The Ultimate Strategies to Help you Find a Job (Infographic)

Strategies and Ways to Find a Job

Searching for a job can be challenging. Indeed, it can feel like a full-time job, and with so many means to find new opportunities, it’s often hard to know where to start from.

So, if you feel like you’re endlessly sending out applications with no success, it might be time to change your strategy and find a more effective way of job hunting.

To help put things into perspective and to boost your chances of job search success, here’s everything you need to know about job hunting.

Job Search Strategies Infographic

1. Social Media

Social media is one of the most effective ways to job search in 2019. And with most businesses sharing new job openings on their social platforms before publishing them elsewhere, it might be a great place to start.

That said, it’s important to maintain a professional presence across social media, as well as interact and engage with your target companies. Remember: with 60% of recruiters using social media sites to vet candidates, it’s vital that your profiles don’t raise any eyebrows.

While all social platforms have become viable sources for job opportunities, meanwhile, LinkedIn is the crowd’s clear favourite. And with its ‘Easy Apply’ button, it’s easy to see why!

2. Job Boards

Although social media platforms are rising in popularity in terms of job hunting, using an online job board to find vacancies is just as beneficial. Indeed, with 51% of jobseekers using the likes of Facebook and LinkedIn to find their next job, it should not be ignored.

After all, they take out all the hard work for you. With options to filter jobs by industry, location and company, you can easily find the perfect match. Just remember to upload a CV tailored to the position you’re applying for, accompanied by a well-written cover letter.

3. Personal Research and Contacts

Using open applications during a job search is a good start, but personal research and networking are just as beneficial. If you want to tap into the hidden job market, you’ll need to start connecting with your inner circle to see if they can refer you for any positions.

Attending professional networking events is also advisable if you want to expand your pool of contacts. And remember: if your contacts can’t help you, they might know someone who’s looking for someone with your skillset and experience.

4. Alumni Organisations

Tapping into your alumni network is just as useful as personal research. If you’re a recent graduate, you can find out what others before you have achieved and to see if they can vouch for you and help you get your foot in the door.

Once you’ve shortlisted a few contacts from the alumni list, it’s time to reach out to them and ask for a little assistance. The best way to do this is to send them an introductory email and let them know who you are and how you found their contact details and to explain what they could help you with. Meanwhile, don’t forget to attach a copy of your CV or résumé and a portfolio (if you have one), too.

5. News Media

Many news outlets, like the Guardian in the UK and the New York Times in the US, post vacancies on their websites, but you can also browse their news stories for leads to potential positions. For example, let’s say that your dream company has been in the news recently because they are expanding; this is the perfect opportunity to contact the company’s hiring department and show that you’re keen to join the team. Don’t forget to market yourself properly and attach a personalised cover letter, though!

6. Recruitment Agencies

Enlisting the help of a recruitment agency can be another great way to find a job, particularly if you find it hard to sell yourself to potential employers. Indeed, recruitment specialists are trained to help you perfect your interview skills and can boost your chances of getting a position by streamlining your job search.

As your success lays heavily in their hands, they will do all they can to sell your skills before you’ve even met with your potential employer, as well as vet positions based on your experience and interest, taking a lot of the burden off your shoulders.

 

Although your job search can seem like a mountain you need to climb, you can turn the steep climb into sizable hurdles, helping you achieve your end goal much faster! All you need to do is find the best way to find a job that works for you. The key is to use all or a combination of the methods available to you, rather than putting all your eggs in one basket.

Which methods do you find most effective when searching for a job? Let us know by joining in on the conversation below.

 

This article is an updated version of an earlier article originally published on 6 July 2017.