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Easy, straightforward, and actually useful – that's what you’re hoping this article will be, right? Between searching for jobs and applying to said jobs, you’ve likely surfed the internet for hours trying to find that one video or article that’ll give you the key aspect you’ve been missing in your job hunt. And while this may not be “the key,” it’s certainly actionable, and that may be exactly what you need.
There Are Two Paths...
We’ve all heard the horror stories of hellish hiring processes that last months, and interviews that you’re certain will end with a job offer but instead ends up with you being ghosted. Previously, we discussed the issues candidates and employers run into with the Spray-And-Pray method, as well as the additional threat AI is posing. Whether you’re just starting a job hunt or have been in the trenches for quite some time, let’s take a different approach. And if you’re a seasoned professional who’s frustrated and struggling despite everything, our next blog might be just what you need.
Know the Job You Want
When you were asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, what was your answer? Maybe you said veterinarian, or firefighter, or doctor — all of which were job titles that, in a child’s mind, meant one thing. Nowadays, you have job titles that don’t give you a clue as to what your responsibilities would be; for example, “Director of First Impressions,” which is an increasingly common title for the job of a receptionist. Because of these quirky titles, you’re scrolling past jobs you may like and qualify for, and businesses are struggling to find their ideal candidate. LinkedIn has exactly the right recommendations for your next steps, which include self-assessments, watching day-in-the-life videos of people who have the job/career you’re interested in, and taking courses to get certifications related to the career you’re interested in to give you a little taste of what it’d be like. For the self-assessment bit, if you’re unsure what kind of questions to ask, a great PMP (Project Management Professional) once told me to write down what I love, what I hate, what I’m good at, and what I’m willing to tolerate. The answers should obviously be in relation to the workplace, but also about who you are in general.
Know the Company You Want
Nowadays, most people use the Spray-And-Pray Method, but we’re going for more focused approaches. One approach is to know which company you’d actually like to work for. By going company-first and checking their website and LinkedIn to see what jobs they have available, you’re funneling your results. So as opposed to applying to thousands of jobs at random, you’re being intentional with where you’re sending your resume.
If you’ve already done your self-assessment, you can expand it and think about your ideal company culture, values, etc. For example, let’s say I’m a college graduate with an interest in video games. I could first search for the top 15 tech companies in my area (AI can help with this part too). Then, I can start dwindling those choices down based on what kind of values are important to me; this includes things like choosing between remote, hybrid, or in-person work, choosing between a big or small company, and so on. By doing this, you may discover a job that fits perfectly to your strengths and desires despite having a title you would never have thought of searching for on your own.
Know Your Path? LinkedIn Is Your New Best Friend
If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times — no matter which company or which job you’re searching for, connections are the best method for landing something. Once you have a company or even a specific job you’ve got your eyes on, leveraging your connections is the next step to employment. Though it may seem hard to believe, most folks will actually be willing to help you. But what if you don’t have any connections with the people at the company you want to work at? Or what if you do, but nothing has moved along in the process of securing a job? We’ll answer these questions and more in our next blog.
