Whether you’ve lost your job recently or are looking to make a career change, the current job market can leave you feeling like tiny minnow in a deep and treacherous sea. The waters are murky, you’re swimming against the current and you’re sure that lots of younger, tastier fish are out there with their eyes on your worm.
These days, the internet makes it easy to see which companies are hiring and what positions are available. But there are so many job search websites available online, how do you keep from wasting time rummaging through long lists of irrelevant positions? And once you decide to send in your resume, what are the chances yours will impress the intended recipient?
Though it can be easy to get overwhelmed during the job search there are some small, but valuable steps you can take to make yourself stand out as quite the catch:
1.) Get Clear on your Cause
Before you start scouring Monster.com for available positions, you first need to spend some time searching your soul. Take some time to write down the activities you love most in life, including enjoyable aspects of your previous work and hobbies. As your favorites float to the top of the list, you can start your search. But don’t just jump on any old career directory! Focus in on industries and organizations that fit with your passions and vow only to apply where you’ll get paid for doing the things you love.
2.) Whittle Down your Wants and Needs
Now that you’ve narrowed it down to a few interesting industries, make a list of specific things you loved (and hated) about your last position. Perhaps you enjoyed public speaking, accessible supervisors, or flexible workdays – these intricacies will be important to remember as you’re pouring over job descriptions. Once you’ve narrowed down your must-have’s and your no-can-do’s, you’ll be armed with a lot more clarity about which positions will be a good fit.
3.) Polish your Online Presence
If you haven’t yet signed up for social media, now is the time to start! As intimidating as it might seem to broadcast personal information on Facebook and LinkedIn, employers will expect to see that you’ve made your mark somewhere in cyberspace. At the very least, a basic professional profile can keep you in the running against younger, internet-savvy competitors. A polished online presence that includes your achievements, interests and volunteer work gives hiring managers much more to consider than a snapshot resume. And, as an added bonus, online networking can connect you to potential employers even before they post new job openings.
4.) Revamp your Resume
Perhaps you’ve been in the same position for decades. Or, maybe you’re a stay-at-home parent, taking on a new challenge. Whatever your career history, you’ll be more likely to score that great gig if you update your resume. First, search for resume templates and samples online – this will give you a few current models to test drive. Once you’ve input the basic info, it’s time to get tailored. Review the description of the job you’re applying for and refresh the words and phrases in your resume to match the requirements of the position. The closer the tone of your previous work fulfills the recruiter’s wish list, the more likely your resume will make it past email auto-filters and onto the desk of a real, live person.
5.) Start Turning Stones
Once you’ve taken a step back to clarify your values and created an online and on-paper personality that exemplifies your assets and aspirations, it is time to get serious about your search. Here again, a little innovation goes a long way. The old standard of sending in a simple resume likely won’t get your foot in the door. Instead, the best way to find a job in this competitive market is to network with people in your desired field. Send emails out to your friends and family, make targeted contacts on LinkedIn, start spreading the word at your church, yoga class, knitting club... Making a concrete connection is like tossing a stone into a pond; it creates a ripple effect that carries your interest and information to a wider and wider circle of potential employers. Organization is key as you start to build your network. Open a spreadsheet on your computer to keep contact information, open positions, sent resumes and conversation notes in order.
6.) Keep Your Eyes Open and Look For Clues
Even if you haven’t yet found your dream job, often you’ll find invaluable clues along the way that will help you minimize the time and effort spent on your search. Elicit feedback from trusted friends, colleagues, and family about your online presence and resume. How well do your personality, your accomplishments, your passions, and professionalism shine through? What developments are happening in your location that point to jobs that might open in fields that interest you? Instead of sitting home, get out there and get noticed! Personal contacts and social activities can lead you into conversations with people who might have connections to others.
7.) Put Your Creativity to Work
As you begin to look, you may want to take advantage of some of the more creative ways to make your presence known. If you don’t find exactly the right job, consider using your time wisely to get more experience in fields doing related work and building connections. Even if right now you find that you need to work at a job that isn’t your dream job, you can spend your personal time building up the skills, the connections, and the expertise to work toward your goals. In today’s market, careers can drastically change so the more time you spend on #1 above, figuring out what you really, truly love to do is well-spent!
8.) Stay Productive with a Worthwhile Project
Searching for the perfect career can work you up and stress you out as much as any 9-5 job. In order to keep your sanity during the hunt, you’d be wise to spend some of your time and effort in other pursuits. Whether you enjoy staying active with sports and exercise, playing with photography and scrapbooks, or acquiring antiques for your Ebay store – it is important to save some energy to continue your favorite hobbies. And I’d suggest that you go one step further and document your extracurricular endeavors: Blog about your latest travels or family functions. Track testimonials from your neighborhood DIY handyman feats. Showing off your interests and achievements in a resume, profile, or portfolio lets potential employers know that you stayed productive during your hiatus. And, who knows? Maybe those one-of-a-kind aprons you stitched for Etsy will lead to enough income to quit the job search for good!
Great Job Search Sites
- Coolworks.com
- Idealist.org
- Onedayonejob.com
- Justmeans.com
- Jobmonkey.com
- Stopdodo.com
- Ecojobs.com
- Craigslist.org (But beware of scammers, only apply if you can link the post to a real company!)
- Linkedin.com (Scroll to the ‘Jobs’ category and search for keywords that interest you.)
Do a search for:
- ‘Best Places to Work’ lists
- ‘Companies Hiring Now’ lists
- Your state’s ‘Non-Profit Job Board’
Choose a company you love and check their website for an ‘Employment’ page. If they’re not hiring, they may have a list of partners or affiliates online who do similar work.
Also keep an eye out for events or networking opportunities that your favorite companies are participating in.
