With unemployment reaching alarming percents in both the Western and Eastern world, most people are no longer being picky in hopes of landing their dream job and prefer to settle for less rather than nothing at all. Even though the job market has been weak in the past couple of years and finding a job is more difficult than ever, it is advisable to avoid postponing the moment and to start the hunt ASAP.
In addition, despite the fact that it won’t be easy, don’t forget that nowadays you have numerous means you can use to draw an employer’s attention. Let’s go over the ten steps you should to take to find a new job.
1. Define what you are looking for
More often than not, while it is true that people realize they need to get a job, they don’t really know what they want. In the eventuality that you are in the same position, then one idea is to take a step back and determine what sort of environment, people or culture you would like to invest your time in. Moreover, you should make a list of relevant keywords you can use on job search engine websites later on.
2. Overcome mental obstacles
Besides the financial setbacks, an unemployed person looking to land a new job also has to overcome some psychological barriers. In short, make peace with the past and focus all your energy on the future. The best method to get yourself in a positive mood implies making sure you are working to find a new position in a clutter-free environment. While it may sound redundant at first, it is necessary to mention that a cluttered working area is the number one enemy of productivity.
3. Make sure you have the relevant skills for the position
If you have been working with an employer for a long time, then there are high chances you are very accustomed to how things used to get done at your former work place. However, if you truly want to be competitive on the job market, then you should re-assess the skills you have and the ones you need for the jobs you are looking for. In addition, it doesn’t hurt to seek internships, volunteering activities or even enter a professional association to polish those skills a bit.
4. Work with a professional resume writer
Even if you don’t want to accept it, keep in mind that it is almost impossible to be objective when you are talking about yourself. This is why you should seriously consider hiring a professional for this task if you don’t possess great writing skills. Furthermore, if you haven’t been searching for a job lately, chances are you are not familiar with the language nuances and terminology that today’s employers are looking for.
5. Looking for a job is actually a full time job for now
In case you are serious about finding a new position, then it is recommended you treat this EXACTLY as your normal job. In other words, if you only dedicate a few hours per day or per week then you shouldn’t really have high expectations. On the other hand, putting those time management skills to good use and creating a schedule for this task is more likely to get you the desired results.