Choose Your Best Way to Find a Job

Choose Your Best Way to Find a Job

While the US unemployment rate is at an all-time low, and companies are hiring new talent by the thousand, the question of how to find work is still without a single definitive answer. In an ideal world, there would be a perfect job for everyone, and it would come knocking at your door without you having to lift a finger. We might see this dream come true with the rise of machine learning and big data, but for now, you must apply some elbow grease to climb that career ladder. Today we share a few insights into the latest employment trends and explain how to use them to your advantage.

How to Find a New Job

Find Internal Growth Opportunities

Before you jump ship and look for greener pastures, let your supervisor know you are open to new challenges and career development. Lateral growth can be just as satisfying and far less stressful compared to changing companies and adjusting to a new team. Few people are cut out to be top executives, but your hard-earned skills can increase your income without gaining too many additional responsibilities.

According to Chris O’Neal, a Workfront evangelist, internal job boards will become a trend in 2019, offering employees opportunities to volunteer for new projects and extra duties. Even if your current company does not provide such possibilities, it does not hurt to ask around and suggest a similar system for use within your department or the company as a whole. After all, easy jobs to get are those that you help create.

Reach out, Communicate, Network

If you are fresh out of college, you might be wondering how to find a job with no prior experience. Even if you are a seasoned professional, you don’t know how to find a new job in another field or company. Connections are the answer to both questions. People are the greatest resource you possess, and effective communication is the key to make use of your network. Let your parents, friends, associates, neighbors know you are looking for a job, define the parameters of the position, and wait for the word-of-mouth magic to take hold.

Do not underestimate this approach; some companies hire up to 30% of new employees through referrals. Relying on the recommendations of employees or partners helps employers save on head-hunting and application screening, bringing down the onboarding cost and reducing the risks of new hires failing.

Try the Direct Approach

While most graduates and young professionals remember to attend job fairs, they forget about another way to communicate with the companies directly. This approach works best when you have a short list of dream employers, such as Google or Apple, Bloomberg or Accenture. International corporations post open positions and requirements on their websites first, before spreading them through job boards and freelance platforms, and you can apply directly without relying on middlemen.

To make the best impression, study the website and browse open positions before reaching out to the hiring managers. Even if there are no vacancies that meet your expertise, the HR department will keep in touch if you grab their attention. This requires excellent communication and writing skills besides an impressive portfolio. Make sure you are polite but do not draw out the calls or emails unnecessarily to show that you respect the recruiters’ time and know what they are looking for. Do not expect to get offers from every company you contact; however, the more queries you send, the higher your chances of success will be.

Go Social and Embrace LinkedIn

Social media is no longer a pure entertainment device. Instead, your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter profiles are turning into a set of valuable self-marketing tools for the job hunt. Therefore, you should get rid of awkward and embarrassing photos, videos, and posts. Browse all your social media profiles and make sure they create a consistent, professional image you want to communicate to employers. If you don’t use an account, delete it to prevent recruiters from witnessing the escapades you would rather forget.

LinkedIn is one of the most efficient job hunting tools you can find, but you shouldn’t treat it as your online resume. Instead, turn it into your professional mini-blog and network platform to share the latest trends and developments in your niche, write about your experiences and achievements. You can also provide the links to your other social media profiles or websites that double as your portfolio.

AI-powered chatbots will become a significant recruitment trend in 2019 as companies looking to hire thousands of new employees will rely on automation to filter the applicants. Therefore, you should be ready to answer the basic questions about your experience, skills, and wishes to follow the chatbot decision trees to the desired outcome of an interview invitation.

Is Your Application 100% Ready?

Once you settle on the best way to find a job, ensure you are 100% application-ready. Edit and customize your resume, cover letter, portfolio, and other papers to fit the desired position. If you don’t feel your application is strong enough, our professional writers and ex-recruiters can help you polish it to perfection. With years of HR experience, they will restore your control over career, future, life. Your career success is one resume away!

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