Four Easy Ways to Make Your Job Search More Efficient and Rewarding
30.01.2016
Looking for a new job is stressful and involves a lot of effort - especially if you are currently employed and looking at advancing your career or making a switch. The task of finding a new job can feel like an extra job in itself.
As with work, if you don't manage your time effectively then you can waste it, and end up feeling tired and frustrated with little achieved. Here are four fairly simple thing that you should aim to do. They will make the job hunting process easier, and they will also increase your likelihood of getting hired quickly.
ONE: Get organised and keep records
Put together a spreadsheet to keep details of all your job applications. You should have fields for the following things: (i) the company; (ii) the type of job; (iii) your contact, and their contact details; (iv) which version of your CV you sent (if it was unique and tailored to that job in particular then be sure to keep a copy); and, of course, (v) the date of last contact and when follow up is expected.
It's also a good idea to keep a copy of any covering letter sent with your application and any notes you have made following telephone conversations or interviews. When you follow-up with the company you should also record anything important that was said: it's good to be able to refer to things from previous conversations.
Keeping a spreadsheet will not only allow you to instantly remind yourself about the status or progress of a particular application, it also means that you can prioritise your day to day activities. You know who you need to chase up or when you expect to hear back from people, and have the details instantly accessible for everything you need to know should the phone ring.
TWO: Take advantage of online alerts
The majority of online job portals have alert or notification features built into them to help you stay informed. These are useful for finding out about new jobs that would interest you without you having to browse the job site repeatedly; instead you can choose to be notified by email when a new job matching your requirements goes live. You can then respond quickly with an application. Other features may include notifications delivered via Twitter or even SMS directly to your mobile phone.
When competition for jobs is strong then opportunity is lost by delaying your application; being among the first to respond increases your chances of making a great first impression.
THREE: Don't rely on a standard CV / application template
While it may be more convenient to have a single CV to send off at a moment's notice, it's better to tailor your CV to different types of jobs. This does not mean building your CV completely from scratch for each new vacancy, but rather setting up a template where you can adjust and modify certain key areas to better target particular jobs and the requirements that they have.
You should also take note of keywords used the job description and be sure to use them also in your CV and covering letter. This is one of a number of techniques to make your CV more effective with recruiters. Finally, your cover letter should also be different for each application. It should express interest in the specific role advertised and mention the company by name, then mention the exact job requirements (to confirm that you have understood them), and explain why you are suited for the job. This will show the person reading it that you are serious about the opportunity and have understood what is required.
Use industry-specific job sites - and recruiters
You may find a larger number of available jobs on the bigger job portals, but remember this also means that you have to search deeper within categories to find your specific job. Ultimately, sites like these could take much more of your time. Not only that, jobs found on these larger portals are usually bombarded with applications, reducing your chances of making a good impression thanks to the sheer volume of applications recruiters have to deal with.
You could find that your best bet is to find a site designed to serve your specific market or sector. There may well be less jobs but they are more likely to be more suitable. Of course, you should also set aside some time to contact niche recruiters such as J C Associates!
Get in the habit of following industry-specific news websites, because these often have a section where jobs within the industry are posted. Again, you can find many good opportunities on sites like this that are not on the bigger job websites.
The more efficient you make your job search, the better use you put your time to and the more productive you will be. This should help you not only avoid missing out on opportunity but also making the most out of it when it comes your way.
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