The job market is a competitive place to find yourself, and no matter what your reasons for being there – whether you lost your job or you chose to leave it to find something new or perhaps you’re still employed and just searching around for something better – it can be both daunting and disappointing. Getting rejection after rejection isn’t fun, and it’s definitely going to knock your confidence, no matter how positive you were at the start of your search.
Although some people will just be able to walk into a new role when they’re ready for it, that’s a lot to do with good timing and luck and not necessarily down to their skills and experience, so it’s certainly not a tactic you should rely on. Instead, if you want to get the job you really want and you don’t want to settle for something just because they offered you a position, here are some tips to help you. Read through them and organize an action plan, and you should start to see some better results. Good luck!
Know What You’re Looking For
One of the reasons people find themselves in jobs they don’t really like or care about is that they don’t really know what they’re actually looking for. They might have a vague idea of the kind of job they’d like or the sector they’d like to work in, but the finer details are lost, and that’s where the trouble begins. After all, how are you going to know you’re applying for the right jobs and that you’ve got the right qualifications for those jobs if you don’t know what it is you want to do?
It doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you’ve been working up until now – you need to take a moment (or more than a moment – this is something that needs some serious thought) and determine just what it is you want to do. Think about your skills, but also, perhaps more importantly, think about the things you like to do in life. You can always get more qualifications if you need them, such as certification to become an assisted living administrator, but you can’t make yourself like something if you actually don’t.
So, what is it you’re really looking for in a job, and what is it you like – perhaps even love – above everything else? Start with these things in mind, and you’ll be able to help yourself a lot by narrowing down job options and working out precisely what’s going to give you the most satisfaction in life; you’ll be happier, more productive, and more fulfilled if you do.
Write a Standout Resume
How long did you spend writing your resume? If it was a few minutes where you dashed off a list of your qualifications and work experience, then it wasn’t enough – at least, it wasn’t enough if you want to get the job you really want because that resume is your first introduction to a potential employee, and it really needsto impress and stand out.
Although it’s a lot of extra hard work, the key is to re-write your resume for every position you’re applying for. You don’t have to add new things or take anything out (unless you want to ensure the resume only contains the most relevant information, that is), but you could set it out differently for each employer so that the most important points are at the top and will be noticed first. As we’ve said, that’s hard work and takes time, and it means you can’t just quickly send off an application as soon as you see a job opening, but that’s a good thing; it means you really have to think about what you’re doing and you can make sure your application is the best it can possibly be. If you don’t put the hard work in at this stage, you might not get to the point where you can put the hard work in for the employer themselves.
You’ll also need a good cover letter to go with your resume. It’s true that not all jobs will ask for a cover letter, but just because the ad doesn’t ask for one, that doesn’t mean you should just send off your resume by itself. The cover letter is your chance to show the employer who you really are because you can inject some personality into it, unlike a CV that, no matter how great it might be, is still just a list of accomplishments and skills. The cover letter, on the other hand, is much more personal; you can use it to really explain why you’re the right person for the job and who you are, and that can do wonders for your application.
Research the Company
You’ll definitely want the company you’re applying to to be impressed by you, but you’ll equally need to be impressed by them; otherwise, you might find that if you get the job, you don’t actually enjoy it due to a clash of personalities or ethics or even the company culture as a whole.
That’s why plenty of research is vital, and ideally, you’ll want to do this before you even apply for the job – if you find something you don’t like, you won’t have spent lots of time and effort crafting a wonderful response to the job ad or updating your resume to ensure it shows you’re the right person for the job.
Plus, if you find that the company does align with your own values and goals, you’ll be more confident going into any interview; you’ll already know you’ll be a good fit, and you can tailor your answers to show that to be the case. You can also ask questions that relate to the business that shows you’ve done your research; that will always look positive in the eyes of an interviewer and potential employer.
Make Sure You Network
Where have you been looking for jobs? Most people will look online at specific websites and job search apps, and that does make sense because you’ll be able to search for the jobs that suit you and make the most of being able to narrow down your search and see everything in one place – it certainly saves time.
However, although that might be the first place to look, it shouldn’t be the only place you look, as tempting as that might be. It’s also a good idea to network where and when you can, as you might uncover roles that haven’t been advertised yet or that someone feels you would be just right for, allowing you to get your application in before anyone else (ideal if it’s a job that’s likely to be popular, for example). On top of being able to find different jobs, you can also get a great insight into the company you’re applying to when you network properly, which we’ve already proved is a crucial part of any job application.
Networking can be done in a variety of different ways, including online on sites like LinkedIn and in person at special networking events where you can meet people face to face. You can choose an option that works best for you and boosts your chances of getting a job you really want. It’s amazing just how many people you might already know or at least have some contact with who can help you when it comes to finding the right role.