Speed Up the Job Search Process in 3 Steps
No matter what job-seeking advice you may receive, the only person who can determine how fast you find a job is you. If you don’t make the effort, you won’t succeed. There’s no easy way out—you’re competing with potentially hundreds of other qualified candidates, so if you’re mediocre, you won’t get hired. Do the work, and it’ll pay off. If you’re feeling stuck, consult a career coach.
Need to speed up your job search? Then look with intent, strategize your moves, and customize your application.
Step 1: Search
As you begin the search, consider where to look. Depending on your field, you may be able to find job boards dedicated to it and avoid irrelevant postings. Don’t worry about cutting yourself off from potential opportunities—applying for positions you’re ill-qualified for will just waste your time. Cast a targeted net, not a wide one.
You should also focus on your network. Your search will be a lot easier if there are family members or friends who can recommend you to companies or help you get hired. You can also make new connections on social media, particularly on LinkedIn. In case you don’t have an account, create one and start connecting with people in the right places. The benefits of LinkedIn stretch far beyond the job search—the connections you make can help you advance your career even after you land your dream job. Just be sure to offer these people something in return. The best part of having a LinkedIn account is that employers can search for you as well!
It’s also advisable to designate a specific block of time each day to search for jobs. If you don’t make it a priority, you’ll find it all too easy to keep putting it off. Set a timer and do some dedicated job searching. This exercise in building discipline can even help enhance your professionalism and productivity.
Step 2: Strategize
It’s crucial to develop a strategy to find a job that interests you. You could apply for every vacancy you see and hope you find something you actually like, or you can carefully strategize and only apply for jobs that advance your career. Keep in mind that while sending out as many applications as possible may feel like it increases your chances, you’re just risking depression and burnout since you’ll almost certainly be rejected for jobs you’re only marginally qualified for.
What career do you want to pursue? How far do you want to go in that career? Your job search should revolve around questions like these. It’s not impossible to get a job without a concrete plan, but it is nearly impossible to land a job you really like and will propel your career forward.
Think ahead to the potential interview as well. If you can visualize yourself working for a particular company, start thinking about the interview that will land you the job. Research the company before applying and find out as much as you can about it. Hiring managers expect you to be familiar with their organization, so don’t overlook this step. Another benefit of researching in advance is that you may realize you don’t want to work for that particular company after all.
Step 3: Customize
You can’t expect to land a great job by submitting a generic resume. Yes, it may be the easy way out, but it’s ultimately the easy way out of a job opportunity. Instead, switch up your resume to align it with each job you apply for.
First, read the job description thoroughly and note any keywords and requirements. Then, go through your resume and update it with those keywords. If you skip this step, don’t be surprised if you never get a call back. These days, most companies make use of applicant tracking systems (ATSs) to filter out irrelevant resumes, with relevance generally determined by the number of keywords used.
You should also tailor your previous work accomplishments to the specified requirements and qualifications. Even if you’re only looking in a particular niche, there will be somewhat different requirements for every position, so the best approach is to highlight accomplishments that fit in with those requirements.
You’ll also want to customize your cover letter to focus on how you can benefit the company you’re trying to join. Find out what’s important to this organization and highlight it. Your cover letter tells the employer why you’re the best candidate for the position, so focus on what they want and how you can deliver it.
By searching for the right jobs, strategizing each move you make, and customizing your resume every time you apply for a position, you can speed up the search and finally land the job you’ve always wanted. Don’t have time to do it all yourself? Hire a professional resume writer to tailor your resume and cover letter for you!
