Ask if The Company is Hiring
Get ready to show up in Person. Check out the company's website and social pages. While getting your face seen at a business you want to work for is one of the oldest and most effective ways to help you land a new job, you will need to be as informed as possible about the company.Try to see what the company’s hiring policies are and whether they post their available jobs. If you are specifically asked not to show up or call about job availability, you will avoid irritating the hiring people by doing it. Whenever there are no restrictions, get ready to show up in person. It's recommended to dress for the job you are applying for. Take your resume with you. You never know if the owner, manager, or human resources manager might be available or even want to talk to you.
Your resume shows that you are prepared and serious about the position. Ask if anyone is available to talk about hiring and job availability. Show enthusiasm and friendliness, but try not to be aggressive. Remember that you are unannounced at a company, so be understanding and kind.
From reaching out to businesses directly to tailoring your applications to each job, here are the 13 answers to the question, "How can someone conduct an effective job search in 2023?"
- Don't Hesitate to Reach Out to Businesses
- Make Your Resume Recognizable to ATS
- Network With Industry Professionals
- Don't Let Compensation Guide You
- Join a Professional Slack Community
- Stand Out With Personal Messages
- Create a Video Resume
- Utilize Existing Professional Industry Contacts
- Optimize Your Linkedin Profile to Be More Searchable
- Upskill to Land In-demand, Highly-skilled Roles
- Take Breaks When Needed to Avoid Burnout
- Look for Internships to Create Job Opportunities
- Tailor Your Application Materials to Each Job Post
Don't Hesitate to Reach Out to Businesses
The convenience of being able to apply online has created too much reliance on that process and that is why you should reach out to companies directly for a more effective job search. The online world has allowed us greater access to information as it pertains to job openings, but because of its availability, it has led to a mountain of applications for each position, relegating prospective candidates to anonymity.
Therefore, being proactive, contacting businesses that interest you, inquiring about job openings, and introducing yourself, can more effectively put you on their radar. In addition, if you can reach their internal recruiter, you may be able to schedule an informational interview, which will enhance their familiarity with your interest.
By being proactive and reaching out to businesses, rather than relying on your online application, you can enhance your job search and make it much more effective.
Cody Candee, CEO, Bounce
Make Your Resume Recognizable to ATS
As businesses have relied more on automation to find candidates, it is critical that you keep up your end of the deal by making sure your resume can trigger those Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that businesses routinely use. Over 75% of all businesses now use ATS to find the best candidates, and each industry has key items that they input into their algorithms that their program looks for.
Research keywords related to your field of interest, format your resume to be easily scanned by an ATS, and ensure that your credentials not only match the job description, but exceed the necessary qualifications to greatly increase your chances of being picked up in a search.
By making certain that your resume is designed to be recognized by ATS algorithms, you will better be able to implement an effective job search and stand out from the crowd as a top candidate.
David Derigiotis, CIO, Embroker
Network With Industry Professionals
Network, network, network. Companies get inundated with job applications, and too often your application is getting lost in the crowd. It can be difficult to be discovered as that needle in the haystack with so much competition, and networking is an alternative to job searching that can land you the right position.
Talking to and connecting with industry folks as much as possible can help any job seeker improve their chances of finding their dream job. The job search can be time-consuming, but networking and making professional relationships is never a waste of time.
Eric Elggren, Co-Founder, Andar
Don't Let Compensation Guide You
The job market in 2023 belongs to candidates - with a vast pool of employers competing for your commitment, you can afford to be choosy. However, digging through the options can get overwhelming, so build a list of the job characteristics you want to land before you start your search.
While you can certainly add to the list as you look for a position, you can more easily cut out potential employers that lack crucial criteria. Attractive compensation packages can sometimes blind us - sticking to your list will ensure you find a well-paying AND fulfilling role.
Ruben Gamez, Founder & CEO, SignWell
Join a Professional Slack Community
Slack has a number of communities that make for great networking and job searching resources—one of which is an absolute wellspring of insight and opportunity called Buffer. Buffer is a Slack community founded by the SEO company of the same name. It is a prominent marketing community that promotes discussion, challenges, advice, and support among the members.
This community covers a wide variety of topics pertinent to business professionals across all industries, including web development, blogging, video marketing, content marketing, social media marketing, and entrepreneurship.
Communities such as Buffer are excellent learning and networking resources to connect with other professionals, job seekers, and even employers to build valuable connections and search for fruitful opportunities in 2023.
Alex Wang, CEO, Ember Fund
Stand Out With Personal Messages
When I'm hiring, I get hundreds of applications through quick-apply functions on platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn. The problem with this is that it doesn't give you a chance to include any customization to the organization you are applying to! I don't see many personalized cover letters or any indication you care about our company at all, so it is a big turn-off.
What does grab my attention is when an applicant applies and then messages me personally on LinkedIn or a similar channel. It not only draws attention to their name in a pool of applicants, it gives me an indication they are actively interested in the job posting and our company. So taking a little extra time to reach out personally is always a good idea. You may or may not get a response from every employer, but you will have a better chance of standing out.
Volodymyr Shchegel, VP of Engineering, Clario
Create a Video Resume
Video resumes are a new trend breaking onto platforms like Instagram and TikTok. These 30-second snippets give recruiters and employers a better glimpse of who you are as a person. In a short space of time, they can get a feel for your personality, energy, and enthusiasm level for the role at hand. These are each just as important as the skills and experience you bring to the table. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that lots of companies are now accepting video resumes as an alternative to written ones.
Video resumes should always contain a narrative that guides the listener as you recount your experience. For example, rather than reciting a long list of things you're good at, tell a story of a time you needed to use those skills in order to finish a project. Talk about how your skills were critical in certain moments, and how they helped in supporting your team. This makes your story more compelling to listen to, as it backs up the claims you'd normally make on a written resume.
Max Wesman, Chief Operating Officer, GoodHire
Utilize Existing Professional Industry Contacts
Always, always, always utilize existing professional industry contacts. There will always be new technology introduced to help recruitment, but unlike Bebo/MySpace, maybe Twitter text? Networking is here to stay.
Don't neglect former bosses, team leaders, associates, peers, colleagues, and peripheral connections.
If you haven't been in touch for a while it's important to warm that contact back up significantly first before asking for leads and help. You don't want your first contact to be asking for favors!
The festive season is a perfect time and will seem most natural to touch base. Then when 2023 hits and you hit them up for employment opportunities and referrals it won't seem so artificial.
People who already know your work ethic, experience and style are in the best position to share internal, unlisted opportunities with you and most importantly personally and professionally back you up.
Brett Downes, Founder, Haro Helpers
Optimize Your Linkedin Profile to Be More Searchable
Optimize your LinkedIn profile to your job search goal so prospective employers and headhunters can easily find you. Clean it up, so your LinkedIn account showcases your relevant strengths, experience, and expertise for your desired job.
Here are some ways to optimize your profile to make you more searchable: (1) Include your relevant accomplishments, professional experiences, skills, certifications, and a compelling and concise professional headline. (2) Ask for endorsements and recommendations. (3) Expand your network, connect with professional groups in your industry, and follow companies you're interested in.
Kevin Huang, Founder and CEO, Ambient Home US
Upskill to Land In-demand, Highly-skilled Roles
There are plenty of available roles on the market, but don’t slide into a familiar role simply because it’s readily available and easy to land. Highly-skilled jobs are in the highest demand, so consider upskilling to upgrade your next job! These roles are high-growth areas, so spending time learning new skills, especially those in AI, cyber security, and analytics, can pay off in dividends later. Employers are willing to take a chance on green candidates like never before, so cashing in on the opportunity can help you grow your career exponentially!
Brian Dechesare, CEO, Breaking Into Wall Street
Take Breaks When Needed to Avoid Burnout
Searching for jobs can be stressful and demotivating if you face constant rejection or never even hear back from some employers. Knowing that you have much to offer yet struggle to find a decent opportunity to utilize your skills and experience can be gut wrenching. To avoid further stress, it may help you a great deal to take periodical breaks from your search to recalibrate your mind.
It’s important to remain active in your search whenever possible, so don’t extend your break for too long. A brief pause of a few days to a week may be the reprieve you need to prevent job search burnout. Equally as important as that, don’t give up, and resume your search energized and motivated to find and secure your next big opportunity in 2023.
Andrew Chen, Chief Product Officer, CommentSold
Look for Internships to Create Job Opportunities
One of the challenges that many people face in looking for a new career is a lack of experience, and this is why trying to gain an internship can be an effective way to bolster your job search in 2023. Wanting to enter a different field or being new to the job market can lead to disappointment as the industry you may want to enter has specific qualifications that you have yet to acquire.
By searching for and gaining an internship, you can obtain that necessary experience, build your resume, and even transition into a new role within that organization. In addition, you can also expand your networking efforts to find new opportunities within that industry. In looking for and applying to internships first, you can gain greater access to your field of interest and make your job search much more effective in 2023.
Justin Olson, Chief Marketing Officer, Fast Pace Health
Tailor Your Application Materials to Each Job Post
Beginning a job search can seem daunting. It can seem overwhelming to look at hundreds of job postings all with different pay and different information and try to choose the right one. One thing you can control is your application materials, and I recommend that all job seekers tailor their application materials to each job post.
You will likely see better results if you tailor each cover letter to every job you apply to. For example, you wouldn’t want to prioritize mentioning you have plumbing experience on a cover letter being submitted to a tech company. You should only mention it if you were in a managerial position, or if you lack experience on your resume.
An employer that sees a customized cover letter and application will know straightaway that you took the extra time and effort to submit more than a basic cover letter and resume. That shows attention to detail and dedication, two traits that will likely get you hired.
Ana Codallo, CTO, Key Opinion Leaders
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