After some well-deserved vacation, we begin this year 2017 energized and with a clear head for finding a job. If you are constantly saying to yourself: I need a job, I want to work, how to find a job, I want to change my job, how do I find a job, what are the job search sites; don’t worry.
Here you will find the answers to all your questions. Use these 10 tips to help you search for work effectively and find your dream job in 2017.
1. Update and optimize your resume
This is a key element that must be in place when job hunting. You need to ask yourself, “Is the information in my resume up-to-date and is it relevant to the job I am looking for?” It’s important that this information is current and that it corresponds to the job offer or position that you wish to occupy.
That way the recruiter will have all the necessary information from your resume and will be able to make a better judgment as to what kind of job your resume corresponds to. If you have completed a course or participated in a workshop or event, be sure to include it in your CV.
All this information will reflect your areas of interest, qualifications and motivation for a particular field. Dowload our free resume templates.
2. Work on your online reputation and include links to your social media or blogs
When we speak of bringing your profile information up-to-date, we are also talking about your social media profiles. These days there are always more companies looking for new talent through social media. That’s why having a profile that is structured and presentable is so important. We recommend that you make use of your privacy setting tools to manage the information you would like visible, and the information you wish to keep private. That way, you can filter all your information.
Also, add links to your LinkedIn or online resume if you have one, and your social media or blog. This is an ideal way for recruiters to find o ut more about you.
In terms of online reputation, a LinkedIn profile that has been poorly managed is the first error that should be avoided.
In 2017, update all your information, and, above all, network with new people that may become key pieces that will play an important role when the time comes to look for a new job.
3. Make a list of job sites and take note of the offers that interest you
When searching for a job, it’s important to make a list of the job search sites through which you will find job offers that interest you and send applications. That way, you will have the clearest information possible and be more efficient when the moment comes to apply for an offer.
After having made your list of websites, or companies to which you will apply, and have found job offers that you are interested in, classify them in order of importance. Then, adapt your resume to each offer and apply for them one by one. If time has gone by and you have not received feedback from any company, don’t hesitate to contact them again with a follow up message. Also, try amplifying your job searching criteria (cities, types of business, position…). By doing that you will increase your chances of getting a job and possibly even open yourself to new experiences.
4. Dare to try something new
Have you still not attempted to use Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter to find a job?
Then is the time to take that step. Many businesses are open to innovation and are looking for creative candidates with initiative. Like we said before, sharing your resume on different social media platforms can open many doors at the time of searching for employment. It will also help increase your profile’s visibility. Take risks and make a resume presentation video, share your CV online, subscribe to new job sites, participate in job forums or write directly to the business representative that you are interested in via LinkedIn. Often opportunities are found where you would least expect them.
5. Stay tuned in to the job market
For example, subscribe to magazines/newsletters such as The Times, The Spectator, and your national and/or local magazines; to receive articles regularly about the job market and business growth. That way you can find out which companies are currently hiring, what types of resumes they are looking for and apply to these companies, knowing that they will have various job positions available.
Every year there are more Startups, micro-businesses, and multi-national companies that have a large market growth. Too often we are unaware of the job opportunities we are missing. Being tuned in to the evolution of the market will help us to know what we are looking for and the types of markets that are currently hiring.
6. Position yourself as the expert
Wouldn’t it be great if instead of looking for a job, the recruiting agents would contact you with new opportunities? Impossible? Not necessarily! The act of specializing in a particular field and having experience in that realm, makes your resume unique and of great interest to a company. That’s why, you should detail in your CV what you do and what you’re looking for. By doing this, recruiters will know exactly which position your resume will be useful in.
Also, participate in discussion forums on social media, comment on articles, and make your own blog. These are just a few elements that will add more weight to your resume and grant you the title of expert. By doing this you won’t have to convince anybody. As they say actions speak louder than words.
Don’t hesitate to find your strengths and highlight them in order to position yourself as the expert in a field you would like to specialize in.
7. Select and classify your job offers
As the saying goes: There are a lot of fish in the sea. Fish a few and let the rest go by. Well, that’s also how the job market operates. When we are seeking a new job, we should make a selection of the offers that interest us and correspond to our resume, followed by other offers that are of equal interest but don’t match our profile as well. The rest you will have to let pass by. It’s not worth the time to apply for job offers that aren’t a good fit.
This theory is perfect for job offers that match our resume 100%. All you would have to do is make a few minor adjustments to your resume, for responding appropriately to the offer, and then send the application accompanied by a cover letter. The recruiting agent will then know exactly who you are and what you are looking for.
For job offers that interest us, but don’t really fit our resume, it is important to work a bit more on them before applying. Bear in mind, however, that the possibility of being retained for this type of job will be less. Highlight your strengths. If there is a topic you are not familiar with, try to show how your knowledge can contribute to the job position. If this is not the case, it would be better to let the offer go).
Remember, applying to a company isn’t just a job. It’s also an environment, values… That being said, it’s important to identify if the offer matches what you are looking for and if other factors. These factors vary, such as company values, size, benefits, location, etc. will also suit you. The idea is to integrate yourself within a company and then grow with it.
8. Keep a steady rhythm
Job huntingcan be a long and tedious activity. For that reason we can say that the race is not about the distance but resistance. One must know how to have a good life rhythm to not get tired and thus abandon the job hunt.
It’s important to make yourself a job search calendar for finding work effectively. For example, select job offers between 9 and 10 in the morning. Then, send a few resumes from 10 until 12. Research new companies from 13h to 15h. Follow-up with your candidates by phone or e-mail from 15h to 16h. Write your Curriculum Vitae for job offers that require more adjustments from 16h to 18h and then take time for rest, sports or reading a book.
Structuring your day effectively and having a work rhythm will help you stay motivated and manage your time while searching for a job.
9. Be open to new possibilities
Applying for active job offers gives you the peace of mind that there is a potential position waiting for you. However, you shouldn’t be closed to the possibility that there may be companies looking for candidates like you. It just might be that the offers haven’t been published yet or you might have over-looked them. So, when job seeking, don’t hesitate to be spontaneous and send your CV to the company’s human resources manager, knowing that they may have an ideal position available for you.
10. Do something original… It’s worth it!
If you haven’t yet, this year we invite you to take more risks and plunge yourself into the creation of a resume that stands out. This will not only set you apart from other candidates, but will attract the attention of recruiters that are interested in resume like yours.
The more creative you are, the better. Don’t hesitate to make a video resume on YouTube, publish your CV sample online, make an original portfolio, and attach the links to the application messages for your candidacy. You will see that being original is worth it.
