Finding a new job is hard work and involves incredible stress. If you are out of work, it becomes your primary focus. If you are employed, the job hunt becomes like a second job. Most people only talk about their successes, but may encounter rejections, ghosting and rude treatment. It's an unfortunate part of the interview process.
You may be required to interview with three to 10 people over several months. Then, you may be met with little to no feedback. The odds are high that you’ll be ghosted and never know why you weren't chosen for the opportunity.
By following these tips, you can increase your chances of finding the perfect job.
Before jumping into the search, ensure that you leave your company for the right reasons. Clarify your job goals. What are you looking for in a new job? What are your skills and experience? What are your salary expectations? Once you know what you want, you can focus on your job search.
Research your industry's current job market, trends, salaries and in-demand skills. Gain a sense of the job market by speaking confidentially with colleagues or mentors, reading about what is happening, watching the news and listening to podcasts that discuss the job market, economy and other factors that will help you gain a sense of what areas may be holding firm and those that may be in trouble.
From a practical and logistical standpoint, you must first find a job opening. Start by checking out job sites like LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, Indeed, SimplyHired, Glassdoor and various job-niche platforms. Then, go to the job listings on corporate websites that interest you.
Find a person who works at one of the target companies you are interested in interviewing at and ask them to share your résumé with the appropriate internal person. Human resources, corporate talent acquisitions and hiring managers place a significant premium on employee referrals. The thought process is that if an internal employee provides a strong recommendation, the person must be good, as the employee’s reputation is at stake.
It’s essential to tap into your network to see if they know of any job openings that are appropriate for you. The network is a loose term that brings together all the people you have close or loose ties with. These folks could be the kids you grew up with and still stay in touch with, current or former co-workers and bosses, neighbors, college alumni and members of your temple, church, mosque or synagogue.
Once you come across an open position that seems promising, read the job specifications closely. Make sure that your résumé clearly addresses the needs and wants of the job description, so that when you disperse it at the interview, the interviewers realize the fit right away. Familiarize yourself with the company’s products, services, business models, achievements and mission statement. Research the company to ascertain if there are any issues or problems surrounding the company.
One of the biggest problems that job seekers have is that they carry around a lot of baggage. They are angry with what’s happening at their current company and frustrated over mistreatment.
When people feel resentment and bitterness toward their current job, company, co-workers and managers, it’s painfully obvious to others. The people involved with the interview process sense the hostility, which is off-putting. Intellectually, they understand that you’re in a toxic environment. However, the hiring manager and others involved with the interview process don’t want to inherit any potential problems. They’ll think that it’s you and not the fault of your manager and co-workers. It’s not worth the risk of figuring out who is right or wrong. The hiring personnel will politely pass on your candidacy and move on to other applicants.
You must work on yourself before looking for a new job—even if you are relatively happy with your current position. You need to build a positive attitude and mindset that radiates confidence. Put any bad feelings and animosities behind you. Don’t carry it around like a weight on your shoulders. Start your search with a clean slate. Forget any regrets, ill will or resentments you may be holding onto. You want to exude positivity, confidence, drive, enthusiasm and motivation.
Once you decide that a job switch is right for you, start taking control over what you can control. Hunting for a new job shouldn’t be a solo effort. To succeed in your job search and advance in your career, you must surround yourself with a team of people who can help you. Hire a career coach to help write a new résumé, cover letter and LinkedIn profile. Reach out to headhunters who specialize in placing people in your sector, potential hiring managers, human resources and in-house corporate talent acquisition recruiters.
In addition to your core résumé, tailor the document to address the specific needs of the job you’re applying to. Add a cover letter highlighting your achievements and offering specific facts the company should know, such as whether you’re open to remote, hybrid or in-office work or if you plan on relocating.
Ask contacts to serve as references and write recommendations highlighting your qualifications.
An elevator pitch is loosely defined as a clear, concise and persuasive speech that lasts about the same duration as an elevator ride. Since there’s not much time, you must be prepared to immediately grab the person's attention and articulate your value proposition within 30 seconds to a minute.
You should rehearse your elevator pitch before an interview until it becomes second nature. The message you would like to convey always seems terrific in your head, but you may cringe the first time you say it aloud. The interview is your chance to sell yourself to the employer. Practice answering common interview questions and be prepared to talk about your skills and experience. You can brush up on your interviewing skills through mock interviews.
Follow up after interviews. Send a thank-you note to the interviewer after each interview. This is a great way to reiterate your interest in the position and to thank them for their time.
Throughout the interviewing process, it is always important to manage your expectations. What commonly occurs is that a candidate is told that the salary range is between $150k and $200k. The interviewee earns about $110k, and you would think they would be overjoyed at receiving any amount in this spread. However, the offer comes in at a $160k base salary, and the person angrily rejects it.
Candidates will adhere to the top end of the range and feel slighted that the company did not sufficiently value them if the offer falls short. They then walk away from the opportunity indignantly.
If you have a bonus or other remuneration that you will walk away from, it is important to discuss it with the interviewers as soon as possible. Often, a company may not be inclined to buy out a bonus, stock or other rewards.
For the companies based in the states where they are allowed to ask about your salary history, tell them about any year-end raises or other benefits you anticipate or will lose if you leave. Otherwise, if you don't, their offer may equal what you will be earning, and it won't be enticing to leave.
Be prepared for wading through old, stale job listings, getting ghosted, interviews being canceled at the last minute and feeling like you're being discriminated against because you’re in between jobs. You’ll have to be vigilant about job scammers trying to exploit your vulnerable situation.
Companies will be cryptic about the actual pay, why the job is open, what happened to the last person who held the role and the future growth path. However, they will demand to know specifics about what the candidate would accept for a salary and every detail about their work-life experience.
You must persevere, work hard and stay strong throughout the highs and lows. Keep a check on your mindset. This will be a marathon and not a sprint. Job hunting can be a daunting task, but it is important to stay positive and persistent. A positive attitude will help you stay motivated during your job search.
Be patient. It can take time to find a new job, so don't get discouraged if you don't get an offer right away. Keep applying for jobs and networking with people until you find the right opportunity.
You only have to be in the right place at the right time once to succeed. Then, when that time comes—and it will—you can look back and say it was all worth it in the end.
