Nearly all of my clients, whether young or old, experienced or novice, career changers or returning to work, entry level or executive, all ask similar questions about the actual logistics of job searching. How do I connect with recruiters? Where should I be looking for jobs? Do thank you notes really matter? Will anyone read my cover letter?
So many great questions, but no matter how much you know about job searching the fact is that you need a standout resume and a compelling LinkedIn profile. Here’s five essential tips to keep your job search streamlined, simple and more importantly – working for you!
1) Don’t get caught up in all the specialized job boards. There are 1 million (ok slight exaggeration but not by much!!) job boards. But the reality is that you can find 99% of jobs on Indeed, LinkedIn and Simply Hired. Monster and Careerbuilder used to be the be all and end all, but now they’re more effective for advertising continuing education and other ancillary services. Indeed is awesome, and scrapes all the important job search sites so you don’t have to. There are a few specialty boards I like – Idealist.org for non-profits, Dice.com for technical, HigherEdJobs.com for higher ed… Create a profile on Indeed & Simply Hired and set up a killer LinkedIn profile.
2) Don’t forget that job searching is a business. I know because it’s my business. When you are reviewing posts, reading articles, and trying to put together a strategy, make sure you check your sources, verify their credibility and understand their motives. Not all info is good info, unfortunately.
3) Customize your job search, but don’t go overboard. Yes, you do need to read EVERY job post that you apply for and make any necessary changes on your resume. But no, you probably don’t need a new resume and cover letter for everything. There are some situations where you 100% need a new resume, like if you’re applying for teaching and restaurant management jobs, you can’t use the same resume. But a good resume writer should work with you, understand your goals, and create the most flexible and comprehensive set of documents possible.
4) Thank you letters are not something to stress over. You 100% should send them, but you don’t necessarily need to pay for them or have something too intense. Just send the interviewer an email thank you note. A few lines – just say THANK YOU. They too time out of their day to give you an opportunity, and you should be grateful. That’s the whole point. Add a line about something related to the interview so they know it’s not canned. Proofread, send, done.
5) Don’t just apply to every job you MAY be qualified for. It’s really time consuming, will make you nuts, and isn’t the most likely way to land you the job you’re looking for. Have a strategy, come up with a target list of companies, jobs or geographies. Keep track of what you applied for and when. It’s as easy as creating a spreadsheet, notepad list, printing them out and writing a few notes at the top, or just jotting them down in a notebook somewhere.
Perhaps the most important advice I can give is to remember that this isn’t easy. Give yourself more time than you would like it to take, pat yourself on the back for wins, and don’t get discouraged. Your career is as much a part of your identity as your home and your family. For most of us, we spend more time at our job than anywhere else. Be positive, proactive, and don’t be afraid to ask friends and family for their help. This IS the time to call in your favors.
Good luck!