Excellent Tips for Finding the Right Job

These days, finding a great job seems almost like a losing proposition. A still-feeble economy and stubbornly high unemployment rate have led employers to shed more and more jobs by the day, resulting in stiff competition for the few positions available. This article discusses effective job search strategies you can avail of to help you land the job you want. It guides you through the different stages of the job hunting process, from determining which jobs suit your personality and match your skills to making a good impression during interviews to sending post-interview thank you letters that yield great results. 

Tips on How to Find a Job You’ll Love

Scads of employers around the country report receiving hundreds of applications for every job opening they put out. This means that the competition for jobs is stiffer than ever.

To be sure, getting a job – let alone the right job – is difficult enough. But all hope is not lost! By heeding the job hunting tips listed below, you’ll not only learn how to make your resumes and cover letters stand out more, but also discover the little things you can do to make a big impression during interviews. Whether you are unemployed and have been job hunting for more than 3 months, or gainfully employed and simply yearning for better career opportunities, these job search strategies will ultimately put you one step closer to landing the job you want.

1. Determine the type of job you want. Do you have your sights set on an account executive position at an advertising agency? A senior accountant post at a CPA firm? How about a sales manager role at a pharmaceutical company? Whatever your career goals and interests, it’s pivotal that you research the salary trends for your target industry, not to mention the particular skills and educational qualifications employers in your field are seeking. Community colleges offer a range of vocational programs designed to enhance the skills of inexperienced job hunters and seasoned professionals alike.

But making loads of money won’t mean much if the desired job is a poor match for your personality. If you’ve never taken a personality test, consider taking the widely used Myers-Briggs test, which classifies you into one of 16 personality types. Once you’ve arrived at your personality type, you’ll have a better sense as to which career(s) fit your character, working style and skill set.

2. Exploit all possible resources.  Now that you know the type of job you want, how do you go about finding it? Most job seekers take to online job boards like Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com. Sure, these two job search sites are arguably the most popular ones out there, but that only means you’ll face more competition when applying for jobs through them. I’ll let you in on two of the best-kept secrets on the World Wide Web: Indeed.com and Simplyhired.com. They aggregate listings from a wide array of different websites across the internet, with Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com among them. In fact, you’ll notice ads pulled straight from corporate websites like that of Kraft, Chevrolet, and Unilever.

But don’t make the costly mistake of relying solely on job boards. Many positions aren’t even advertised online; instead, they’re either filled internally or given to candidates referred by fellow co-workers or family members. That’s why it’s crucial to make your friends and relatives aware that you’re looking for a job. Even if there’s nothing available where they work, they might know a friend of a friend whose employer is looking to hire someone in your very field. Never underestimate the power of networking, as it should be regarded as a critical tool in your job search arsenal. If you’re not already registered with and using Linkedin.com to look for leads and connect with those in your industry, do it now!

Leave no stone unturned when searching for a job. Visit your alma mater’s Career Services website. Enlist the services of staffing agencies in your area. If you feel your lack of job experience is hindering your job prospects, consider getting an internship – even if unpaid – to get your foot in the door at a company you’d like to work for. Should a position open up later on, you’ll be at the front of the line; employers prefer to give jobs to those they know and trust.

3. Keep applying! Finding a job is a numbers game, which is why it’s essential to apply to as many jobs as possible. The more jobs you apply for, the better your odds of finding a job. Challenge yourself by aiming to apply for, say, five different jobs each week. Even if you don’t meet your goal every week, you’ll take pride in the fact that you’re giving the job search your all.

4. Tailor your resumes and cover letters to each individual job ad. I’ve learned from experience that you’ll get much better results tailoring your resume to every job you apply for than simply shooting off a generic version of it en masse. Tweak your resume to include some of the keywords you see listed in the job listing. For example, if the ad is for a copywriter position that expects you to have ample experience editing and proofreading, you’ll want those words sprinkled within your resume. (Of course, don’t include anything that strays heavily from your actual work experience, as that can come back to bite you during the interview, or, even worse, while on the job.)

Be sure to also customize your cover letter for every job listing. Let’s say you’re applying for an administrative position at a non-profit organization. Don’t just say you’d like to work for them – explain why that is the case in the letter.  For example, you can mention you’re the right candidate because you support the organization’s mission to provide job training services to at-risk youth. It goes without saying that your resume and cover letter should be devoid of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Proofread your materials multiple times and make sure they’re impeccable before pressing that send button! It doesn’t hurt to pass them off to a trusty friend or relative who has a way with words. (Or, better yet, you can enlist the services of a professional proofreader.)

Another useful tip: Make your resume results-oriented with strong action verbs. “Prepared quarterly budget and expense reports” won’t have as strong an impact as “implemented marketing strategies that boosted revenues by 40%.” Granted, you might have to stretch the truth a smidgen here and there, but don’t overdo it. For instance, you don’t want to say you launched your previous employer’s new clothing line when all you did there was process supplier invoices.

5. Shine in the interview. So you’ve landed a job interview and find yourself inching closer to the finish line. Congratulations! It’s important that you show up to the interview in professional attire and with a firm understanding of the business, including the company’s history and mission. Research the company on the internet and print out pertinent articles that shed light on topics you may want to address in the interview – from quarterly earnings to new corporate initiatives. In addition, come prepared with questions you’d like to ask the interviewer. It demonstrates an active interest in the company and position and shows you did your due diligence.

Though you may find this hard to believe, it pays huge dividends to try to connect with the interviewer on a personal level. As human beings, we’re more drawn to those with which we share common interests. If you find yourself discussing cooking or sports with the interviewer, take it as a very encouraging sign. In fact, at this point, the interviewer likely sees you as the top candidate and may be trying to pull you in by making a favorable impression on you. Try your best to relax and exude confidence. To reduce the chances of being stumped by an interview question thrown your way, practice beforehand by looking up sample job interview questions online.

6. Sending thank you letters is important. After the interview, be sure to send thank you letters to each and every person who interviewed you. I can’t overestimate how critical this step of the process is. Many will tell you that sending a thank you letter will do little to help your cause. But if they can’t decide between you and another candidate (all other things equal), who do you think has the edge – the person who wrote a well-written thank you letter, or the one who neglected to do so? A thank you letter sets you apart from the competition and gives you one final opportunity to sell yourself to the employer. As is the case with cover letters, you must write a unique cover letter for every interviewer. Make each one a little different by varying certain words in the letter that mean the same thing. (A Thesaurus will most certainly mcome in handy here!) For example, you can put “I want to express my deepest thanks for the opportunity to meet you” in one letter and tweak another letter to say “I want to thank you for the chance to meet with you."

Now that you’re armed with the above job search strategies, use them wisely to land the job you’ve always dreamed of! 

For more on How to Understand People, check out some of my other posts on this blog.