Five Steps to Help Find a Job
People say that finding a job is a full time job. If you conduct a proper job search, you will find that it’s true. Since the position you land will dictate how much money you make, how you will spend your time and sometimes where you will live, it is well worth the effort to secure the best possible position. Fortunately, both traditional and innovative technological methods can be used in a job search, to yield the results you desire.
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Step One - Create a High-Impact Resume
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The first step in landing a job is to design a high-impact resume. Professionals with uninterrupted experience can use the traditional chronological resume, which lists positions in reverse chronological order. For recent graduates and those seeking a career change, a functional resume can work best. This format includes a skills section, highlighting such abilities as computer communication skills. The functional resume does not go into detail about where the skills were acquired – in class, during an internship, as a volunteer or on the job.
Step Two - Network in Person
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Get the word out that you are looking for a position, as difficult as this might be. Friends, relatives and colleagues from college and previous jobs might be able to fast track your resume through human resources departments, straight to the hiring manager. They may also be in the know about positions that are about to open up. Another way to network is to attend formal networking gatherings and volunteer in your field.
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Step Three - Network Online
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Post your profile, which contains your resume information, on such online networking sites as LinkedIn. This site provides contact with others in your field, who might be of help in your job search, and jobs from company websites. Another website, CareerBuilder, posts jobs that are updated on a daily basis; and Craigslist has a multitude of job listings arranged by location and industry. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube can also present your qualifications to prospective employers.
Step Four - Attend a Job Fair
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Locate a job fair, where you may get lucky and find a suitable position. Even if you don’t, you will have made valuable contacts and likely receive an education about the companies that are hiring and the positions that are available. Before attending, find out which companies will be represented, and do a little research on the its website. Create a short sales pitch with you as the commodity, and be ready to tell hiring managers why they should hire you. Dress professionally and collect business cards; and follow up with a thank you note to remind the prospective employer of your qualifications.
Step Five - Meet with Human Resources
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Meet with a Human Resources staffer if you are invited, even if you feel under- or overqualified for the position. Meeting with her, in a company where you are seeking a position, can prove to be a valuable contact down the road. A staff member can give you a “heads up,” if another position at a higher level comes along. Sometimes she may be able to give you some advice about elevating the existing position to meet your requirements.
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