With myriad employment web sites and job boards scattered across the internet, it’s never been easier—or probably more overwhelming—to search for a job online. But a few tips can hopefully smooth the process and help you master it.
Optimize your resume and cover letter
Submitting a generic application is unlikely to land that all-important notice and interview. It’s better to take time to customize a resume and cover letter that includes key words from the job description (gets you past search bots) and highlights why you’re the perfect choice for the role.
Look for niche job sites
Everyone is familiar with job search sites such as monster.com, ladders.com, indeed.com and LinkedIn. But there are many smaller, niche sites, such as flexjobs.com, remote.co, workingnomads.com, jobspresso.co, skipthedrive.com, and others, with fewer job postings that make it easier to find something in your wheelhouse. Also search for industry or trade-specific job sites that gather opportunities for you.
Gamify your job search
To stay motivated, break up your search into bite-sized tasks and set challenges to complete a certain number of job applications, networking calls, or skill-building activities daily or weekly. Celebrate successes such as landing an interview, getting positive feedback, or connecting with a key contact with a favorite (inexpensive) meal or doing something fun.
Schedule career
coffee chats
Set up coffee dates (they’re cheaper than lunch) with friends, networking contacts, and former colleagues in a variety of fields and companies you’re interested in to discuss their careers. These chats, which can also be virtual, are for learning, not to ask for a job. People love talking about what they do and will often have great advice for your search, and they often know about job openings that might be a good fit.
Focus on companies
you like
Make a list of companies you admire as leaders in your field or industry and search their websites to see if careers are listed that didn’t make job boards. You can also contact someone at the company in your area of interest and inquire about possible job openings before they are posted online. If you know someone who works there, even better to ask for a referral. Be sure to tell them why you love the company and why you would be passionate about working there.
Make a highlight
reel video
A video resume will stand out among the plethora of same-look resumes and cover letters. Instead of reciting a list of your past roles, a video format tells stories from past jobs about projects you led, accomplishments, and people connections you made. But if you decide to do a video and don’t have the skills to make one, get some help from a knowledgeable friend to make it a high-quality piece.
Host a job search party
Invite 6-10 people in a career space in which you’re most interested to an inexpensive happy hour. Be picky about your invites, and look for fun party guests who would benefit from meeting each other. At the end of the gathering, give a brief presentation about who you are and the unique qualifications and passion you would bring to their companies.
For more job search advice, visit masterclass.com, flexjobs.com, indeed.com, forbes.com, and themuse.com.
