positions Are Available
You may have a few companies in mind that you want to work for but you can’t just send in a resume if there isn’t something available. Check the company’s website or call in directly to find out what jobs are available. If you qualify for one of them be sure to ask who to send your resume too and what you need to include to be considered for the job. Simply talking to someone at a company can open doors for you beyond the online portal that may never be seen.
3) Try Different Online Job Websites
Popular job sites such as Monster.com or CareerBuilder.com are great tools to help you look for a job, but they are also saturated with millions of others looking for a job. Reach out and look at career specific sites like VelvetJobs.com because smaller companies add job opportunities on industry specific sites in order to expand their reach. LinkedIn is also a fantastic tool for job searching. Some companies post jobs but a great way to see what’s out there is by expanding your network. Reach out to others in your industry and see how they got their job, who they work for, and if they know of any companies hiring. Many people who already have a job hear about other opportunities first and will gladly tell you about them.
4) Social Media Can Help and Hinder
Social media is another great way to look for jobs. There are a surprising amount of groups on Facebook about job openings and many people are happy to share them in the group. This support network is great because if you get a job offer from their search you will want to help someone in return. Use Facebook wisely though because you don’t want to SPAM your friends and family. Twitter is another good way to find a job because you can follow certain companies who may post job openings and you can follow people who work there too and message them privately about job openings.
5) Use Multiple Resumes
This does not mean that you have fake skill sets or that you are lying about what you do, what it does is create skill specific resumes that can focus on certain jobs. You may do social media coordination, content writing, direct marketing email campaigns, and event planning but these can all be separate jobs. Focus on one skill for each resume and have it ready to apply for these different but similar job titles.
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