Searching for a job through employment ads – once known as the want ads – used to be THE way to find a job. Today surfing job boards should only be one part of a multidimensional job search plan.
In this session, you’ll learn 5 ways to modernize your job search.
#1 Stop Relying On Ads
Combing the job ads used to be the way you found a job. Today, searching employment ads and applying for jobs online should be only one part of your job-search strategy.
#2 Target Companies
Create a list of employers you’d most like to work for. These are your target companies. Review their websites. Set up a Google alert for each organization so you’ll know whenever they are in the news. Follow them on social media.
#3 Update Your Email
Nothing screams outdated more than your old @aol email address. That goes for @yahoo email addresses too. Open an @gmail account to use for your job search. Updating your resume with this new email address will instantly make your resume and other career marketing documents look more current.
#4 Prep for Virtual Interviews
Increasingly employers are using virtual emails, either phone or Skype, for initial rounds of interviews even for local candidates. While you’ll need to prep as you would for a face-to-face meeting, you’ll also need to plan where you’re going to take the call.
#5 Use LinkedIn Strategically
Fill in that LinkedIn profile you halfheartedly put up a few years ago. Complete the Summary section, even if it’s brief. Fill in the job sections with more than a job title and employer. Robust, optimized LinkedIn profiles will get more attention and better results. Use the Status Update feature to share articles that might interest your connections. Join a few groups and start participating.
Although many things have changed, others have not. People still prefer to hire people they know and like. So while you may be connecting with people on LinkedIn the way to grow your relationships is to take them offline. You may not be meeting an employer in person, but you still need to make a great impression.
No need to throw out everything you learned. Just change things up a bit to incorporate the new.
📌 NEW Podcast: Content Marketing School.
Thank you for listening, I hope you found this episode insightful and relevant. If you're a coach, consultant, or entrepreneur, or just want to dive more deeply into content marketing. I hope you'll join me on my new podcast, Content Marketing School.
Available on your favorite podcast platform.
(Previously recorded, Live Show)
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[00:00:09.200] - Annette
Hi, welcome to the Smart Career Moves podcast. I'm Annette Richmond, executive resume writer and principal of career intelligence, Résumé Writing and Career Services. Hi, thanks for joining me today. I want to share some ways to update your job search. If you haven't looked for a job in the last decade or even in the last five years, you will find that things have changed. Searching for a job through employment ads once known as the want ads used to be the way to find a job. Today.
[00:00:53.020] - Annette
Surfing job boards should only be one part of a multidimensional job search plan in this session I'll give you five ways to modernize your job search. Number one, stop relying on ads. Spending the day reading job ads used to be the way you found a job. Today searching job boards should only be one part of your job search strategy. Many jobs are found through networking online and offline. Schedule a few virtual networking events a month if you're actively looking for a new opportunity, a referral can sometimes open doors.
[00:01:33.930] - Annette
Number two, target companies. Create a list of employers you'd most like to work for. These are your target companies. Review their websites. Set up a Google alert for each organization so you'll know whenever they're in the news, follow them on social media. Look up key personnel on LinkedIn, ask your current contacts, friends, family, colleagues, other job seekers if they know anyone working at your target employers. Connect with recruiters at your target employers.
[00:02:08.360] - Annette
Number three, update your email address. Nothing screams outdated more than an @AOL email address that goes for @Yahoo! email address too. Open a Gmail account to use for your job search. Updating your resume with this new email address will instantly make your resume and other career documents look fresher. While you're at it add your new email address to your LinkedIn About section. If you're conducting a confidential job search at a line like always open to connecting with colleagues, contact me with your email address.
[00:02:50.510] - Annette
If you're concerned about privacy, you can create an email address just for your job search. Number four prep for virtual job interviews. Today, virtual interviews are the way employers are meeting new candidates, whether that's by phone or Skype or some other video platform. While you'll need to prepare for these interviews as much as you would for a face to face meeting. You'll also need to plan where you're going to be able to take your call. If it's a phone call, will you be able to use a landline or will you have to depend on your cell phone?
[00:03:31.280] - Annette
If it's a video interview, is your computer ready? Is everything working? The microphone and the camera? Wherever you're doing the interview, make sure you'll be in a place where no one will interrupt you. Number five, use LinkedIn strategically, fill in that LinkedIn profile you halfheartedly put up a few years ago. Complete the about section, use it to share some insight into who you are and why you do what you do, even if it's brief. Fill in the job sections with more than just a job title and employer.
[00:04:07.950]
Robust, optimized LinkedIn profiles with headshots get better results. Use the status update feature to share articles that might interest your connections. Although many things have changed, others have not. People still prefer to hire people they know and like. So while you may be connecting with people on LinkedIn, the way to grow your relationships is to take them offline. You may not be meeting an employer in person, but you still need to make a great impression with a results driven resume and a compelling LinkedIn profile.
[00:04:43.620] - Annette
You don't need to throw out everything you learned about conducting a job search. Just change things up a bit to incorporate the new. Thanks again for joining me today. Good luck with your job search. Thanks again for joining us for this episode of the Smarter Career Moves podcast, if you enjoyed it, please subscribe. Thank you.