TOP 10 TIPS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE A JOB SEARCH

1. TOP 10 TIPS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE A JOB SEARCH As soon as you type “job search tips” on Google, you will be overwhelmed with a flurry of advice. More than half of that advice is irrelevant and is exactly what you don’t want. There are many job search sites with thousands of job listings but you have to apply to only those which suit your skillset and can fulfill your needs. There is nothing special in this list of tips and frankly speaking, you don’t need to do anything special while searching for a job. Instead, you just have to stick to the basics. So, here are some basics which people overlook while searching for a job: 1.DON’T LOOK AT THE JOB TITLE: It is a common practice to apply for jobs whose title seems pleasing. This is exactly what you shouldn’t do. Instead, you should go through the job description to check whether the required skill matches your skillset or not. Job titles change every now and then, so focusing on required skills for a job can actually refine your job search.

2. 2.GO FOR SIMILAR AND SUGGESTED JOBS AS WELL: The internet has made everything so much easy. Earlier the job search process started from asking a friend for a recommendation and ended on the newspaper. But today, all companies post their jobs online. When you apply for a job online, you get suggestions for similar jobs. Most people don’t pay attention to it thinking that it wouldn’t be relevant but the truth is, the suggested or similar jobs are more relevant than what you applied for. 3.MODIFY YOUR RESUME: Neither a resume nor a LinkedIn profile is a tattoo. This basically means that you should change or modify your resume every now and then. Play with keywords, change the bullet points, and add something new. You can do this to match the job description of a job you think you can do. This widens your job search horizons and might even hook you up with a good job. 4.BE SPECIFIC: Instead of applying to anything and everything, be specific as to what you want from the job. You don’t want to be shortlisted for a marketing profile when you have a finance background. This can happen to those who apply to anything they see. 5.LINKEDIN IS POWERFUL: Mere creating an account on LinkedIn is not sufficient. You must know how to use it to reap maximum benefits from it. LinkedIn is by far the most powerful tool for job search. Recruiters use this as their primary tool to hire employees. You simply cannot understand the power of LinkedIn until you use it. 6.COVER LETTER AND RESUME ARE DIFFERENT: A cover letter is where you write about yourself and why you are the best fit for the job. It should not look like an extension of your resume. Always write something like –“looking forward to hearing from you soon” in your cover letter. This conveys the message to the recruiter that you want to move ahead with the job. Most job postings do not ask you to send a cover but you should send a cover letter anyway. This acts as a differentiating factor between you and others that apply for the job.

3. 7.USE YOUR CONNECTIONS: Tell your friends and family that you are hunting for a job. Spread the word. It is always recommended that you drop a hint for someone who is not that close to you like a friend, colleague, schoolmate etc. However, you can tell the same to your parents and siblings upfront. 8.APPLY TO COMPANIES DIRECTLY: Search companies you like, visit their website and look for positions available. Companies nowadays have a news section which they use to post job notifications and placement drives. This is perhaps the best method to search for a job. The biggest advantage is that you can connect directly with the company without involving an intermediary. You can send a company your cover letter and resume even when they are not hiring. You could be the first person they call when they start hiring. 9.SAY THANKS: Say thanks when they call you for an interview and say thanks when you are done with the interview. A personalized, non-robotic thank you note can do wonders for you. Check the note for any grammatical and spelling mistakes before you send it. Also, mention names, this adds a personal touch to the note. 10.READ JOB DESCRIPTIONS: You found the job you were looking for but there could be more to it. Check the job description for roles and responsibilities, working hours and any additional activity that you have to perform. Job descriptions can be useful for identifying keywords to use in the cover letter and resume. These tips can only help you to refine your job search and get an interview. The rest depends upon how you perform in the interview. Getting a call for an interview is better than getting no call at all. These tips will help you to increase the chances of getting an interview call for a job that suits your profile. Happy job hunting!