Job Hunting. Although there have been reports of the economy improving over the last few years, certain industries are still affected by a lack of jobs and layoffs. It is still difficult for many newly minted college graduates to find meaningful work, and several of them end up finding jobs that are not related to their fields of interest.
However, this doesn’t have to be you! You can absolutely survive the job hunt in this economy with just a few job hunting tips.
Treat Getting a Job Like It’s Your Job
People always say they are applying to tons of jobs, but just filling out application after application is meaningless if you’re not putting in your absolute best effort. Remember that you have to gear your resume to each job. Hiring panels can tell if you just submitted a form letter and a basic resume. If you really, really want a nice, solid job, you have to put in the effort. Take the time to keep good records of where you apply. Take the time to research the company. Take the time to make sure your cover letter even makes sense for the jobs you are applying for. Having been on hiring panels myself, I can assure you it makes a big difference between being considered and having your application thrown in the trash.
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Practice Interview Skills
I often help friends and family members prepare for interviews. Even if you are charming and personable, it’s a huge mistake to not at least think about the questions you might be asked. You need to practice these in a real setting with someone drilling you. You also need to practice the hard or awkward questions that might catch you off guard. Jobs are so competitive these days that you can’t risk walking into an interview unprepared. Again, hiring panels can tell who put in the effort beforehand so be sure that you are prepped, motivated, well hydrated, and excited about your interview.
Accept Rejection Gracefully
If you get a rejection notice, send a thank you note. I know that it seems counterintuitive, but trust me someone will definitely remember this. In the thank you note, say you appreciate the opportunity and you hope that they will consider you in the future should any other openings come available. In the meantime, tell them you welcome critiques or advice about how to become an even better match for their company. Basically, sometimes you just have to wow them and catch them unexpectedly to get the job.
In addition to the tips above, you know the usual tips for getting the gig: keeping your Facebook profile clean, making sure your references remember you, and always keeping a positive attitude.
Getting a job in this economy may not be easy, but as evidenced from the job hunting tips above, it’s definitely not impossible if you are prepared, ready, and are willing to do anything to make sure you come across as the best candidate.
