When asked about what kept them in their jobs, one key theme that came up among long-timers was that they wanted to avoid the stress of hunting for a job. Though the word is job hunt, many a time, one who gets hunted is the job seeker himself/herself. What makes Job hunting so stressful is the uncertainty of the market, long hiring process and more importantly lack of clarity of what one wants. Taking a step back and following these 5 steps will help you make your job hunt efficient and land up in your dream job.
1. Clarity in Direction
Many people straight away hit on the job portals and update the CV. That’s not the starting point! It’s absolutely crucial to have clarity on what you are looking for. What are you expecting from your new job? What were the things you didn’t like in your old job? You need to have a crystal-clear answer for these questions. These answers form the basis of your research. It helps you to find jobs in your domain, profiles which you are interested in, and ensure that you will not find yourself again in the job market soon!
ScriptMyCareer uses a tool named ‘Career Journey Planner’ which is a simple questionnaire having deep thinking questions that helps you to dive into your inner mind and gain clarity on your career journey. You can use this tool free of cost and benefit from it.
2. Strengthening your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn has become the most prominent platform for professional networking. It has recruiters who spend their entire day on the platform looking for potential employees. As per available data, LinkedIn has 722 Million+ users in which 61 Million LinkedIn users are senior level influencers and around 40 Million are in the decision-making positions. .
An appealing LinkedIn profile makes your job hunting easier. Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is complete mentioning all your details, what’s unique about you, your accomplishments and all the work you have done and are proud of. Flaunt it on LinkedIn because that’s where your potential hiring managers are looking for you.
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3. Build a great Resume
Resume is your gate-opener which lands you in the interview room. You need to have a compelling resume that will capture your story well.
Ryan Corbalis, a recruiter at Indeed highlighted the fact that businesses have experienced an extreme change in a short amount of time since the spread of COVID-19 and they may prioritize applicants who can not only adapt with them, but also help the company thrive during change. Hence, consider building a strong “general” version of your resume which could be tailored to advertised positions. You could customize your resume in such a way that it shows your transferable skills related to your new role.
If you need some guidance for resume building or get a free Resume Critique Report, then check out our service here.
4. Set Goals
Don’t be afraid to go out in the market. Search for jobs on LinkedIn and other job sites. Make use of your networks and don’t be shy to ask for opportunities in a modest way. Make a list of your potential employers and list out people in your network who work in those companies. Find right openings and reach out to your contacts who could refer you. It will be sensible to set weekly application goals that are attainable.
Follow up on your applications. Don’t wait for recruiters to notice you. In many cases, employers receive hundreds of applications for a single job post. COVID-19 has likely amplified those numbers, so it’s easy to see how your resume might get lost. Try to use social networking sites to connect with hiring managers, employees, or recruiters at the company you applied for to see if they might have an update on your application status.
5. Upgrade Your Skills
Fishermen in South India follow one motto: When there is a shortage of fishes in the sea then utilise that time to strengthen your nets.
If the job opportunities are less in the market or you can’t make a job change soon, then you could utilise this time to upgrade your skills. Select the roles you want to apply for and then evaluate the skills required in it to figure out your skill gaps. Before committing to a new degree or certification which can be costly, check if free or low-cost online courses can help you acquiring the same skills. Research industry-related books, articles or even podcasts to build up the foundation. Some online sites which you can use are Coursera or Udemy.
If there is a domain or concept to pick up, it will be good to catch up with your senior colleagues or mentors. All these new skills can be added to your resume and can be discussed in the interview.
Job searching is time-taking and stressful process. Trick is not to worry too much about the destination (getting hired in this case) and enjoy the journey. It is a worthy process because it takes you to your dream job. Lack of response to applications, absence of feedback for interviews, and delays in recruitment process can upset you, but you just can’t give up!
