There are very few things in the world that can be as frustrating, agonizing and disappointing as looking for a job. In this saturated job market, employers like to cherry pick only the finest of candidates for employment, and the rest are completely ignored. Being among the select few who get a golden ticket into the corporate world can be a daunting task. For some people, job hunting becomes too overwhelming. Their spirits get crushed under the pile of rejection letters and their hopes of finding a well paid job in a field of their choice becomes dimmer with each new day.
Let us face the facts. There are two kinds of people when it comes to seeking employment opportunities. You have the winners and you have the losers. You have the heroes and you have the zeroes. Which group do you belong in? A lucrative job offer must be earned through blood, sweat and tears. It will never be handed to you (unless you have “contacts” within the company).
Earning any opportunity in life is all about working hard and working smart. If working hard has not worked for you in recent times, then it is time to revamp your job hunting skills and act more smartly. Here are five simple ways in which you can do that:
1) Get Off the Blocks With a Temporary Job
There are very few people in the world who get their dream job at first go. If you have failed the first time, then it is not the end of the world for you. Keep looking for opportunities to get that job you wanted all your life. In the meantime, you can get off the blocks and get your foot in the door with a part-time job, a temporary job or voluntary work. Sure, the pay is not going to be as high as you want it to be. The working environment will also not be ideal. Additionally, the objectives of your work may not be in line with your career goals. However, it is better to have a job than to not have one. You need to find a way to pay your bills and accumulate some much needed work experience.
Voluntary work will not help you become more financially stable, but it will at least sharpen your skills and make you a stronger candidate for your dream job. By the time you are done with this gig, you will be at a higher advantage than other applicants who are applying for that elusive job.
2) Develop Your Personal Brand
You should be aware of the fact that a lot of employers these days go through social media profiles and other online profiles of applicants to assess their personalities and competence levels. If someone were to search you up online, what would they see? Would they come across humiliating pictures of you as a drunken teenager at a frat party? Or would they see a picture of you receiving an award for winning a business case competition in college? A single picture can make a world of a difference. Take some time off job hunting to determine your digital footprint. This is the first step towards developing your personal brand. Get yourself a LinkedIn profile and create accounts in other professional social networking sites. These will help to create a positive digital footprint that will improve your chances of being hired.
3) Diversify Your Job Hunt
Regardless of what your academic background is, you are likely to be a decent candidate for more than one job. Therefore, instead of focusing on landing a specific position in one or two companies, make a shortlist of all the jobs that will suit your qualifications and competencies. It helps to branch out to different industries and look for opportunities that you may not have considered the first time around. Changing careers is not necessarily a step backwards. It could be the change that you need to really shine as a professional.
4) Resort to Career Counselling
Your career is your choice. However, it doesn’t hurt to listen to what others have to say about it. If you are fortunate, their words may lead you to a wonderful career path that you had probably never thought of before. There are professionals out there who can significantly improve your probability of securing a great job through career counselling. You are advised to check out the career placement services in your locality and make the best use of the assistance available.
5) Write the Perfect Resume
The perfect resume is not necessarily the one that is better worded than all the others. Rather, the perfect resume is a piece of paper that reflects your career objectives as accurately as possible. Take time to review your resume and re-design your professional image. Employers look for resumes that scream passion, charisma and distinctiveness.