Whether you are a new graduate or are looking to change your career path, you have probably realized that job searching is no less than working a full time job. In these tough economic times, it takes immense amount of time, effort and careful planning in order to secure the job of your dreams. However, with the right mindset and working smarter not harder, you can make job search less of a pain.
Here are a few useful tips that can accelerate the daunting process of job search:
1. Always save your cover letter and resume
There is nothing worse than spending hours editing your resume and writing that perfect cover letter to apply for a job, and then coming across a similar job description a few months later only to realize you did not actually save those documents previously. Always save your work with proper titles so they are easier to find later on.
2. Your school's career center is your best friend
Surprisingly, not a lot of students realize how valuable their school's career center is. If you have not paid a visit to the career center yet, now is the time. Visit their office and get the information you need to get ahead of the competition. Companies are often looking for fresh graduates and they often post jobs exclusively on school website. Career centers often give access to alumni as well, so do not lose hope if you have already graduated and are unable to find a job.
3. Make valuable connections
You are probably thinking that networking it is easier said than done. But have you attended a local career fair or contacted a potential employer directly through LinkedIn or regular email? If you have not tried any of that, you have no reason to believe otherwise. Getting out of your comfort zone is the one thing that many job seekers lack, and successful applicants swear by.
4. Make a general resume
It is also a good idea to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach. Many small companies often have job vacancies that they do not post on the Internet, and rely on their employees or someone they know to fill up those vacancies. Make a list of local, small businesses that match your interest and send a general resume to all of them. By looking at your past work experience, they will likely call you in for a position that lies within your field – and who knows, might even turn out to be your dream job!
5. Do not be afraid to start from a lower position
If you have exhausted all options and did not land a job yet, then do not be afraid to start from scratch. Sure, you might think that your undergraduate degree is worth more than working an entry-level technician job, but any experience is good experience as long as it is related to your field of study. You can keep searching for the ideal job by keeping all the pointers above in mind to accelerate the job search, but do not lose hope and above all be positive!