Before diving head first into your job search, it’s important to make a plan. Today’s competitive job search market demonstrates just how important it is to stand out to potential employers. Here are a few job search tips to help you through your initial cover letter and resume, to your final interview.

Resume

Your resume is your communication piece, and sometimes, your first impression between you and your prospective employer. It includes your skills, training, education, work experience, accomplishments, and anything else that you feel the company should know about you as a professional. Not sure how to get started? Check out our Writing a Resume post for tips to help you land that new position!

Network

In a world of connectivity, it pays to know a guy who knows a guy. Networking with former colleagues, college professors, family members, friends, or your sister’s best friend's cousin’s fiancé is a great way to get your name out there and maybe even lead to an interview. You never know where or when you might meet someone who can assist you in your job search.

Social Media

Just as you research a company during your job search, they research you upon your job application. Your social media platforms are an extension of your personality, and your professionalism. Your LinkedIn profile should be an extension to your resume. This is a great platform to include all of your past employment history, details of your responsibilities, skills, and a perfect platform for professional networking. On the other hand, while your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram may be more “fun” and personal, they must still be free of inappropriate content as they are still a representation of you - professional or not.

Target Your Industry

With Google at our fingertips, it’s easy to start your job search with a quick search, “job openings near me.” However, you may need to spend a little more quality time researching. Not all of us get lucky with just a simple search. Online job search engines like Zip Recruiter, Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn are a great way to search for employment by narrowing down your desired location, position, salary, and industry. You can also find industry-specific sites with helpful tools to kickstart your job search. Or even better, research some companies in your industry and find their employment or career page on their website. In some cases, sending your resume or contacting the company directly may show more dedication and could give you a step up in the interview process.

Why You?

What makes you the best fit for your ideal position? What is it about you that makes you stand out against everyone else? These may not be questions you’ll be asked in an interview, but these are questions you’ll want to consider before applying to a job. Examine your skills, qualifications, and experience and determine what you have to offer the company. When you go into your interview with confidence in yourself and your abilities, they’ll notice. Who knows, you may just land the position on the spot!