Job Search and You

The job searching process can turn out to be quite frustrating for most individuals. In the present-day scenario, we are mainly battling with the demand-supply imbalance where numerous candidates are applying for a single position.

Therefore, applying for a job is about much more than sending forward one’s resume and waiting for a call to get interviewed. Today’s job market is more competitive and network-driven than ever.

This article is aimed at touching upon some effective job search strategies that job seekers can use to stand out from the crowd.

Creating a Strong Resume

A resume is the strongest weapon in the entire job search process. It is a tool to market oneself to the employer. It describes an individual’s qualifications while highlighting their strengths which can benefit the organization at large. It shows what makes a candidate unique and can be used to make a strong first impression on the potential employer.

?A resume should be targeted to the position one is applying for and should highlight all the accomplishments of the applicant which are relevant to the job one is applying for. Also, it is advised to proofread the resume and supporting documents like a cover letter, before sending it to any employer.

This will help in eliminating errors in formatting or grammatical mistakes in the resume and save oneself from making a bad impression on the employer.

Be Consistent

It is rightly said that job hunting is a job in itself. A job seeker should spend at least 25-30 hours per week dedicated to their job-searching activities. Consistency is key here. It's not about who works the hardest, it's about who sticks around the longest. Things require time and hence it is important to be patient and persistent.

Send emails often and follow up over phone calls whenever possible. This will increase your chances of getting noticed as a potential candidate for the role. Before embarking on a job-hunting journey:

?●??Set up time frames within which you’ll be searching for vacancies.

●?Create a list of companies that’ll help you grow professionally and meet your career goals.

●?Take out time to follow up on the previous job applications.

One does not need to limit themselves to manual online searches for jobs. Amp up your game by taking advantage of all job search options including reaching out to companies or recruiting personnel in person, attending career fairs, using career counseling services, and using social media to reach out to more people.

Building a Network

We are living in an era of a network-driven job industry. There are higher chances of securing a job when someone in the same industry is ready to vouch for you. Therefore, the power of networking should not be underestimated as it can be an essential and determining factor behind the success of one’s job search.

Merit and competency matter only when you appear for the interview. Networking can help you to get to that interview.

Networking works on building mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with the people you meet. It goes beyond just exchange of useful information. A large and strong network of contacts ensures coming across more job opportunities.

The people who invest in building strong professional relationships are more successful. Getting a strong reference by the right person increases the chances of securing the job by a thousand folds.

Conclusion

Searching for a job and getting it requires great effort on the job seeker’s part. In India, the skewed employee-to-employer ratio is one of the major reasons for widespread unemployment. In such a situation, only talent, merit, or skills are not enough to get you your dream job.

One of the most important things is to have a clear vision of what one wants professionally which helps in assessing oneself honestly. It is also important to be confident about one’s ability to add value to the organization they are applying to.

Employers assess a person’s willingness to learn new skills which make them easily deployed for the tasks assigned to them. Make sure your resume highlights your past success in adapting to new skills in a short period.

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