5 Strategies When Searching For A New Job

5 Strategies When Searching For A New Job

Are you starting to feel the stress that comes with looking for a job? There are countless applications and the waiting game for seeing if you’ll get a response. There’s also the mental preparation of entering a new work environment.

With all of these various emotions, you likely want to find a job as soon as possible. For that, you’ll need to employ some strategies to help you not only get a new role but also re-enter the workforce.

Instead of coming up with your own methods and techniques, why not look to the experts. Take a peek at these strategies that will ensure your job search is a successful one and not going to leave you in tears.

Getting Ready for a Change

5 Strategies When Searching For A New Job

Don’t Let Complacency Impact Your Job Search

Complacency can hurt any job seeker. If you aren’t learning new skills, continuously improving the way you approach your day, you can get eclipsed by these types of workers in the office. When a redundancy occurs, it’s often too late to realise that you need to change and keep your job. Especially if you haven’t been proactive in your role or engaged in what is happening around the office.

Avoid Focussing on What You Don’t Want in a Job

If you want to change your career, it’s important to focus on what you do want to do in your new job. Often when changing roles, the focus can turn to all the aspects of your current position that you don’t like. Switching to a positive mindset will help adjust to the change.

Consider What You Really to Do With Your Life

When you’re looking to change jobs, you don’t want to end up in another role that you don’t enjoy in a different office. Take a moment to consider what you love about work. What do you enjoy doing, and what do you want to do less of?

Get Another Opinion

In these times, it’s often worth seeking the opinion of others to get advice on your career path. This can come from professional coaches or even from family and friends. Bounce your thoughts off these people that you trust and take on any advice that they offer.

Ensure You’re Seeking Objective Opinions

While friends and family have the best intentions, remember that they have a bias. They know you differently compared to other professionals. Unless they’ve worked with you in the workplace, they might not be aware of what you’re genuinely capable of. While their advice is helpful, it’s best to balance these opinions with non-bias advice as well.

How to Find the Right Job for You

5 Strategies When Searching For A New Job

Seeking a career change can be a difficult venture and sometimes daunting. But if you’re prepared and follow these strategies, you won’t be so overwhelmed by taking the leap into something that will be more satisfying for your career.

1.     Select Your Preferences

The first thing to do is choose your criteria so that your work is purposeful, enjoyable, and brings you satisfaction. This process helps narrow down potential roles that are currently advertised or that you should be on the lookout for.

List all of the jobs you’ve had in your life. This includes paid, unpaid, and even volunteer work. Then assess each one and ask yourself what you enjoyed about it and what you disliked.

Focus on the type of environment you work in, the people you shared an office with, management styles, your stress level while working there, the working hours, and the culture.

Eventually, you’ll end up with a long list of what you enjoyed doing in previous roles, and you’ll notice a few patterns emerging. This will give you an insight into the type of work that you’ll want to do.

2.     Analyse Job Ads From the Employer’s Perspective

Employers will not waste their time on applicants who don’t meet their job requirements. If you’re looking to change industries, you need to familiarise yourself with the local job market and the language used in advertisements.

Identify the keywords used and how they describe their ideal candidate profile in their job postings. You also need to learn how to read between the lines in these ads.

Grab a pen and underline the keywords in the advertisement. This is the criteria as to what an employer is really looking for. Next, highlight the areas that match your qualifications, experience, and interests. Use a different highlighter to mark the selection criteria that lines up with your achievements. If the highlighted areas begin overlapping, then you should definitely put in an application.

Some of the languages in the selection criteria might be subjective. For example, the definition of a dynamic person can mean different things to different employers. It could refer to a younger person with limited experience and bad habits. In other areas, it could be that they want someone who’s not going to challenge existing processes and procedures. It could also just be that they want someone who is strong, vibrant, and will bring a new energy to the office.

3.     Search Everywhere Jobs are Advertised

Don’t rely solely on searching for jobs in one medium. Newspapers can be great, but the internet is where most employers will post their advertisements. Thousands of job opportunities and ads are published regularly.

There are even job boards that can send you alerts based on your criteria to save you time on your search. All you need to provide is the keywords related to the work you want, and every time a new ad is posted, you’ll get an email.

The more frequently you search, the faster you’ll notice trends about where and when the jobs you are want are getting advertised. You’ll also take note of the recruitment companies that are experts in specific industries.

4.     Use the Hidden Job Market

The key to getting a job that you really want is being proactive. Over half of job vacancies are filled without any advertisements or with someone already in line for the job. This can happen through either internal appointments, people making themselves known to an organisation, or other networking forms.

Recruitment for employers is an expensive process, so if a company is aware of someone’s availability, they’ll bypass the whole process and offer them the role.

Look Within Your Current Job

Changing roles could be possible within your existing company. It’s often one of the easiest ways to change careers. The advantages are on your side as you’re familiar with the organisation and the major players. They might also know who you are too. You just need to let the right people know that you’re interested in changing roles, so they’re aware of your intentions.

Access Your Existing Network

Networking is a strategy as old as time. Making connections can work to your advantage, including opening doors for you that others might not be able to access.

It doesn’t even need to be a professional relationship. It could be someone you know from your neighbourhood, a sporting club, a service club, or a church that works in that industry.

Have a chat with them about your decision to change careers. They may be able to help introduce you to the right people or let you know about potential opportunities at their organisation that could help get you in the door.

Connect With New People

If you don’t know anyone in the field you’re looking for, then you should spend time where they meet so you can network with them. Attend social events, join associations, or attend expos for these industries. State your intentions with these connections, and they might be able to assist by providing you with some advice or notifying you of potential opportunities.

Introduce Yourself to the Industry

Another common technique is to approach companies and introduce yourself either in person or by phone. They might not be advertising at the moment, but if they get an impressive résumé, they may contact you directly instead of posting a job ad or create a role that suits their needs and your experience.

Spend Your Spare Time Researching

Use some of your time and energy researching businesses you’re interested in contacting to make sure you would be a good fit for them, and it will suit their employment requirements. If you find companies that meet your criteria, reach out to them. Many leaders will file a résumé they like and get in touch if a job comes up.

Utilising LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great way to build your network. You can connect with individuals who can assist you with information, learn about available jobs, and improve your profile for recruiters and employers.

5.     Don’t Apply for Jobs That Aren’t for You

You should only apply for positions that suit your job skills and experience. You should also tailor your cover letter and resume for every role you’re applying for.

An application must illustrate that you are the right person for the job. Otherwise, it will get rejected almost immediately. This wastes your time in putting together the application, and if the rejections increase, it can chip away at your mental state.

Preparing for a Job Search

Preparation is a vital strategy when it comes to searching for a job. It’s particularly important if you’re attempting to change careers or enter a new industry. Without the proper organisation or preparation, then you’re setting yourself up for failure and a lot of stress through your job search.

If you need some stress relief, why not contact us to help tailor your resumes for your job searches. We can help with any application type, whether it be for an entry level role or an executive position. Get in contact with us today so we can help you secure your next dream job.