Do you feel like you’re stagnating in your current job? Do you wish you could leave it all tomorrow and embark on a fresh adventure? Or have the last few months left you without a steady job at all, and you’re eager to get back on the horse and find something that fulfills you and pays your bills? Finding a new job can be exciting, but it can also be incredibly difficult. In a world of constant opportunity, but a saturated market, new job openings can come and go in a flash. So how do you make sure you’re looking in the right places and giving yourself the best chance to land the job of your dreams?
Spread Your Net Wide
These days, jobs can be advertised through a multitude of channels. As you start your search, your first move should be to make sure you’re receiving as much information as possible. Alongside joining recruitment sites, you can also follow companies that interest you on social media, sign up to mailing lists, and use search engines to look for vacancies. Don’t forget to search offline as well, looking through newspaper ads and using any friends or contacts you have who might have information on openings. Take note of any jobs where you apply online, so you can keep track of which companies have your details on file. You can also organize your search into a folder in your email so your inbox doesn’t become overwhelmed with alerts and emails.
Think Laterally
Often, many people have a fixed idea in their head of what job they’d like to do. On the one hand, this is a great motivator and it is fantastic to have the ambition to pursue. Perhaps you want to work in a certain industry, or even in a very particular role. However, if you limit your job searches to a very specific remit, you will find it much harder to secure a position, as you’ll be closing yourself off from other opportunities. Most skills are transferable, however specific they might be, so if you can think outside the box and consider other jobs you might be suited for. You might end up finding something you never expected, but which gives you the joy and fulfillment you’ve been looking for.
Customize Your CVs
A huge number of applicants make the mistake of having a single CV that they send to every single employer, regardless of the job at hand. It might take a little more time and effort, but customizing your CV for each opportunity will maximize your chances of being seen for an interview. Most employers like CVs to be as concise and informative as possible. So, if you’re applying for a job in retail, by all means, include details about your college work experience in the local shop – but if a job comes up in a different industry, you can lose most of that detail in favor of boosting other areas of your CV. By doing this, you’ll be presenting your best self to each employer.