Six Basic Job Search Tips That Everyone Forgets

 

 

There’s no shortage of job search advice and wisdom, and while it’s tempting to seek out the latest ideas using Google, let’s not forget that some approaches are timeless and no less valuable for that.

Here are six tips that are so basic, you might have actually forgotten about them!

 

Make Yourself a Slam Dunk Obvious Fit First.

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is likely to screen your resume first when you apply for a job online. If you make it past the ATS, your resume will then be reviewed by a human being. In many cases, the first human eyes to go over your resume will be those of a lower-level HR representative or recruiter, who may or may not be familiar with all of the details of the position you're looking for.

Consequently, you should make it easy for both the machine and human to connect their "Here's what we need" to your "Here's what I can walk in and give."

Pro Tip

 

Get familiar with the job description and any additional details that may be available. What words and phrases from the job description are you using? Are you highlighting your talents in the areas that appear to be most critical to this position? Do the work and lay it all out.

 

Many people need help with this part of preparing their search. Fortunately, you can find help real quick HERE.

During Your Job Search, Don't Restrict Yourself to Only Applying Online.

Do you want your job hunt to drag on indefinitely? Then by all means continue to submit your applications entirely over the internet. But what if you want to accelerate your job search? Once you've submitted your online application for a job, don't stop there. Get to know the people who work at the company you're interested in and build relationships with them. Set up in-depth interviews with prospective co-workers. Ask a couple of questions to an internal recruiter. Make yourself known to the people who can help you land an interview.

Pro Tip

 

You'll immediately stand out if you align yourself with people who work for the companies where you wish to work. Preliminary interviews are conducted with those who come highly recommended or through a personal referral rather than beginning with the deluge of resumes received by an applicant tracking system (ATS).

Your Resume (and LinkedIn Profile) Is Not a Tattoo, Indelible and Forever

Your updated resume looks great, no doubt about it. What a stunning LinkedIn profile you've put together. But don't be afraid to change the phrasing, move around important terms, and shift bullet points in and out if they don't fit the role you're applying for. Neither your resume nor your LinkedIn profile are fixed forever. Throughout your job search, treat them like living, breathing documents.

Pro Tip

 

Make sure to switch off your activity broadcasts (under privacy and settings) when editing your LinkedIn profile if you're doing a secret job search. Your connections (including your boss and co-workers) may become suspicious if they start to see lots of edits and changes.

Accept that you'll never bore your new employer into hiring you.

No, I'm not saying that you don't need to be professional and polished during your job search. Many individuals, however, interpret this as: boring. Totally incorrect. Few people were recruited because they had perfect white space on their cover letters, knew all the "right" interview questions, or used incredibly safe, common phraseology (ie, clichés) in their résumé. You'll appear staged and unnatural if you're constantly correcting yourself. Instead, allow yourself to be both professional and endearing. It's virtually always the memorable and likeable candidates who make it to the finish line.

In this day and age, it's almost impossible NOT to be on LinkedIn.

Because more than 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn as their primary search engine, this is not an exaggeration. A professional must utilize LinkedIn to the fullest extent possible. So, if you don’t believe me, consider this scenario. A recruiter could log on to LinkedIn tomorrow, searching for someone in your area, with competence in your field. Guess who they're going to track down and get in touch with? Well, yes, not you, if you’re not there.

Pro Tip

LinkedIn is the only social media platform that can help you land a job once you figure out how to use it effectively. What we have now is (by far) the best resource we have for networking, locating others working at firms of interest, and positioning ourselves to be found by an interested recruiter. So get skilled in LinkedIn, or get help.

 

 

 

(It’s OK, not everyone finds creating these things natural. Let FRANZIS sort out your LinkedIn presence for you, for less than the price of a dinner, and never again worry about what a recruiter will think of your profile!)

 

The Importance of Saying Thank You

I once helped a candidate land a job at a packaging-equipment manufacturer. A rival engineer, with equal skills and aspirations, was vying for the same position as his. Each person my candidate talked with received a handwritten note of gratitude from him within two hours of his departure from their offices. The other contender didn't send anything.

Why was my candidate offered the position? Because of the thank you notes, of course!

Pro Tip

Once you've returned to your computer after the interview, you might want to consider writing individual thank-you notes to each interviewer. Focus on speed and quality, and they will have a positive effect.

Finally, keep in mind that the interviewer is far more interested in what you can do for them than what you hope to gain from the relationship with them. Once you've established your worth, they'll care more about what you’re looking for. However, during the interview, you must show why you are a good fit for the company, and leave your own aspirations for later.

Now is the time to take control of your job search and go and make an impression!

Good luck!

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 18.10.2022

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