by Erica Francis
If your plans include a career change you’ll need to know some tips and tricks for conducting a successful job search. To help, here are three ways to conduct a successful job search:
Make Yourself an Obvious Fit for the Job
Chances are, you’ll be applying online for a job. There’s also a very good chance that your application and resumé first will be screened by an automated computer system.
This means that you need to scour the job posting and description, as well as any other information you may have about the position, for keywords and phrases when crafting your application and resumé. Mirror those words and phrases in your application materials and closely match your skills and qualifications to the role to make yourself look like an obvious fit.
These tricks also show the lower-level HR staff, who review your materials before hiring managers and supervisors see them, that you are a good fit for the position. It is your job to show these non-human and human screeners that you are what the company is looking for, so that you can make the cut to the first round of interviews.
Make Your Resumé (and Yourself) as Marketable as Possible
No, you probably don’t want to spend one more second on your resumé than absolutely necessary. So, make sure you do it right the first time.
Resumés have changed quite a bit in the past few years, as screening processes are automated and hiring staff is more pressed for time. This means that you want to forget about the summary paragraph at the top. Your document needs to be able to be scanned in about 6-10 seconds, and a summary paragraph is not worth the space on the paper.
It’s also important that you don’t make it seem as though you are hiding anything from potential employers. Include the months of your employment, to show exactly how long you worked in previous positions. These minor details are important, because they demonstrate that you are following a full disclosure policy with your information. You are more credible when you are honest from the very beginning, and it’s better to explain why you had a short stint somewhere else than to explain why you left out key information.
Use bullet points, quick explanations, and facts. If you achieved something in a previous position, include it under the corresponding job and title. Don’t bury important details or make people go on a scavenger hunt when they read your resumé. And, include your true working title on your resumé. Attempting to trump up your status will come back to bite you in the end, during your face-to-face interview.
Explore All of Your Options
One of the best things you can do before your job search is to take stock of your skills and qualifications, as well as your educational qualifications. You may not realize it, but you more than likely have skills that make you qualified for a position outside of your current or former field. For example, you may have technology skills that you did not have when you graduated. Or, you may have project management experience from your former position. By evaluating your entire skillset, you may find that you are qualified for positions that you would not have considered a few years ago.
It’s also important to consider all of the options available to you in your job search. Have you thought about working from home? Telecommuting is on the rise, and companies and employees benefit from the practice. Working from home boosts productivity and job satisfaction and saves companies money. When you apply and interview, state that you are open to working from home. Or, consider jobs that allow you to be your own boss while working from home. For example, you might become a pet sitter or offer your services as a virtual assistant.
Getting a new job you love could make 2016 one of your best years yet. Follow these tips to help you on your way.
Erica Francis loves working with ReadyJob.org to teach young people how to get started in the job market. In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding, crocheting, and acting at her town’s community theater.
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Karen Adamedes is an experienced executive, author and career-tipster. In her most recent book ‘Professional in Pajamas: 101 Tips for Working from Home’ Karen shares many of the insights she has gained during a decade of working from home, where she has negotiated multi-million dollar deals, led national teams and delivered major projects. She does admit to sometimes working in her pajamas.
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