In today's episode, you'll learn why you can't just apply to jobs online if you want to have a productive job search. Hear important tips about how to invest your time wisely during a job search and more effective ways to find your next job.
Episode Highlights:
- Many people think the best way to find a job is to apply to jobs online. This makes your job search harder!
- Applying for jobs online feels productive, but really you're checking a box and not being strategic.
- Applying to jobs on job boards can be one of the least productive things for job seekers to do.
- Make sure you are investing your time wisely.
- Preferably you have a list of target employers where you know you want to work. This will make it easier for you to customize your application.
- Focused targeting allows you to pay closer attention to what specific companies are looking for.
- Tweaking your resume will take less time when you're focusing on specific targets.
- Apply with tailored materials that will fully support your candidacy for the role you're applying for.
- Applications are stored in application tracking systems. If you don't use the right keywords in your resume, no one will ever see it.
- Application tracking systems pre-qualify candidates.
- Most of the time you'll find the right keywords in the job description itself.
- The most important keywords are the job title and location.
- Most employees prefer local candidates.
- The higher up you get in an organization, the more likely they are to be open to relocation.
- The best way to start this process is with some specific employers in mind.
- Employers tend to really appreciate internal referrals.
- Take a quick look at your LinkedIn network and see if anyone within your connections works there or knows someone who works there.
- The "spray and pray" approach is one of the worst approaches to job searches.
- There are many places where you don't have to apply for a specific job in order to post your resume.
- Many job seekers think it's a numbers game, but that's not the best strategy.
- Job boards can be useful for research.
- Look at how many jobs your target employer posts each week and do some tracking.
- You can get creative to find the information for the hiring manager.
- Once you do get a name you can try sending them an email to share your enthusiasm and qualifications for the role.
- If you are currently unemployed, spend an hour a day applying to jobs online. Spend the rest of your time networking.
- Employers love to be followed on social media.
- 40% of jobs are filled by employee referrals.
- Do some offensive Googling. Google your name every week. This allows you to see what employers find when they search for your name.
3 Key Points:
- Applying for jobs online is much less phttps://professionalsuccesscoacing.ck.page/roductive than many people think.
- Try to connect with a contact or an employee referral whenever you find a job that you are really interested in.
- Spend most of your time networking during your job search.
Tweetable Quotes:
- "One of the biggest mistakes I see is spending too much time on the computer clicking that apply button." – Sheila Boysen-Rotelli
- "It is important to customize your resume and cover letter for each job application." – Sheila Boysen-Rotelli
- "Having a friend or an acquaintance that works at a target employer can often be the fast track to a new job." – Sheila Boysen-Rotelli
- "There's a lot of information you can collect when you look at a job board." – Sheila Boysen-Rotelli
- "Try to make a personal connection with someone outside of just applying to jobs every single day." – Sheila Boysen-Rotelli
Resources Mentioned:
