8 Tips How to Manage your Job Search
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Finding a job is a job in its own right. With it comes stress, anxiety and disheartenment. Whether you are a recent graduate entering the job market or a seasoned worker looking for a change – the job hunt doesn’t get easier.
75% of Australians who are currently searching for a new job have been looking for up to six months. (Seek)
Feelings of rejection, loss of motivation and a sense of failure/embarrassment can all arise from the long journey that is the job search. Obviously this is not the case for everyone.
Breaking the search down into manageable steps can make the pursuit of your ideal job simpler – reduce your stress and improve your chances of success.
1. The Pre-Written Template
There are a lot of jobs out there. If you spend time writing personalised cover letters and matching your resume for each one you could become overwhelmed quite quickly.
After applying for multiple jobs, chances are you have an abundance of pre-written cover letters and resumes. Use the cover letters you have already written and turn them into a template for future use.
Match the cover letters with the types of industries, job titles and requirements that the specific employer may be looking for. Eventually, you will have an arsenal of ready-to-go cover letters and resumes tailored for each requirement.
Each cover letter and resume should still be specific to the individual job you are applying for, but, having pre-saved templates reduces the amount of content you will have to write for each application.
2. Keep a Record
Some employers get back to you instantly, others, can take months. It is often difficult to remember where you applied and what the specific job and requirements were.
Create a database with details such as the employer, their industry, the role and the job description(s) so that you can then relate back to it in the future should you receive a phone call from the employer.
There are various software options out there to easily manage this database, everything from Google Sheets to Microsoft Word is enough to create a table with the required information needed. You don’t have to get fancy.
3. Constantly Review your Resume
There is no point going through time management steps if your resume is thrown in the bin before it even lands on the desk of the hiring manager.
Resume standards are constantly changing. Make sure you stay updated.
Employers nowadays use keyword software to crawl through your resume – modify your word choices within your resume so that an employer using that technology will be able to find you amongst the crowd. Resumes that aren’t optimised for this new software are often overlooked.
To enhance your resume, insert keywords into sections such as your summary statement, skills section and past job descriptions – anywhere applicable really.
This ties back into the point about keeping templates. You are more than likely to run into similar job requirements over and over again depending on your industry - It is best to keep multiple resumes tailored to each one and the keywords that are often associated with those requirements.
4. Use Recruiters
Two heads are better than one – just as more people searching for positions for you is better than one.
There is no reason to struggle alone. Recruiters such as GOW Recruitment can be a great substitution or compliment the job search.
Recruiters tend to have large networks they have access too, can improve your interview skills, save you time and can help you get paid more.
5. Update your LinkedIn / Social Media
Even better than seeking out a recruiter is allowing the recruiters to come to you.
29% of hiring managers look at an applicant’s LinkedIn profile, while 38% search for social media accounts. (Fast Company)
Having a LinkedIn profile that has been optimised for keywords is a great place to start. Similar to your resume, recruiters and companies will find you through keyword software on that platform.
– Here are a few steps on enhancing your LinkedIn profile from The Muse.
6. Apply to relevant jobs you actually want
It may get to a point, especially once the job search has been going on for a while, that you begin to apply for jobs that you may not truly want. Disheartenment creeps in and you may feel that you are being too picky with what you are applying for.
What happens if you are successful in landing a job that you did not truly want?
All that will do is eventuate back to the spot you are already in – quitting that job and searching again. Don’t waste your time applying, interviewing and don’t waste the employers time.
7. Personalize the cover letter to the company’s voice
It is all well and good to use templates, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared to add in paragraphs and sentences tailored to that specific employer. Search their website, find their interests and social values and try to tie your resume and experience as best as you can to their values.
Find out their voice, if they are progressive and casual or conservative and proper – this will help you during the job search process – from application to interview.
Managing your job search is a waste if you aren’t prepared through every step of the application process.
8. Keep up with your health and hobbies
The job search can be a long process. Nobody handles rejection well in any facet of life. Hit the gym and stay in contact with your friends. Lean on your support network to get you through to the next steps and onto your next career.
You aren’t alone – the average person applies for a countless amount of jobs and goes through several interviews before getting hired.
Don’t start questioning your abilities, maintain the steps listed above and you will eventually look back at this article from your new job and wonder why you ever worried.
From the Team at GOW Recruitment