4 Job Search Tips you may have overlooked!

The irony of job search advice is that there is so much of it available that you can find some pearls of wisdom after just four seconds of Googling. We have come up with 4 job searching tips you may have overlooked without realising.

There is so much information out there—some of it completely at odds with other suggestions you’ll find—that it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Which, in fact, is likely the exact opposite results you’re looking for when you initially search for genuinely helpful advice.

Let’s simplify things and come up with a concise list of sound, time-tested job search advice that will enable you to fine-tune your approach and breeze through the application process (leaving you less frustrated by the time it may take!).

  1. Make it obvious you are what they are looking for!

If you apply for a job online, an applicant tracking system will almost certainly review your resume before it is forwarded to human reviewers (assuming you make this first cut). The first human eyes to see your resume are often those of a lower-level recruiter or HR representative who may or may not be familiar with all of the details of the position you’re applying for.

It’s in your interest to make it quite simple for the computer and the user to connect their “Here’s what we’re looking for” to your “Here’s what I can walk through the doors and deliver.”

Pro Tip

Take a close look at the job description and any other materials you may have on the position. Are you using the exact same language as the job description? Are you highlighting your skills in the ones that seem to be most crucial to this position?

  1. Don’t limit yourself to online applications!

Relying purely on online application can become can go on and on but there is so much more than you can do besides just applying online! Begin identifying and winning over employees at the company you are interested in. You can network via sites such as LinkedIn for professional connections. Request informational interviews from prospective peers. Ask a few questions to an internal recruiter. Get noticed by the very people who could help you land an interview.

Pro Tip

You will stand out from the crowd if you align yourself with people already employed by the companies where you would like to work. First, decision makers conduct interviews with people who come highly recommended or through personal referrals, and only then do they begin sorting through the massive stack of resumes that arrives via the applicant tracking system (ATS).

  1. Don’t be afraid to change your Resume / CV or LinkedIn profile!

The latest version of your resume / cv and or LinkedIn profile may look great. But don’t be afraid to tweak the wording, reorganise the order of key terms, and swap out bullet points if they don’t present you as a direct match for the role you’re targeting. Neither your resume nor your LinkedIn profile should stay the same throughout your career. As you gain skills and experience it should be reflected and tailored for your career options.

Pro Tip

When you make changes to your LinkedIn profile, don’t forget to turn off your activity broadcasts (within privacy and settings). Those who are connected to you on LinkedIn, such as your current employer or co-workers, might become suspicious of all the frequent changes.

  1. It’s not personal!

The last and possibly most crucial thing to understand is that it’s not personal. It’s very challenging to remain optimistic. Even after attending hundreds of interviews and distributing countless resumes, you may still not receive a call. The right job will come along, friends and family will advise, but it can be difficult to believe them sometimes.

You’re not by yourself, and the reality is that all it takes is one. Remember that every rejection means that you are simply not a good fit for that job role. There is a hiring manager searching for someone just like you somewhere.

Pro Tip

Contact your interviewer, thank them for the experience (after all you had have made it passed application tracking system, pre-screen and achieved interview!) and ask for feedback. There are occasions where the difference between you and the successful hire is minimal.

Allow yourself a day off from the search if things seem truly hopeless so that you can engage in something enjoyable. Then pick yourself up and keeping moving forward.

Can we help? Why not have a chat with one of our career coaches for guidance.