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4 Ways to LENGTHEN Your Job Search

What NOT to do to get a job!

Do you feel like the economy is starting to shows signs of improvement? Feel like a job is just around the corner for you if you take the right steps? Don’t derail your ability to get a job by focusing your time and energy on the wrong things. Here are four ways jobseekers lengthen their job search.

1. Stare into a computer and apply online all day long to get the job of your dreams.

Posting your resume and applying to job openings online is not the most effective way to find employment. Online job boards are a black hole for the most part. Searching online is OK to do, but it should be one of many avenues to finding opportunities. So, set a limited amount of time a day to do this. And, if you are applying online, spend time following up on opportunities  by  finding out who is the hiring manager for the jobs you are interested in and send them your information directly.

2. Stay in your comfort zone and within the four walls of your home.

Staying at home does not energize you to keep you motivated and it can become depressing to be isolated. Source job clubs in your area and attend meetings which usually include presentations by employers and/or career experts. It also allows you to talk with other job seekers who are going through the same thing you are. Pair up with those you connect with and see how you can help each other.  It makes it easier to go through the process with others who understand what you are going through and you can pull each other up on those down days.

3. Don’t learn about social marketing and networking strategies to get a job.

Nothing stays the same in this rapidly changing world, so if you are unfamiliar with the job search process, particularly social media and networking, take a few classes through your City services or within continuing education courses at local colleges or through private vendors. Or, learn through online tutorials. YouTube can be a great resource to learn about any topic. Don’t forget to learn about face-to-face networking as well. It still works in this technology age.

4. Don’t sign up and become a part of LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

As just mentioned, social media is an integral part of the job search process. So if you are overwhelmed and unfamiliar, take the time to learn. Start with one social network to learn, and once you are comfortable, forge ahead to learn another one. LinkedIn is crucial for recruiters to find you and it gives you the opportunity to research companies and showcase your expertise in relevant groups you can join. On Twitter you can show your interest in particular companies by following them and learn of open positions faster since it is posted in real time, unlike with the job boards. Facebook is helpful to connect with and research companies as well as network.

And once you learn about these social networks, put your knowledge to work! Don't just keep in all in your head. Once you start you will find shortcuts on how to post to minimize the time it takes while maximizing your efforts.

ARE YOU READY TO CREATE YOUR RESUME?

Not so fast

It is not unusual to have potential customers call wanting to create their resume, but are unsure of their career direction. When I ask what type of job / career they might want to pursue, a standard answer might be “I want to keep my options open” “I love people” or “I don’t know.” They plan to figure that out later … after the resume is written.

And that is where the problem is. THAT WILL NOT WORK in the technology age.

To write a resume that is going to get noticed, the writer has to know the type of position, and possibly the industry the job seeker wants, BEFORE getting started. This key information is critical to make sure we include the right skills, keywords, and accomplishments and determine the appropriate format.

The first step of resume selection is through a computerized applicant tracking system (ATS). Employers enter specific keywords to pull up resumes that match the core skills and qualities they are seeking from a candidate for the specific job opening.  If you don’t have the right keywords, your resume won’t be pulled up or read, which means no chance for an interview no matter how good you are.

In addition, the resume has to be accomplishment based so that when the employer does actual review the resume at the next phase of the process, employers will be enticed to bring you in for an interview. The accomplishments we include need to showcase your value and successes in direct relation to the type of opening you are applying for, so we have to know your direction.

So what can you do if you don’t know what your next career move is? There are a number of things.

• Get some career counseling, read some books on career exploration, and / or take some assessments, like the DISC.
• List your likes and dislikes regarding responsibilities from prior positions as well as list your outside interests and then do an online search using the list of “likes” to find the type of job that matches with your skills and interests.
• Talk to those you know in a job you find exciting or use social media to mention the skills, interests, or responsibilities you want to use in your next job and see if anyone in your network has similar skills and is willing to talk to you about what they do and what it takes to be qualified.
• See if you can job shadow for a half or full day in a position or industry of interest. 
• Look through the job boards to see what type of postings catch your eye.

So, if you call a resume writer, expect them to ask you what your goal is. If you don’t know, they will tell you to do more research before moving forward. Understand that we are trying to be helpful. We don’t want you to waste your money and time with a resume that is bound to fail and lengthen the job search. We will be more then glad to help you once you are ready.

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