Even in a hot hiring market, finding a new job can seem like a daunting task. Whether you’re out of work and need to score a steady income or you’re just ready to move up the ladder, we all deserve a good job that lets us support ourselves and our loved ones.
While the U.S. job market is still on a hot streak, many employers are weary of a possible recession ahead and are making hiring decisions very carefully. That means competition for good gigs can be tough. If you are looking for a new, better job, take a look at these tips our experts gathered to help you improve your chances of getting hired.
Keep Your Resume Updated — and Concise
When was the last time you updated your resume? A lot of things have changed in the job market over the last few years, but a great resume is still crucial. Let’s start with the basics: make sure your contact information is current, your work history is up-to-date and it’s easy to read — skip the fun fonts in favor of professional classics.
Remember to never go longer than one page. That means you may have to trim older, less relevant jobs, awards from school, or hobbies that aren’t relevant to the job you’re applying for. Hiring managers see hundreds if not thousands of resumes, and they can easily spot fluff or filler. Keep it brief by adding only meaningful information.
Attention to detail is almost always a quality appreciated in the workplace, so give your resume a thorough review and maybe even have a trusted friend take a glance to make sure there aren’t any typos.
Use Hiring Platforms
Never underestimate the power of hiring platforms, especially now that they’ve become the new normal.
Hiring platforms empower you a lot when it comes to looking for a new job, as they become a bridge between jobseekers and recruiters. According to a study by Jobvite, 77% of recruiters use LinkedIn for recruitment, making it the most-used channel. Though, platforms such as Monster, Glassdoor and Indeed can also provide you with huge visibility for companies seeking new talent, while browsing the background of the companies you are interested in joining in.
Most recruiters rely on these platforms to find new talent because the profiles posted there provide them with valuable insights about the prospects, such as previous job experiences, reviews from former peers and bosses, social interactions, among other things that might help a recruiter to make a decision. It’s safe to say that nowadays having a presence in hiring platforms it’s more of a must than an option.
Learn New Skills
In an ever-changing world with a highly competitive job market, your best bet is to keep yourself adapted as much as you can. Luckily for you, one of the greatest gifts of the digital age is the possibility of learning new skills online.
Whether you choose to enroll in a full-time educational path, such as pursuing a degree, or just taking a course where you can learn a particular skill, the internet is full of resources that can help you to update your knowledge. Some options are more affordable than others, but they are all easy to access from pretty much anywhere, so you can learn from any place, at your own pace. Colleges have been offering online degrees for a while, making it a great way for you to advance both academically and professionally.
If you are looking to learn more specific skills, platforms such as Udemy and Coursera offer a lot of exciting options to choose from, with total flexibility, and at an affordable price, and you can even learn new skills by watching video tutorials in YouTube for free, although this method won’t provide you with an actual certification.
There’s also been a dramatic rise in what are called “new collar jobs.” These jobs fall somewhere in between traditional “blue collar” (manual labor or jobs that don’t require formal training) and “white collar” (highly specialized jobs that often require advanced degrees). New collar jobs use specific skills that require brief training in their particular area. Common new collar jobs are: software coder, pharmacy technician, data analyst, airplane mechanic, etc. These jobs tend to pay higher salaries and require significantly shorter degrees or training programs (often in as little as a year or 14 months).
Work Beyond Borders
Another great advantage of living during these times, especially since the global pandemic, is the rise of remote work. There’s a huge remote job offering available, and as long as you have a reliable internet connection and the right equipment (typically provided by the employer), you’ll be good to go.
Never Stop Trying
The job search can be frustrating and filled with rejection or, equally unpleasant, complete silence from recruiters. But remember to stay focused and grind on. Stay positive and keep your eyes open for job postings you might be interested in. Your dream job might be just a click away.