Reap what you have sowed – tips for a successful job search
Career Management
You have worked hard to create materials that demonstrate who you are and what you are looking for in a job. Now it is time to get out there and start your job search. Whatever your reason for making a change, we understand it can be challenging. You will rarely land the first position you apply to or interview for, so having a variety of prospects is important. Here are a few tips to help you have a successful job search and find the opportunity you have been looking for.
1. Be flexible on job titles
While it is a common way to search for a job, searching based on job title alone is not the best approach. By focusing on job titles, you narrow your potential job opportunities and can end up interviewing for a role that you don’t even want.
“Some organizations even use impressive titles to disguise a job that no one wants, or to justify longer hours or lower pay,” says Katharine S. Brooks.
Instead of focusing on a job title, Brooks suggests that you think through four key questions to help kickstart your job search.
- Who do you want to spend your workdays with?
- What do you want to spend your time doing?
- Where do you see yourself working?
- And why are each of these things important to you?
You can use your answers to help you decide what industry or job function to focus your search on or to screen out jobs.
2. Search on a broad range of platforms
Once you have an idea of what is important to you in your new position, it is time to start searching.
A great place to start is on a specialized job board for your industry where you can find multiple opportunities in one place.
Another option is general online job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor.ca, and ZipRecruiter. Across these sites, you will likely find duplicate postings, but sometimes there will be unique ones as well, so it is worth looking through more than one.
Of course, we also recommend you check out the People First HR job board as we are recruiting for jobs across Canada and frequently add new positions.
3. Don’t forget about networking
Did you know that 85% of job openings are filled through networking?
Networking is a great way to learn about opportunities, expand your prospects and land a new job. It doesn’t have to be a formal or stuffy process either.
A simple conversation among friends about your job search or a message to an acquaintance in your field could bring up new opportunities. You might even find out about jobs before they are posted.
If you’re currently looking for a new opportunity, don’t discount the power of reaching out to a few connections.
It’s estimated that 70 – 80% of available jobs are never posted.
4. Talk with a recruiter
Lastly, if you are looking for a new job, we suggest you build a relationship with a recruiter in your industry. Look for recruiters who are searching for candidates for the opportunities within your skillset. Recruiters receive new positions to fill every day, and you never know when they may be looking for someone just like you.
Having a conversation with a recruiter gives them the chance to get to know you, understand what you are looking for, and keep you in mind for future searches.
We hope these tips help you expand your job search and find your next opportunity.
For additional support developing your resume and marketing materials or preparing for interviews, please contact Heather Christensen at hchristensen@peoplefirsthr.com