Here Are Some More Things That Could Be Helpful For You!
Tips and Tricks to Finding New Career Opportunities
Finding a new career can prove to be a daunting challenge for anyone. The first step is to create a solid job search plan. Construct a daily or weekly job search schedule to keep you motivated and on top of your search. The organized schedule will help you commit to at least one job search activity a day and also track the different jobs you have applied for.
In addition to searching, there are several other activities that you can do to help land your dream job. Learn more about them in the sections that follow.
Resume and Cover Letter
Along with a job search schedule, make sure that your cover letters and resume are updated with all your employment information.
An effective resume includes your most recent contact information, employment history, education, online portfolio, references and other useful information that relates with the job you are applying for.
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When leaving an email in the contact information section, avoid using unprofessional email addresses and make sure to check the email listed on a regular basis. An objective statement and a summary statement are also useful sections to include in your resume.
A well-written cover letter complements a well-organized resume. When writing you cover letter for the job you are applying for, make sure to include an introduction, a section mentioning the job you are applying for, skills and experience that qualify you, encouragement for the reader to read your resume and a conclusion with a call to action.
When mentioning the skills you possess in your cover letter, you must include how and where you acquired them. Becoming familiar with the company you are applying for is also key when constructing an effective cover letter.
Online Career Networking
Signing up for career networking sites, such as LinkedIn, provides you the opportunity to connect with potential employers. Not only will the website provide you with notifications regarding job openings, it will allow you to find out information on different companies. By visiting company pages, you can determine whether this is an appropriate job for you. Typically, a company page will include information such as the location of the company, the hiring process and opinions of current or former employees. Companies and organizations will also be searching for potential candidates through the career networking site. So, creating a detailed and thorough profile can increase your chances of having an employer reach out to you.
LinkedIn, and other career networking sites, provide a recommendation service that enables you to receive recommendations from other users. In some cases, the person with the higher amount of recommendations will receive the position. College students can use the service to connect with their peers on the site. Communicating with your peers regarding potential job openings can prove to be beneficial. Some networking sites provide you with the opportunity to connect with employers outside of the country. Numerous companies from around the globe will use the career networking service to recruit potential applicants.
Career Fairs
Typically, career fairs are designed to target specific industries and provide interested candidates with a location to meet with employers. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with interested employers and attempt to sell themselves as a potential candidate. Along with short on-the-spot interviews, a career fair will also provide workshops. Workshops provided may include, networking programs and resume reviews.
Make sure that when you attend a career fair that you bring a sufficient amount of copies of your resume to hand out to the employers attending. Before attending the fair, however, it is helpful to prioritize the employers you are most interested in. Since career fairs only last so long, making sure that you visit the employers you are most interested in is key to making the most out of the career fair. Planning or practicing your elevator speech is also important when preparing for a career fair. A proper elevator speech should provide a short and persuasive pitch that effectively highlights your skills and interest for the position.
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Headhunters or Recruitment Agencies
A headhunter, or an executive recruiter, refers to a company or individual that assists in employment recruiting services. Numerous companies and organizations will hire recruitment agencies to shorten the process of locating and interviewing qualified candidates, while headhunters can also be hired by an individual to find a specific position. Typically, search firms have sources and contacts in specific industries and provide additional exposure to their clients. Payments are often based on commission.
Temporary agencies find temporary employment opportunities for individuals. In many instances, temporary agencies will find potential jobs that will include temporary to permanent positions, depending on the employer’s decision. These positions allow employers to try out candidates and find the right fit for the job.
Job Boards
Recruiters and companies use online job boards to post open positions and search resume databases. Potential candidates use job boards to find new career opportunities and apply for them online. Job boards offer applicants automated job notifications that will keep them up to date with job listings. Through job boards, employers can invite users to apply for certain positions based on the qualifications provided on their resumes. Job boards can be searched by using different keywords, locations, skills and education. This enables applicants to narrow down potential career opportunities and find positions that they are better qualified for. When applying for a specific career, utilize niche job boards that tailor to that specific industry. Some other job boards can prove to be too large and could contain a plethora of irrelevant jobs.
Avoiding Long Employment Gaps
A long employment gap on your resume can hinder your chances of finding a future career. Oftentimes, employers will look at a span of six months or more of unemployment as you just being lazy and not wanting to reenter the workforce. So it is important to make sure that you avoid long durations of being employed. To avoid this misconception find some type of work you could:
- Work a part-time job.
- Find contract or freelance work.
- Become involved in charities or other benefit groups.
- Take on a professional development course.
