There was a time in the world when people got jobs waiting on them as soon as they finished their school program. They also had a guarantee that these jobs would stay with them up till their retirement stage as long as they maintained a good work ethic. They didn’t have to stress too much to find a job.
Unfortunately, finding a job isn’t as easy as before. Technology advancement has made job search a herculean task for those who don’t know the strategies to finding a job.
Finding the right job is necessary for your career success, personal and financial development, and a generally fulfilling life. Although, with the competitive market today, finding the right job can be rather challenging and time-consuming. Nevertheless, this article gives you a step-by-step guide on how to find the right job that suits your skillset perfectly in just 10 steps.
10 Smart Steps You Need to Take to Find a Job
1. Self-Assessment
Before taking the first step to applying for a job, assess where you are careerwise. This means that you should do a life audit on your qualification and certification in your desired field to know the level you need to begin from, or where to begin your search.
For instance, if you have only one year of expertise as a data analyst, you know you should most likely be looking for entry-level roles or internships in the field. You also need to know what the market is saying about your field and your skillset. Thankfully, several career assessment tools are available to provide a better analysis of your field and guide you on the right career path to take when you feel stuck. Some of them are;
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
- Career Interest Inventories
- Career Explorer
- Red Bull Wingfinder
- Truity Photo Career Quiz
2. Resume and Cover Letter
Resumes and cover letters haven’t gone out of fashion. Beyond your words or any other selling point of yours, your resume and cover letter are some of the prerequisites that an employer uses to measure your relevance to their company. Your resume pretty much highlights all of your relevant job accomplishments and experiences from your school days to the places you’ve worked, the roles and responsibilities, and your certifications.
Your cover letter gives more background and detailed info about certain places and roles you worked in, emphasizing how relevant they are to the role you are applying to. For this reason, create an accurate and professional resume and cover letter that would capture your recruiter’s heart enough to consider you for an interview at the very least.
3. Network to Find a Job
These days, there are doors you need to open that only the wealth of people and your influence can get you there. As a job seeker, expand your options by building a cordial yet, professional relationship with decision-makers in your field. You can find these people at job fairs, seminars, conferences, webinars, workshops, and on social media, among other places. Find a mentor in such people.
One successful way to get such people to notice and consider you is by finding a common ground that puts you both in the same space enough to pitch yourself to them. Take advantage of these rare opportunities and set a platform to create your interview. You may just be a conversation away from landing your dream job – no formalities, no CVs, no interviews, no back-and-forth emails.
4. Apply and Follow-up to Find a Job
By all means, utilize the traditional method of sending out applications to companies of your interest when you are alerted of a job vacancy. Forward them a professionally crafted resume and cover letter (if requested).
More than this, follow them up by sending an email pitch specific to the hiring manager. You will learn more about this in the next point. When you apply this extra technique, you are usually considered for the next stage first before the thousand others who applied to the same job role. Following up distinguishes you from the others.
5. Cold-Emailing
This technique has been discovered to be one of the fastest but most technical routes to landing a job today. Cold-emailing in this context can be described as starting a non-verbal communication and possible professional relationship with a stranger. Here, you do not have to see a job vacancy before making your pitch. Most hiring managers do not upload their emails on their platforms for reasons such as maintaining decorum in their inboxes.
However, these hiring managers are very impressed when they receive pitch emails from unknown candidates. This goes to show that the candidate took their time to find the recruiter and carefully put their intent together in compelling words.
6. Internships, Volunteering, and Contracts
Contracts, internships, or even volunteer positions often lead to full-time employment. They are strategies taken to give you a higher advantage over others. This happens when recruiters have seen the productive efforts you put into a role that you got less pay or no pay whatsoever. Usually, any of these three mentioned lasts between 3 months and a year before your offer is reviewed and reconsidered to be permanent.
Internships are great for recent graduates or undergraduates seeking opportunities ahead of time. If you have some time on your side and can afford it, you can consider volunteering. Volunteering is a great option for governmental and non-governmental jurisdictions.
7. Referrals
The effects of referrals cannot be overemphasized. Just like networking, referrals are useful in finding a job. Let professionals and colleagues in your field be aware of what you do, your interests, and your desires. This will compel them to consider you first when there is a job opening or opportunity in your field. In such cases, do not keep to yourself. Instead, let them know that you are planning a job switch, transitioning, or planning to combine a new job with your current one.
8. Career Websites
You can find a job on job boards and career websites. Very frequently, these platforms update you on job vacancies of different companies to apply to. These platforms can sometimes make job searches very demanding especially when there are a combination of job vacancies that are irrelevant to your skill set and expertise.
Nevertheless, you can effectively utilize it by filtering the notifications to suit your preferred companies, roles, locations, and so on. Consider job boards like Jobberman, Flexjobs, and Linkedin.
9. Staffing Agency
Can’t handle the work that comes with finding a job? Thankfully, some agencies make it a point of duty to set you up for your career goals. They are known as staffing or recruitment agencies. They practically get paid to help you find your desired job and equip you with the nitty-gritty that comes with job search. Some staffing or recruitment agencies have a platform where clients set up their information and portfolio for prospective recruiters to refer to each time they seek talent.
10. Find a Job Through a Career Mentor
Having a career mentor makes your job search and acquisition even smoother. A career mentor has surpassed you in every aspect of your career. They have trod the path you are barely standing on and know what is best for you. A career mentor will give you the best advice and support on where to look and the strategies to take to land your dream job.
Bonus Tip: Find a Job By Self-Branding
This creative tactic is used to sell yourself and your skill set without using the formal job search procedure. Market your craft on your social networks. Steal opportunities to speak at events when an opportunity opens up. Let your conversations reflect who you are and what you do. Be highly intentional about promoting yourself.
I tell you, you are closer to getting that job than you can imagine, Who knows? You just might get a random DM on your Instagram or Linkedin requesting to organize a quick chat with you about that position.
Even though this method works, ensure that your creative tactic is appropriate for the targeted industry and the right audience.
Wrap Up
Be aware that although securing a job can stumble on you suddenly, it is a gradual process many a time. Be patient to walk in the shoes of those who have gone ahead of you and follow in their footsteps. Some companies may decide to take you in as an intern. See that as an opportunity for growth and advancement.
Be open to possibilities with such small roles and put your best foot forward. Usually, excellent and good managers will observe your work ethic and will do well to reward you honorably, And what better way to reward you than to give you a permanent
Job offer in that cherished organization?
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FAQs On How To Find a Job
What are the resources to help me find a job?
- There are several resources and techniques to help you find a job easily. Some of them are job websites, occasionally browsing through company pages or websites, networking, searching through your industry’s community group page, and feeding on industry and career-based magazines.
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Is it hard to find a job?
Determining whether finding a job is easy or hard is dependent on many factors. Finding a job can be hard if companies decide to hire internally, there’s an overpopulation of field experts in companies, you aren’t qualified enough for a desired role, or your resume doesn’t quite meet the standard.
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What to do if I don t have a career
Well, go look for one! I mean, take the necessary steps to find a job such as assessing yourself to know your level of expertise, applying to jobs, considering new career paths, investing in yourself by taking courses, and attending career events. Among other steps.
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How do I find my passion?
Find your passion by experimenting with different fields and niches till you find what gets you excited and motivated all the time. Create a personal vision statement to always refer] to when important decisions about your life and career have to be made. Have a habit of journaling; there you will find out constant things that appeal to you which most likely is your passion. Finally, seek help from a coach.
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