Six Secrets of Successful Job Seekers
There are many factors that affect your job search, such as demand for your talent, how you execute your search, how you brand yourself, and the amount of effort you dedicate to the search. Some of these factors are beyond your control. Today we’ll share six secrets of successful job seekers. These are things you have the power to perfect to improve your job search.
1 - Find the Hidden Job Market
Many candidates rely solely on job postings, which is a reactive search strategy. It is fine to search for opportunities online. However, those jobs are only the tip of the iceberg. Review postings, industry blogs, your LinkedIn feed, and buzz in your network to identify trends, companies that are growing (and hiring), and opportunities. With some work, you can find hidden job opportunities and vacancies that have not yet been posted.
2 - Craft a Target Cover Letter for Each Opportunity
It is easier to write one letter and use it again and again. Easy is not the best choice when job searching, especially if you want to land the perfect job quickly. Write a targeted cover letter for each opportunity. Study the hiring employer’s website and job posting to learn more about the company and the job requirement. Include examples of your past accomplishments that demonstrate how you meet the requirements and the value you offer that company. You can use the letter you wrote as something of a template and tweak it as you apply for new opportunities. This exercise should take about 10 minutes, but it will make a world of difference.
3 - Always Write to a Contact
The only exception to this rule is a blind job posting that does not even contain a company name. In all other cases, research the company online to find a contact. If that fails, call the company’s main phone number and ask for the name of the human resources director and the manager of the department that you are targeting. With some searching online, it is becoming easier to identify an email address.
4 - Find the Backdoor
Successful sales people know how to get in the backdoor. In a job search, backdoor access is when an employee recommends you for a position. This can give you a significant advantage because many employers give referrals the fast track to an interview. It’s worth your time to increasing networking activity to find internal contacts.
5 - Send a Hardcopy Back-up
When almost all of the other candidates are submitting their resume online, you can get lost in a sea of resumes. Follow the company’s instructions for resume submission. Additionally, send the hiring contact a hard copy of your resume. This second touchpoint won’t hurt and can be the impression that leads to an interview.
6 - Increase Your Numbers
You’ve probably heard that job searching is a numbers game. Even though the advice is logical and widely accepted, most candidates send very few resumes and wonder why they are not actively interviewing. Send your resume to the companies you are targeting. Keep a list of the companies and dates you sent the documents. It will take time, and you will send out a lot of resumes, but this exercise will yield results.
The Bottom Line
Now that you’ve read the list, you’ve probably realized that these tips are not secrets. These are tried and true tactics to improve the job search. It takes diligence, organization, creativity, and persistence. Sometimes even when we know what we need to do, we need to be reminded. The reward will ultimately be worth your efforts.