Are you looking for a job? You may be looking for your very first job and wonder how you can get a job with no experience. You can use certain techniques to help you stand out among other applicants with similar education or work experience.
A boom in technology over the last decade has had a profound impact on the economy. This includes the fastest growth and adoption rate of internet use since the late 90s. The types of jobs that are available, and the way we look for them, have changed as a result. Many people now turn to Google to get advice on their search for a job, and LinkedIn or other job sites to locate job openings.
This is a great time to start applying for jobs and building the skills that you will need to succeed in your dream job. This article provides tips on how to get a job.
How to find a job
There are many ways to find a job. The approach you take will depend on the type and industry of the job, as well as the level of competition. Many people find that networking and personal contacts are effective for their job search. However, many rely on the more traditional methods of applying and interviewing. These strategies will help you to gain confidence and clarity as you begin your journey.
1. Consider your career goals.
Assessing your career goals and dreams is a better way to begin a job hunt than simply applying for any position. Think about your passions and what you enjoy doing. This will help you narrow down your job search.
Imagine your future career. You can use these questions to help you.
- Do you have a passion for a particular cause or industry? You may be passionate about the arts, or finance in emerging markets.
- Are you interested in becoming a leader of a group or organization, or a producer who is creative and independent?
- What are your salary goals? Are you hoping to earn six-figure salaries?
- Do you value teamwork and collaboration?
- What type of lifestyle would you like?
- What are your skills that you can bring to the job? Do you have the ability to influence people with written or spoken communication? Or are your skills better suited to patient care?
2. Search for potential industries and jobs.
Think about what industries or jobs you’ve worked in, or those that interest you. If you’re interested in the food and beverage business, you should do your research. Consider a career in it or data analytics. marketing and user experience design are also options.
If you hold a marketing degree, are you interested in working in this field? Do you want to be a part of an agency, or do you prefer working in-house at a company? Which type of marketing would you like to specialize in? Social Media Marketing, Digital Marketing or Content marketing perhaps? You should drill down to find out what roles you can play in a particular field or industry.
3. Identify your transferable skills.
Consider how your experience can be applied to the roles you are interested in. Identify transferable skill including technical skill and work skills that you have gained in your professional and personal life.
You can use your extracurricular activities or volunteer work to develop transferable skills. If you are changing jobs or changing career and looking for transferable skills, you may be able to use your previous experience in order to find technical skills such as data entry or data analytics, or workplace skills like creativity and critical thinking.
4. Create your social media presence.
LinkedIn is the place where people find jobs more than ever before. It’s therefore important to think about your social media presence while job searching. LinkedIn is used by seven people every minute. Many recruiters utilize it when hiring, particularly for vetting candidates. LinkedIn profiles should reflect your current resume, including links to videos, projects and other content that you have worked on. A friendly, professional profile photo will help recruiters to put a name with a face, and a bulleted listing of your accomplishments can increase your credibility.
Sharing and liking posts on LinkedIn can make you more visible to potential employers. Consider sharing summaries and pictures of the projects you have worked on, or articles that show your expertise in your field.
You can also contact recruiters via LinkedIn by asking to be connected or sending them a message using InMail. Explain who you are, your goals, and the reason you want to connect.
Lastly, you should clean up your social media presence. Delete photos that may be considered unprofessional, like those of you smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol before the age of 21, or engaging in any other activities. For added security, keep your pages private.
5. Create a network of contacts and interview people for information.
It can be hard to break into a new field or industry, especially if it is not clear whether the career you want is for you. To make this easier, you should research your industry, and build connections. informational interview can help. This type of interview can be conducted by job seekers to gain insight into a potential field or role.
This is a brief description of how a informational interview functions:
- Decide on what you would like to know.
- Request a meeting by contacting the company.
- Create a list questions.
- Interviewees are best known by the interviewer.
- Send a note of thanks.
- Stay in touch
Informational interviews can be used to build relationships, practice interviewing, and open the door to future opportunities. This is especially true if you keep in contact with your interviewee.
6. Tailor your resume.
It is best to tailor your Resume for each job that you apply for. Hiring managers and recruiters want to know that you understand their language, tone and ethos. Your resume should reflect this. Your experience should match the requirements of the position. You may need to emphasize or even remove certain skills and experiences. Double-check all spelling and grammar mistakes on your resume.
It is not enough to craft your resume in a way that shows you are the ideal candidate. ATSs filter applications today, so it is important to include the exact words and phrases in your resume.
7. Write a customized cover letter.
It may seem like extra work but you do not have to create a new cover letter with each application. Each cover letter must show your passion for the position you are applying for. Create a template for a cover letter that is tailored to each type of position.
You can use three different templates if, for example, you want to apply for three different types of positions, like communications consultant, marketing analyst and social media specialist. List specific skills and experience relevant to each type of job in each template. When customizing your letter, change your company interest for another one and adjust your language.
8. Prepare yourself for the interview.
Preparing for an interview can be daunting, so you should prepare appropriately. Remember that an interview can be a two-way process. While it may appear as if you’re proving yourself to an employer or assessing whether you will enjoy the role, you also have an opportunity to evaluate if you feel comfortable with them and their company. You can feel more confident if you prepare for an interview. This will help you present yourself in the most positive light.
Consider writing or speaking out loud the answers to the most commonly asked interview questions. Consider the role’s duties, the necessary skills to fulfill the role and the questions that a hiring manager may ask you to determine whether or not you are a good fit. It may be necessary to conduct several interviews.
You might want to practice mock interviews, if your interview will be virtual as is the case for many initial screenings, with a friend. This way, you can ensure that your tone and body expression accurately reflect your enthusiasm on the internet. Small adjustments to your setup will also make a big difference. Make sure you have a clean background and that your microphone, camera and internet are ready and reliable before the interview.
You can prepare for the interviewer’s questions by writing down several STAR scenarios (situation, task action result). Then, describe these scenarios aloud. Try to remember the names of each person and maintain eye contact while speaking.
9. Send a thank-you email.
Send a thank-you email after your interview to show you appreciate their time. Write a few sentences that highlight any points from the conversation you found most interesting and reaffirm your enthusiasm. This small act of gratitude and courtesy doesn’t take much time, but it can solidify the hiring manager’s decision.
10. Negotiate your salary and benefits.
You’ve landed the job. Now it’s time to negotiate your salary, as well as benefits. You can check sites like Glassdoor to see if your salary expectations match the company, industry and role.
Negotiating is now culturally accepted and expected. Most likely, your job offer letter will include salary information. If you are unsure, it is a good idea to add benefits and negotiate an additional 10-20% above the initial offer. These packages are often similar, but the year-end bonuses and signing bonuses may differ. Research the company and ask any questions you may have to the hiring manager.
