Job Search in March: It's All About Strategy & Resilience
Olivera Andjelkovic
HR Consultant ?? Executive Coaching, Employee Training and Development, People Management
Job search is usually a full-time job. Then you should treat it as such, right? And as in every full-time job, here is all about balance and making room for activities that bring us stress relief. It can be easier said than done, I know; having the right support is a game changer, so don’t hesitate to reach out to people you trust.
I wrote a few guidelines below, which I hope will ease your job search this month.
Structure Your Job Search Time and Make It More Efficient
For example, structure your day in a way that will give you the balance between learning, relaxing, and job searching activities (and avoid getting depressed):
MORNING:
? Dedicate at least 1 hour to learning or improving a skill necessary for your target job. Diversify your skill set and learn new technologies that are in demand. Use LinkedIn Learning, edX , Coursera , Udacity , Skillshare .
? Send targeted job applications (for the positions where you meet the majority of qualification requirements).
? Send a few connection requests on LinkedIn, post, engage with other people's posts.
AFTERNOON:
? Study the topic from your field that will help make you more employable.
? Watch a keynote presentation/ interview with an expert in your field, or listen to the podcast.
? Take a break - read a book, take a walk, or spend time with your friends or family.
? Read at least 1 useful blog/article related to job search (#gethired has pretty decent advice; my articles and posts with job search tips can be helpful too).
EVENING:
? Check your LinkedIn - identify new job ads, new companies/people to follow. Limit time spent to 1 hour.
? Take a walk and breathe fresh air.
Don't forget:
? To eat regularly.
? To take breaks.
? To exercise or go for walks.
? To socialize with people.
And last but not least, treat every job search obstacle as an opportunity:
?? Didn't progress to the next hiring stage and didn't get any feedback? You've improved your interviewing skills and learned how not to treat candidates in your future career.
?? Didn't get the offer after the final stage? Ask for some feedback from the interviewers and take it constructively.
?? Didn't pass that test on an interview and felt terrible not knowing the answer? You just found a crack in your knowledge, so continue studying the subject you didn't know.
?? The interviewer(s) was unpleasant? You felt discriminated against in some way? Great, now you know that such behavior is accepted in the company's culture.
REMEMBER: a job search is a process, and it can be a long one. Protect yourself from mental burnout and get all support you can get.
How to Face Your Job Search Problems
Here are some of the biggest job search challenges that people I work with face:
Challenge #??1?? Standing out from the competition:
With so many people applying for the same job, making a lasting impression on the employer can be difficult.
Challenge #??2?? Crafting a strong resume and cover letter:
A resume and cover letter are often the first point of contact with a potential employer, so it's important to make them well-crafted and tailored to the specific job (hint: no openAI can do it better than you).
Challenge #??3?? Meeting the qualifications:
Job descriptions often list specific qualifications and requirements that applicants must meet. If you don't meet all of these requirements, convincing the employer that you're still a strong candidate can be challenging.
Challenge #??4?? Navigating the application process:
Some companies have complex and time-consuming application processes, which can be overwhelming and discouraging for job seekers.
Challenge #??5?? Dealing with rejection:
领英推荐
Rejection is a natural part of the job search process, but it is the hardest part; it can be demoralizing and frustrating.
Challenge #??6?? Impressing the hiring manager during interviews:
Even if you make it to the interview stage, it can be difficult to impress the hiring manager and stand out from the other candidates.
Challenge #??7?? Networking:
Networking can be an important part of the job search process, but almost no one does it because they don’t know how to start.
Overcoming these challenges requires a combination of persistence, strategy, and all the help you can get, and it can be very daunting.
Read the tips on how to overcome these challenges:
Get the Solutions For An Inefficient Job Search Strategy
Using ChatGPT
OpenAI has become a massive hit during the last month. It’s already being used to help employers fill empty positions - recruiters use the software to write job ads, draft screening questions based on candidates' resumes, and even provide responses to applicants.
Here is how you can use it to help you with your job search:
?? Help you with your resume update
Use the prompt: "I want you to act as a resume reviewer. I will provide you with my resume, and you look provide me with feedback on it. Include feedback on the following points: - What appropriate sections to add to make my resume more readable. - How to make my resume easier to scan. - What kind of numbers and results can I add to my resume. - What type of action verbs should I choose. - Am I using too many buzzwords and how to replace them, if so." Then paste your resume.
?? Help you write a cover letter
Use the prompt “Write a cover letter for the [title] role, using my resume below as a reference.”
To get good results, the most important part is to use specific and right input. However, in my experience, ChatGPT outcomes still need a human touch. Many resumes sound basic and generic, and I, as a hiring manager, struggle to get a feel for the person. Recruiters and hiring managers can feel it, too, when reviewing resumes and cover letters - they can tell if ChatGPT wrote them. I even started seeing job ads with a note saying, “do not disclose cover letters created with ChatGTP”.
But it's your call, and if you use it, use it wisely. ChatGPT can add so many random things to the resume to the point of being lies you will get caught in. It’s great for a template, but I’d advise editing and customizing whatever document you create.
In case you need professional assistance, here is how I can help you:
?? Job Search Guidance Package of templates and guides - an easy and affordable way to make your resume stand out, and land an interview faster (now 50% off with the code: IWD23 until March 31st)
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If you think looking for a job is same as 5 years ago, you'll be unpleasantly surprised. Things got complicated (and sometimes weird). Being well informed about the hiring process and having the right job search strategy is everything.
HR Consultant ?? Executive Coaching, Employee Training and Development, People Management
1 年Rest assured - no matter what quasi-experts say, recruiters review all job applications. I've just read somewhere that Canva processed 300,000 applications between August 2021 and September 2022, according to Jennie Rogerson, its global head of people, and every application was reviewed by human eyes.