Try These 7 Strategies to Get the Right Job
Job hunting is a daunting process requiring patience and perseverance. If you have been following the time-tested method of searching for job postings, applying for a position and waiting for a response, it is time to look at new and innovative strategies to speed up your job hunting process. With good planning and strategy, you can find a job that perfectly matches your skills. Here are some steps that’ll help you land a job quickly.
Define short-term and long-term career goals
Short-term career goals are achievements you want to complete in three to five months. Long-term career goals are the ones that you want to achieve in five, seven or ten years. Examples of short-term career goals include getting a certification, getting a higher performance rating, improving specific skills, or learning a new skill that may be useful in the future. Examples of long-term career goals are getting a new management degree, publishing articles, having your own website, blog, or podcast, mentoring and training, or becoming an investor or entrepreneur in ten years. Once you have defined your goals, look for senior roles that can help you achieve them.
Widen your professional network
Spend time connecting to people who work in similar roles and in the companies you want to work with. Many leaders conduct workshops, seminars and podcasts to share their experiences with aspiring professionals. Identify such profiles and connect with them. Attend seminars and workshops and stay connected to other professionals. Post interesting information relevant to your job to increase interaction with professionals within the same domain. You are more likely to get job postings from across the world through such professional networks.
Create a profile on job sites
Create a profile on job search sites. Many recruiters use such job sites as the first place to look for suitable candidates. Update your profile frequently and use keywords and tags to increase your profile’s chances of appearing in searches. Respond to any emails or calls from recruiters and establish a connection with them. Some popular job sites are:
Behance
Dribble
Flexjob
Hired
Indeed
Monster
TheMuse
Subscribe to potential employer websites
Visit the websites of companies that you want to work with. Subscribe to their newsletters so that you can receive alerts and notifications about any new job postings.
Work with staffing agencies
Staffing agencies work with mass hiring and also help with companies that may require candidates with niche and specialized qualifications or skills. Identify some of the leading recruiters in your field, set an appointment with them, and discuss your career aspirations. They can help you find a good job, schedule interviews, and also help you negotiate a fair salary package.
Be prepared for the interview
All these above strategies can help you find suitable jobs, but most importantly, you must impress the employer in an interview. Once you start the job-search process, it is vital to start preparing for the interview. If you find a promising job posting, tailor your resume and cover letter to match the company’s requirements. Go through the job posting carefully, and understand the expectations from a candidate. Research online about the company, its management, its line of business, its clients, and their core vision and values so that you can respond to interview questions confidently. Prepare a set of interview questions, and practice the answers that can help you be ready for an interview.
Keep learning
Assess your technical and soft skill strengths and weaknesses and prepare accordingly. If required, register for short-term courses that can teach you new skills. Keep looking for programs that help you learn the latest technical or soft skills relevant to your field of work. You can also join management and leadership courses once you gain experience. If there are two equally matched candidates, an employer may prefer a candidate interested in learning new technologies and skills.