A job search can be complicated. Knowing these things can help!
The process of looking for a job is complicated. Understanding some basic fundamentals of a successful search can help you secure a great opportunity. Keep in mind that everyone enters the job search process with different experience, skills, and qualifications. No two people, or job searches, are exactly the same. As a result, a job search must be customized to maximize your chances for success. Addressing key fundamentals such as aligning qualifications with opportunities, searching for jobs via the hidden job market, and utilizing the right tools effectively can turn your journey from a search to a find.
As you conduct your job search you’ll most likely encounter competition. The advent of online job applications led to widespread awareness of and access to opportunities, which drastically increased the number of candidates vying for each open position. Employers must be very precise when screening a high volume of candidates as the process involves considerable resources. To be effective, you must align your qualifications with the position’s duties and qualifications. In other words, show you are a match! In many fields it’s a buyer’s market, and those buyers (employers) can be very choosy. To make it through to an interview and secure the position, you must show how your skills, experience, and qualifications connect directly to the job. The more alignment, the better your chances are of being successful as past performance indicates future success. When you discover an opportunity that sounds amazing, make sure you show the employer that you are a match with the position and organization.
When people consider sources to find jobs most instantly think of the open job market, which features jobs that are actively posted and advertised. Believe it or not, that only represents 20% to 40% of all positions that are filled each year! The majority of the positions, approximately 60% to 80% of them, belong to the hidden job market. You can access those jobs through networking, referrals, and internal promotions. Although it’s easier to go to a job search site, click on a listing, attach your resume, and hit submit, it’s not as effective as building relationships and communicating with professionals in your industry. Share your career goals with family and friends, join professional associations, attend community and networking events, and conduct informational interviews. Tapping into the hidden job market may require some creativity and persistence, but it’s worth the investment as it will allow you to find quality opportunities that fit your skills, abilities, and interests.
Did you know that Leonardo da Vinci is credited as the creator of the first professional resume? He drafted it in 1482. Resumes have been around for a long time! It’s standard practice that to secure a job, you should possess effective career tools such as a resume and cover letter that are customized for each opportunity. The game changer these days is LinkedIn, a professional networking site that boasts over 500 million members. LinkedIn allows people to create a profile, connect with other professionals, and conduct research into available jobs and networks. As such, it’s a great source for accessing the hidden job market! Specialized searches allow you to identify alumni from your college, individual professionals in your industry, and groups that feature people and resources in your target industry. The jobs section features a way to search for jobs and arrange search alerts for positions that become available based on keywords and phrases that you select. Studies have shown that over 90% of employers utilize LinkedIn in some way to recruit and screen candidates. An effective profile with relevant keywords may lead to an employer finding you rather than the other way around! This is a way to explore, connect, learn, and discover opportunities not available via traditional sources.
Stop limiting yourself to crowded job boards and invest in your professional future by aligning your skills and experience with positions that are a fit, tapping into the hidden job market, and using LinkedIn as a tool in your job search. You’ll access great opportunities and your biggest challenge may become not finding a job, but choosing between multiple offers!
