Searching for a job can be challenging. Indeed, it can feel like a full-time job itself, and with so many means to find new opportunities, it’s often hard to know where to start.
So, if you feel like you’re endlessly sending out applications with no success at landing a job, it might be time to change your strategy and find a more effective way of job hunting.
To help put things into perspective and increase your chances of job search success, here’s everything you need to know about job hunting.
1. Make use of social media
Social media is one of the most effective ways to find a job these days. 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 networks, 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 favorite. And with its “Easy Apply” button, it’s easy to see why!
2. Frequent job boards
Although social media platforms are rising in popularity in terms of job hunting (51% of jobseekers are using the likes of Facebook and LinkedIn to find their next job), turning to an online job board to find vacancies is just as beneficial.
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 résumé tailored to the position you’re applying for, accompanied by a well-written cover letter.
3. Reach out to your contacts
Using open applications during a job search is a good start, but personal research and networking are just as essential to a successful job search. 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 unadvertised 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 skill set and experience.
4. Turn to your alumni association
Tapping into your alumni network is just as useful as doing personal research. If you’re a recent graduate, you can find out what others before you have achieved and 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. Visit news media sites
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 personalized cover letter!
6. Contact 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 lies 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.
7. Harness the power of AI
A generative AI tool like ChatGPT can make all the difference in your job search process, from allowing you to quickly research the companies you want to work for to helping you crush your interviews.
Some prompts you can use include:
- “Summarize the key points of this job listing in bullet form.” (Paste a link to the job listing.)
- “Help me write a cover letter for the position of project manager.”
- “Summarize the contents of this page in 2–3 sentences.” (Paste a link to your prospective employer’s About page, Services page, etc.)
- “What skills should I include on my résumé if I’m applying for the role of creative director?”
- “What are some questions I can expect when interviewing for the role of web designer?”
8. Submit job application letters
If you’re not familiar with the term, job application letters are not the same as cover letters. Whereas cover letters are normally 250–400 words long and written in response to job listings, job application letters are a little longer and more detailed, and can be submitted to prospective employers at any time.
So, if there are some companies you’ve had your eye on for a while, there is no need to wait for a vacancy to pop up before you introduce yourself. Instead, put together a small list of companies you’d like to contact and reach out to them! Explain who you are, what you do, why the company has stood out to you, and how you could be of service.
9. Attend job fairs
Career fairs, also known as career expos and job fairs, allow jobseekers to meet with potential employers and recruiters, as well as make connections with other professionals in their field. Keep an eye out for any events coming up in your area, and don’t forget to print out some business cards while you’re at it!
Unsurprisingly, in this day and age, job fairs often happen virtually as well, meaning you can attend from anywhere with no restrictions.
10. Work with a career coach
Career coaches can help candidates optimize their LinkedIn profiles, résumés and cover letters, and develop effective job searching strategies, typically making the job hunt shorter.
When you feel like you’ve tried everything else to not much avail, a career coach can help you reflect on the way you approach your job search and identify areas for improvement. With a little bit of patience and effort, you will acquire all the tools you need to dazzle hiring managers and land your dream job!
You may even end up reconsidering your career path in the process, reconnecting with an old passion of yours or making a full-time job out of your favorite hobby.
Final thoughts
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 identify 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 and applying for jobs? Let us know by joining in on the conversation below.
This article is a partial update of an earlier version originally published on July 6, 2017, and contains contributions by Joanna Zambas. In the update, we added four new strategies and revised the existing content for accuracy.
