Finding a job in today´s horrible economy, it is not an easy task. Traditional methods, such as sending resumes, posting ads or resorting to agencies are simply not enough!
Employers have become more and more demanding when it comes to choosing human resources. They are looking for smart, innovative people, which will bring added value to their organization.
Put like this job-hunting looks more like an impossible task rather than a difficult one, right?
Do not despair – not many people know but job-hunting has become one of the most studied phenomena of our time.
This article aims to show you, the 10 most effective ways to look for a job. The more you know about the topic, the better you will excel at it.
1. Get to know yourself
Figure out exactly what you want to do – The most common mistake of people seeking job is that they are way too vague about what they really want. By making sure that you know exactly the position that you are looking for, you can target your efforts and hope to have a higher success rate when it comes to find the job that suits you.
2. Target companies
Once you decide what you want to do, figure out who you want to work for. Again, this will help you to focus your efforts, in the sense, that you will understand the connections you need to land at that organization, to set things on motion. If really interested in the position, you can pitch the company immediately and tell them why you would be a good fit.
3. Tap through your network
Everybody knows somebody. Your personally network is an excellent place to look for job prospects. There are probably some job opportunities available, but the decision holders just haven’t thought about you. List everybody you know and set yourself the goal to get in touch with people that you haven’t spoken for a while. Never know!
4. Use and abuse of LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the leading online professional directory of individuals and companies – it has more than 85 million members in more than 200 countries. Individuals use it for professional networking, connecting and job hunting whilst companies use it for recruiting and providing information to prospective employees. After deciding what you are looking for, set yourself reachable goals and get connecting!! For instance: connect to all human resources managers in the banking industry, in my city until the end of March. Make sure your information is always updated and complete.
5. Establish contact with alumni
Get in touch with alumni in your region. It is easier to find opportunities among people that share the same interests and/or experiences as us. Use alumni networks or LinkedIn to grow your network of alumni.
6. Contact head-hunters
Fact: senior-level professionals are almost exclusively recruited through recommendation or by head-hunters. They know about jobs that will never be advertised and are experts in finding openings. They are a good resource, however if you decide to use this method, make sure you trust on your choice.
7. Keep an eye on job boards
It is still one of the most used resources by companies to find the most fitting candidate. Decide the job boards where you want to place your resume. Make sure you used an eye-catching headline to get readers to open the attachment. Avoid being last in the applicants pile, by updating your information on a weekly basis.
8. Mingle at events
This includes events organized by charities or organizations. Set goals on meeting people. It is a very good way to strengthen your network. The more people you know, more opportunities you have to get someone that can refer you to the job position you are looking for.
9. Tailor your cover letter
Keep using traditional methods such as sending spontaneous applications to companies; however make sure you are a step ahead from the remainder applicants. You can do this by tailoring your cover letter. Do not underestimate the power of this tool. With it you can set yourself apart from the rest and get employer’s attention.
10. Think outside the box
If all the above methods fail, you can always try something completely different. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Think outside the box and use different methods to show the job market that you are available – you can do that through social media or even running a google AdWords campaign. Make the difference. You never know, you can be pleasantly surprised!
From the top of my head, I can remember of a case that happened in Portugal a while ago: “Fail like a boss / Hélio Imaginario” – it is a viral video starring a man named Hélio Imaginário attempting to ride a longboard down a street in Portugal. At the beginning of the video, his friend warns him not to be scared to which he replies, “Puto, o medo é uma cena que… a mim não me assiste” (Dude, fear is something that… doesn’t assist me). While riding down the street, Hélio begins to lose control, almost crashes into a car and screams before falling into a ditch. The video was posted to Reddit the same day it was uploaded to YouTube on July 18th, 2011. The post was called “Hipster roll”, and received 931 up votes. In 3 days the video reached 1 million views.
To conclude, researchers discovered that one third of all job-hunters never find a job because they give up too soon. And the ones who give up most easily are the ones who are using only one job-hunting method (such as sending out resumes). So, my advice to you is use different methods in simultaneous and try to place yourself ahead the pack.
Good luck!