Whether you’ve been searching for a job for a while or just started, you may be feeling anxious or confused. Relax; this article has all the information you need to be successful. After reading these tips and putting them into action, your confidence about job hunting will soar and you will land that job you’ve been dreaming about.
If you are between jobs, make the most of this time. Instead of allowing yourself to fee; bored and distressed, take the initiative to become more productive. For example, you might volunteer with a local adult literacy program, teach senior citizens about Medicare coverage or lead workshops at a center for small businesses. You will gain valuable experience, preserve your sanity and possibly expand your network.
One of the best ways for you to get your name out there is to advertise yourself online through LinkedIn. On this site, you can showcase your resume and all that you have to offer. Also, you can make contacts, who can be very valuable to you when you are job searching.
If you plan to use current or former coworkers and supervisors as a business or personal reference, stay in touch. Maintaining contact with these people is important because it ensures that you have accurate, current information. Periodically verify your contacts’ telephone numbers, mailing address, current place of employment and email address. Providing incorrect contact information to a potential employer may hurt your chances for success.
Always make sure that the job that you are applying for is feasible from a location perspective. Often, you may want to just take the first job that is available to you, but you do not want to drive 100 miles to get to and from your job each day.
Learn how to translate your job skills. There have been several industries that have taken substantial hits, and they will not be recovering anytime soon, so you may have to look outside of your field for some opportunities. Furthermore, keep track of which fields have grown recently. Using this knowledge can help you see how your skills can be translated for these growing opportunities. You can also use apprenticeships, internships, and some part-time transition roles.
Get help. There are numerous free or low cost services available that can help you obtain everything from career advice to resume writing. A good place to start your search for these services is your local library and Department of Labor. Look for applicable classes and workshops and sign up!
When you are applying for jobs, make sure that you have a list of three reliable references prepared for potential employers. Do not add friends or relatives to the list since they may not be aware of your work ethic. Good references include former supervisors, co-workers and your college classmates.
Make sure you let your friends and acquaintances know that you are on the job search. They may know of openings in your field, or may be able to suggest contacts that you may not have thought of. Many a person has found a job this way, and you could be next!
When you learn that you have lost your job, apply for unemployment immediately. Waiting until you’re on your way out the door is the last thing you want to do. Instead, register as soon as possible so that you can get approved quickly and obtain your benefits now.
Call your city hall to find out what sort of free services are provided by your local government as far as job searching goes. They may provide resume assistance, job boards, or even just a directory of resources. Whatever help they can give will be highly beneficial, so it is worth the effort.
Have a mock interview. Enlist a friend to help ask you questions an interviewer would ask. That way, you can get a critique on your answers and your body language. This is a great way to make you feel comfortable during the real interview, because you can fix any flaws you have.
As trivial as it may seem, be sure you are getting enough rest the night before an interview. Most people simply do not function properly when they have not slept enough. This could affect your ability to answer questions the interviewer may ask you at your interview. You also do not want to appear haggard.
If you are asked about your weaknesses during a job interview, try to be as positive as possible in your answer. For example, don’t say, “I’m very disorganized.” Say something about how you are more focused on being flexible than on organization but that you use tools to keep yourself organized anyway.
Print a copy of your employment agencies contact information before proceeding and contact the Better Business Bureau. Checking the legitimacy of any agency will help prevent fraud and saves money. Some agencies have poor reviews and are only interested in taking what they can from the customer. Prepare yourself with the right information and you will be safe from poor choices.
Keep your resume to one page. For the majority of people, a resume one page long is enough to get your story across. Longer resumes have a tendency of getting trashed before ever getting considered. So unless you’ve got a wealth of experience that just can’t fit on a single page, aim for brevity.
Your resume should never be considered complete. Every time you make a change, proofread! Be sure to double-check that your information on it is correct. Add new details as they unfold and improve your resume over time. The better your resume is, it is more likely you will be hired.
After reading this article, you should feel a lot calmer about job hunting. Now all that’s left is for you to put those tips into action. Choose one or two that really appeal to you to try today. The sooner you get started, the sooner you will have the confidence to land your job, so don’t procrastinate.
