Tips for a Successful Job Search

Finding a job online can be like looking for the single M&M in a bathtub full of Skittles, but proper preparation, smart searching, and organization can help you find just what you crave.

1. Prepare

• Tailor your resume: The skills necessary to be a teacher aren’t the same as those of a retail sales associate. If you already know what kind of job you’re searching for, include on your resume only the work experience, skills, and qualifications most relevant to that position.
• Professionalize your contact info: xSparklegurl99x is so high school. Make sure that your email address, voicemail, screen name, and any other contact information included on your resume reflects your professionalism.
• Google yourself: Your prospective employer may conduct a web search for you, so know what’s out there. Information, photographs, and even videos of you from social networking sites may be available via search engines, so conduct a quick query to ensure that nothing scandalous comes up. If something questionable does pop up, changes to privacy settings or an email may be able to make it disappear.

2. Search

• Use niche sites: It helps to know what you want. Visit the websites of companies you would like to work for to see if they have any jobs listed. Even narrowing down your search by field can help as there are websites that cater to specific sectors. For example, if you’re looking for a position in publishing, BookJobs.com can be a useful resource.
• Refine your search by location: Even if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, try to refine your search geographically. The more stringent your criteria, the more useful the results. Sites like Indeed.com allow users to restrict searches by location, reducing the slush pile you then have to sort through.
• Network: Sometimes the best way to go about looking for a job is through people you know. Make sure your friends and family know you’re looking for work because you never know when a spot at your best friend’s aunt’s cousin’s firm might open up.

3. Organize

• Set up email alerts: Many job listing websites allow you to establish alerts that notify you via email whenever new results for your previous searches emerge. Such a system allows you to save time by eliminating the need to repeat searches and wade through old or recurring posts.
• Keep track of your attempts: It’s helpful to keep track of which firms, sites, and individuals you have already reached out to. Not only does it help reduce chances of useless (or even harmful) redundant contacts, but having all your information together can be immensely helpful when that job of your dreams finally does call you back.
• Follow-up with your queries: It doesn’t hurt to sometimes follow-up your initial response to a job posting with a second email, especially if you received no reply the first time around (things do get lost in the flood of people’s inboxes). But be sure to allow for ample time to pass between contacts because no one likes a pest.

With these simple steps you should be able to increase the efficiency and improve the results of your job search. Happy hunting!

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