Job Search Tools and Strategies for the 21st Century Applicant

What are job search tools?

Job search tools are any methods that help you find jobs effectively and efficiently. They can range from job search and job advice websites to organizations, digital mediums, extensions, and software programs. Job search tools help people identify unique job opportunities through tailored searches, saving them time and energy. 

Over the last decade, how people discover new job opportunities has dramatically evolved. These days, the majority of job searches are conducted online, spawning a whole new industry around job boards, recruitment websites, and job posting platforms.

However, with all of these advancements, the modern job search can still seem a bit complicated and time-consuming.

Here are some tools that can help simplify and organize your job process

Proactive networking

Social media platforms can serve as valuable tools when used to engage with your professional contacts to expand your professional network. Here are tips social media platforms can boost your job search by networking often.

Add company connections often: Continuously adding new contacts to your profile is a vital part of maintaining a thriving network of professionals. Take out time to connect with other people in your company. The more connections you have, the more potential for opportunities and the more credible you are.

Respond to messages from professionals: You should make it a point to respond to all messages you receive from industry professionals, even if you are not interested in what they have to offer you. You can decline an offer while remaining cordial and professional. 

Share company-related content: Always share interesting articles, videos, or studies you find about your company with your network. This encourages engagement and helps view you as a well-read individual who is always interested in learning more about their career field.

Followers’ posts: Another way to engage with your network is to like, comment, and share any particular posts that gain your interest, these help you connect directly with members of your network. You can even use this as an opportunity to send them a related article via direct message to create a more personal connection.

Using social networks to search for jobs can be tricky because of their use on a personal level. For this reason, create a separate social network profile specifically for job hunting.

Website

Many jobs consider candidates based on their online presence, including social networks and personal websites. You can get a domain name where you can host your resume and work samples. These will separate you from other applicants who do not have an internet presence. Posting your website URL on your social networks and group discussion affords you a better chance of employment.

Electronic resume

Today, employers receive applications via email and need resumes as attachments or in the email body. Therefore, a paper resume is not enough anymore. Employers may have several different preferences for attachment types; some might prefer a Microsoft Word attachment over a PDF. To be safe, save your resume in commonly preferred file types, such as Word, PDF, and the likes. Your resume should also target specific positions instead of featuring a broad overview of your entire work history. If your experience suits several career roles and positions, use a different resume highlighting relevant skills for each job. Use your career objective as the tagline of the resume and provide relevant experience and training. 

Job alerts

Job alerts are job search tools that can help individuals learn about opportunities before other candidates. Jobberman and Indeed are good examples; once an individual creates a free account with them, they will have the opportunity to sign up for job alerts on their email or phone. They can tailor these alerts to notify them about jobs with a specific company or field of interest.

Perfect Resume/Cover Letter

The resume is the most fundamental asset in the jobseeker’s portfolio in this digital age. It is the single most important job search tool getting past the ATS and into real conversations with hiring managers.

A cover letter is the first chance you get to make a personal connection. Recruiters do read cover letters; because they are looking for additional information that will help determine whether you are the right person at the right time.

A perfect resume/cover letter tells a comprehensive story of your career, and how it leads up to you being the perfect fit for the role. It makes it simple to create a customized resume that can put your unique skills, experiences, and qualifications front and center.

For your perfect resume to make you outstanding amongst others, visit;

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