Top 10 Tips For Finding a Better Job

Job hunting involves more than searching for open positions and sending your resume to employers. You also need to make sure you’re a good fit for the job, can catch the hiring manager’s attention, and are well-prepared to answer interview questions. Here are 10 tips that you can use to improve your chances of finding the employment you desire.

1. Know your career goals.

First, identify what type of career you want. This is particularly important for people entering the workforce for the first time or changing careers. Get recommendations from family, professors, a career coach, or former coworkers. Make sure you have a clear and realistic goal, determine how you plan to reach it, and note what qualifies you for that career path. These steps can help you narrow your job search to passionate positions and help you advance professionally.

2. Get resume and cover letter help.

Ask a friend, family member, coworker, career counselor, or other professional to proofread your resume and cover letter for errors, as well as to offer advice. Some job seekers even choose to work with a professional resume-writing service or resource to save time and enhance their resume and cover letter.

3. Use all job search resources.

Rather than limiting yourself to manual online searches, take advantage of all job search options. This might include reaching out to companies or hiring managers in person, attending career fairs, searching social media, or using a career counseling service. Use job search engines to find openings on job boards, company websites, professional associations, and more. Sign up for daily or weekly job alerts by email.

4. Expand your skills.

If you enter the workforce or start a new career, you might need more training or experience to get a job. Consider getting an internship or volunteering with an organization in your desired industry while applying for jobs. Use these opportunities to expand your network of contacts or advance to a full-time position. You might also take online courses or attend workshops to build certain skills or learn technologies and processes relevant to your industry. Update your resume as you gain more experience or accomplishments.

To simplify this step, have templates of your resume and cover letter ready to customize. Keep key sections such as your education and contact information the same, but personalize your abilities or past job duties to fit the job you are applying for.

5. Research companies.

As you find job listings that interest you, research the hiring companies before applying. This can provide you with information about their company culture, benefits and salary range, products and services, and work environment. Your research will tell you whether you want to or are qualified to work for that company. It also gives you valuable information you can reference in your cover letter or interview.

6. Apply with confidence.

Apply for jobs you are interested in even if you only meet some of their requirements. Depending on the position, employers might hire motivated individuals who learn quickly and provide them with skills training on the job. If you meet a portion of a job’s qualifications but believe you can still succeed in that role, apply. Include examples of your work ethic and ability to learn new skills in your resume. Emphasize how your goals align with those of the company.

7. Schedule informational interviews.

Informational interviews are informal conversations with professionals in an industry or a company you might want to work for. Find out whether you are a good fit for a job by requesting informational interviews with someone working in a field that interests you. Search for potential interview subjects on professional networking sites or member organizations.

8. Identify examples of your skills.

People tend to remember engaging stories and examples over lists of facts. Plan by identifying personal experiences or accomplishments that highlight the skills needed for a certain job. Add these to your cover letter and use them during networking opportunities or job interviews. Use the STAR method—situation, task, action, and result—to tell your story effectively

9. Put Together a Resume That's Actually Compelling

While I'm no fan of the resume—as they're often documents skimmed rather than read—they're still requested by the majority of jobs you'll come across. You don't want to reinvent the wheel, but a little creativity can set you apart and help you stand out from the pool. Online tools can be of great help when it comes to creating something a little less ordinary. Visualize. I can create an attractive infographic. Sites like Re.vu and Zerply help you create professional landing pages that can serve as digital resumes. About. Me and Flavors. I can be tailored to do the same. Use the tool that suits you best and make sure your page or resume stands out. Often it is just as simple as choosing the right font and color. It doesn't take much to make a resume look nice, so put in that little additional effort to keep yours from ending up in the generic pile.

10. Ensure Your Resume Isn't Filled with Common Words and Redundant Phrasing

When writing your resume, you don't want to use the sort of language that'll make you sound like everyone else. That means avoiding overused terms (e.g., motivated, innovative, dynamic) and cliche phrases (e.g., detail-oriented, team player, excellent communication skills). Also, terms like "references available upon request" are implied statements, waste space and do not need to be on your resume. It helps to read your resume from bottom to top to help catch errors, and when you're done, you can run it through RezScore to find out where you can still improve.