Looking for a job is basically a full-time job. From grinding your resume to preparing for all the important job interviews. You have to learn many things, master many techniques and discover a few tricks. However, do not worry, we will help you take your first steps on the job market. We have completed the eight most necessary things that you need to remember when looking for your dream job.
1. Get to know the market and look for what is interesting to you
Think what people with similar education or experience do and look for similar opportunities. Find their LinkedIn profiles, and find them on Twitter. Check the companies and get to know the inside out of key employees. This information will help you discover your dream job and position. This in turn will bring you closer to the interview.
2. Search, search and search again
Commonly known job search engines – such as Careerbuilder, Monster – will help you learn about the current prospects on the job market. However, do not forget about local offers – advertisements in a newspaper or on company websites are not an outdated idea at all, and can be a great source of information. Remember that there are many more possibilities than job portals write about them. Only 20% of new jobs are posted on job boards.
3. Build a network of contacts and don’t hesitate to use it
This is why networking is so important! In the initial stage, when job offers are not yet published online, it doesn’t matter what you know, but who you know. Talk to friends, family, neighbors, etc .. Maybe they have some information about job opportunities in the company you would like to work for. Hiring managers is usually based on a recommendation. After all, this is how headhunters work – they usually don’t post a job advertisement in the network or newspaper, but they hunt for the perfect candidate through their network of contacts.
4. Build your internet profile
There is no need to brag about your future employer on Facebook with photos from the last event. Most likely it won’t make a good impression on him. Check your privacy settings and set them to private. The same goes for Twitter and Instagram. Don’t let outsiders have any insight of your personal life. Well, unless you use social networks to build contacts and exchange information, then an open profile can be beneficial.
Remember : employers will definitely look for you on the Internet. Make sure what they find there speaks well for you. LinkedIn is your greatest ally when looking for a job, even if the website setting may seem boring and too formal (something for your parents, aunt or a fulfilling professional cousin). Your profile should look professional (don’t forget your photo with a beautiful smile, it can work wonders!). And remember: no selfies!
Good advice: If you want to work in the information and communication industry (journalism, marketing, PR, etc.), think about creating a professional website and buying your own domain name with a specific name. Check out websites like lavors.me and about.me, which will guide you through the process step by step. A WordPress site is also a good idea.
5. Customize your CV
Always write your CV for a specific position. Include an experience in it that matches the job description you are applying for. You can even mention seasonal work, where you were selling ice cream on the beach, as long as the skills you’ve acquired are relevant (e.g. customer service or sales). Including an interesting hobby or volunteering in your CV will add splendor to the application, even if you do not have great professional experience. Make sure your CV is well read and well organized – maximum two pages. And I am begging you! – no typos or errors! This can effectively discourage the employer.
6. Write a professional cover letter
A cover letter is an opportunity to show the employer everything that did not have enough space in the CV. Treat it as a love letter to your future employer. So don’t just write “me, me, me”, but “me and you.” Take note of what you bring to your new job and how well it is going together. Let Romeo learn from you how to plead for someone else. Just don’t overdo it – nobody will read a two-page tirade.
7. Wait for response
Your potential employer should write back within two to four weeks of submitting your application. If after this time you still don’t get a reply, you can call or send an e-mail which will suggest that you are still interested. Just don’t miss your chance by desperately calling four times a day – nobody likes that.
8. Celebrate – you got a job!
Refusals are hard to accept, and you can expect them often in the labor market. Just because they don’t want you in one (or more) company doesn’t mean you’ll never get a job. You just haven’t found the one yet. But don’t worry – your time will come. Think positively – you’ve just gained a new experience. Correct what you did wrong and move on. In pursuit of work, those who do not quit win.
