Finding a good job is not easy, especially in a bad economy. You must keep many things in mind when competing for a job. Use the tips above to put yourself ahead of all the others.
When writing a resume, be sure to include all of your important contact information. This makes it much easier for employers to get in touch with you if they need to. Important information for them includes your full name, your email address, your street address, and your phone number.
One of the most important variables when you are trying to land a job is the contacts that you have on the inside. Think about all of the friends and acquaintances that you have made in the past and try to find out if any of them work at the company. This can give you a tremendous edge for hiring purposes.
After you go on your interview, make sure that you follow-up on the status. This means that you should send emails to the company asking whether or not a decision has been made on your employment. This shows that you are persistent, which is a quality that companies love in employees.
When you are sitting down in an interview, remember to take a future-minded approach to answering questions. Don’t simply talk about what you have done before. Highlight what you can bring to the company and what you will do for them moving forward. This is what employers want to hear.
When looking for work, make sure you have a LinkedIn account created and fill out your profile in full. Even if you are not “into” social media this is important. Many companies use LinkedIn as a vetting system prior to calling someone in for an interview. If you don’t have a profile, you may never get that first step through the door.
Update your resume. You should always keep your resume current, even when you are not on the hunt for a job. You never know when an opportunity may present itself, so have a copy of your resume ready and available. It will also be easier to keep track of previous employment when you don’t have to track down each bit of info as you need it.
Don’t lie on your resume about your skill sets. You may feel like you need to stretch the truth to open doors, but more often than not your lack of the skills, in reality, will be found out pretty easily by a savvy interviewer. Instead, teach yourself the skills you need to know to make you more attractive to hiring companies.
Get help. There are numerous free or low cost services available that can help you obtain everything from career advice to resume writing. A good place to start your search for these services is your local library and Department of Labor. Look for applicable classes and workshops and sign up!
Take advantage of the health insurance plan offered by your employer. The cost of the plan will be deducted from your pay before any taxes are taken out, which is much less expensive than trying to pay for an individual plan on your own. Married couples should consider the options with both company plans to maximize savings.
Create a reliable list of references. Almost every job application will have a spot for you to provide references. Streamline your application process by having your references and their contact information with you whenever you apply for a job or attend an interview. Try to have at least three references, and at minimum, include their job titles, phone numbers, and email addresses.
Plan your career, to some extent. The more that you plan the more likely it is that you will reach your goals. You cannot just let your career happen to you; you have to make your career happen. Include anything you need to do to get ahead in your plan and watch how fast you climb the ladder.
When looking for a job in your niche, try embracing social forums. You need to stay current with the latest news and information in your desired field. It is easy to become a part of these discussions via websites like Twitter and LinkedIn. Social forums are often overlooked, however, engaging in conversations like these can help build connections with other professionals in your niche, including some prospective employers.
When you are at a job interview, and you are asked if you have any questions, always ask questions! You need to engage with the interviewer and show them that you have interest in the company. Be careful though, do not ask simplistic questions that could have been answered with a little research prior to your interview.
You will want to come up with a brief speech you can give (and practice so that it doesn’t sound rehearsed!) letting prospective employers know your previous experience, what skills you could bring to their company, and why they should hire you. This is something that you will be likely to be asked in an interview, so make sure you know what you want to say!
Be sure that your resume does not label you as an older job seeker. Research the latest and most cutting edge resume formats and presentations and adopt one for your resume. Don’t present a resume that looks outdated and old fashioned. Make it clear that you are firmly situated in the present.
Finding employment today can be very difficult. For one thing, every positive thing you have to offer a company is under scrutiny, and for another, you are applying for the job with many other people. Use the tips you have read here to give yourself a better shot at landing a good job.
