Looking For A Job? You Should also be Doing This…

 You’ve got your basic resume updating, job board checking and filling out dozens of online applications, but there are a few more things to consider. A successful and timely job search entails more than the basics. Gaps in employment, networking, new tech considerations and all around improvement of the job search will all play a part in finding the right position.

Do something!

While it’s optimal to go straight from one position to another, that is rarely how things pan out. Explaining employment gaps can be tricky. Regardless of the reason for the gap in employment, recruiters and hiring managers want to see that you’ve done something with that time. They want to see things like volunteerism, freelance work, classes, certifications, or even part-time work outside of your field. It tends to matter less why you’re unemployed than what you are doing in the mean while.

Network

Networking is the single most important thing you can do in a job search. Right Management conducted a survey in 2010 where 41 percent of the 59,133 respondents said that they landed their job through networking. Over the three years that this survey was conducted, networking was consistently at the top of the list of sources of new jobs.

LinkedIn should be a big part of your networking tool kit. Updating your profile, connecting and sharing on LinkedIn can make a big difference. More and more this is one of the first resources recruiters will use for scouting and screening. The same goes for other social media profiles. Keep them clean, updated, professional and use them.

Consider a Virtual Resume

This is all about standing out from the crowd and using technology to get your foot in the door. Virtual resumes allow you a more dynamic and engaging way to deliver the same information that a black and white sheet of paper does. When you can use colors, pictures, graphics and sound, you’ve definitely set yourself apart from the rest.

If this seems like a daunting task, check out what other people are doing and put that iMovie software to good use.

Do it Better

It may have been a while since you’ve done this whole job searching thing. Now you’re without a job and/or looking for a new one. No one expects to be with a company for life, but there are probably some things you can concentrate on to make sure that this situation doesn’t arise again anytime soon.

Get up to date on the numbers for your position in your industry. Consider location, education, pay grades and experience. Knowing your worth can go a long way in preparing for negotiations and getting what you deserve. Additionally, consider cultural fit as well as values and growth opportunities. This is another chance to find the right fit, do it better.