Some job seekers have been on the market for more than a year and
unfortunately are finding their efforts produce few results.
Why is it that some job seekers can
land a new job in a matter of weeks while others languish for months on
end?
It could be that some job
seekers are using more effective strategies that produce the results they
want.
Let's take a look at the
most effective job search strategies:
1. Successful
job seekers, treat their job search like a job. They get up on a daily basis and commit 6 to 7 hours to
their job search. Of course given
themselves breaks so they can avoid burnout.
2. Successful
job seekers commit several hours a week networking at the right events and
following up with their new contacts.
When it comes to networking it is important that you target the decision
makers and follow-up immediately.
3. Successful
job seekers avoid spending too much time at job fairs, which are often a
colossal waste of time, especially during economic downturns. If they do attend job fairs they make
sure that they have a plan beforehand and that they research and target
specific employers.
4. Successful
job seekers only apply for jobs that are a good fit. Many recruiters and employers complain that too many job
seekers apply for positions that they aren't even remotely qualified for. This
is a waste of time for both the job seeker and the recruiter/employer.
5. Successful
job seekers use recruiters to help them connect to the right employers and
jobs. But they don't rely solely on recruiters to find them employment.
6. Successful
job seekers post their résumés on a variety of online job boards.
7.
Successful job seekers never send out "standard"
cover letters and résumés to employers or recruiters. Each resume is customized to address the concerns of each
specific employer. Of course when
posting a résumés on a general job board, a general résumé is used; but never
for specific jobs.