10 tips for job hunting I have experienced

I have been looking for an opportunity for two months now. And I need to admit that the process can be sometimes frustrating and tiring. Here are a few tips I would like to share with you.

1. Create time. In general, seeking a full-time job is a full-time job. Your daily activities may include having interviews, customizing your cover letter as well as your resume to bypass the Application Tracking System (ATS) most companies use now, optimizing your online presence on social media and online job board like indeed.com, linkedin.com, monster.com, careerbuilder.com (yes you should definitely maximize your chance by being present on most of them). You need to also understand search engine optimization (SEO) and make sure you put keywords related to your skills in your Linkedin profile.

Also when you don't have a job this might means that you don't have much money. Well, you will need to spend money to find the job either is to print copies of your resume or to go to several interviews (that in some cases may be from 20 minutes to 50 minutes from your house). Finding a job requires a lot of focus and can be draining: because you will receive a lot of "Thank you" email informing you that they went with a better candidate than you :). So be mentally prepared to work hard because you will need to continue to apply at least 10 jobs offer per day in order to be successful.

2. You may consider to start over. If you are coming from a third world country they will have doubts about your experience. Don't expect for example if you were an IT manager in your home country that you will easily be hired as such in a North American country. Most of the time the strategy will be to aim for a lower-level position to put your feet in the door in the market. Then make your way. At the end of the day, what you know or the work experiences you had will remain a huge asset in your job search. Moving forward you will be able to grow surely. Fortunately, if you are in IT, it will be easier because in technology the knowledge is more universal. So don't be afraid to start over.

3-You may be technically qualified for the job but not being selected. Remember the recruiter has a difficult job. They need to select the best candidate that will match the culture of the company. They take into consideration dozen of parameters to take a decision (for instance some recruiters prefer US citizens, local candidates you are competing with that have experience in the actual country,etc..). Always remember: it is great to have the aptitude (technical skills ) for the job but your attitude (soft skills ) will make them choose you.

4. Yes, having a gap in your resume is still a red flag for some recruiters. They might not pay too much attention to it if you have a lot of relevant experience. But hey, they are looking for the best person that is currently doing the thing they need to be done. Can't blame them. This can play to your disadvantage.

5. For some positions having a certification in the field is not enough. Or I should say does not guarantee you will secure the job. For instance, if you are a CISA but you don' t have three or five years of experience as an IT auditor you will not make it to the interview step if the job description requires this as a minimum.

6. Degrees are still important (bachelor or master). I know in the IT field most of the time it's all about certification. But having a master's degree, for instance, can compensate for a lack of experience in regard to the job requirements. So if you can go back to school even if it's online (for example https://www.uopeople.edu), do it. It will be a huge benefit for you.

7. Networking is key. They say 70% of positions are not advertised. This is a lot! In today's world, you may be surprised by how many hiring processes is initiated just by a referral (I have experienced it). Knowing someone who knows someone that is in a position to get you hired will speed up your chance to land an opportunity. When you know someone that has connections not only they can refer you but they also guide you to the path that will suit you best. So as much as you can, don't hesitate to attend meet up and connect with people either online or in real life. This can definitely be a game-changer.

8. Staffing agencies can help you. They are a lot of these agencies. Most of them recruit only for a specific type of background profile. You need to make sure you carefully research the agency that will suit your profile in your area. The goal of a staffing agency like Davis Companies or BANKW Staffing is to hire a great candidate for other companies. They do the recruiting part of the Human Resources department. So instead of applying directly to the company website you want to work for, you may want to go through a staffing agency. They receive compensation if you are the candidate that gets hired. So they will evaluate you, interview you and become your advisor or advocate with companies looking for the profile that you have.

9. Be prepared for a virtual interview. Nowadays to increase the speed of their process and to be more efficient, big companies like amazon use software like HireVue for the first interview step. The software will ask you a question that you will answer via your webcam in 2 to 3 mins. Keep in mind you need to be dressed just like you were doing an in-person interview and be comfortable talking to a camera (which is definitely not easy).

10. Don't be shy about letting people know. For some reason, some people are afraid or find it awkward to let other people know that they are jobless. If you don't let people that you are working for a job you are totally missing a lot of opportunities because you will never know who could have helped you find a job. So be vocal about it and let your circle know that you are looking for an opportunity.

One bonus tip is to create content. Any type of content rather is an artilce or a video to let people know about your though as the field you are passionate about. The more content you create the more recruiters and other people will notice you.

Well, I hope this advice would be helpful to someone that is looking for a job.

With love.