First, and most importantly, get off social media. People often come to me demoralized after they have applied to dozens of jobs on social media platforms and haven’t heard back from any of them. The reasons why are (1) the job listings on these platforms are receiving hundreds, perhaps even thousands of applications, (2) the applications are being reviewed by AI algorithms, not humans, and (3) when a person applies to so many jobs, they probably don’t use the exact right keywords to precisely fit each algorithm. It’s better to take a more targeted approach, talk to humans, and find the job you want.
Step 1: Figure out what you want to do.
This sounds like an obvious step, but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t really know what they want to do. Try to ask yourself, “what job you are looking for?” If you can’t rattle it off in a few words or elevator pitch, then you need to take a moment to refine your goal.
Many people say they are flexible. They can do a lot of different things and don’t have a specific job in mind. That is fine, but it is not a good answer when someone is either trying to help you find a job or is interviewing you for a specific one. You can narrow it down to a few specific jobs and answer differently depending on who you are talking to. You can change your mind later if you find the job you thought you wanted isn’t what you thought it was.
Step 2: Tell everyone you know you’re looking for a job.
It may take a little humility to do this, but it is a very good strategy. Think of everyone you know as your recruiters. Once they hear what you are looking for, they will be on the lookout for job openings and people they know who are hiring. If you get one thing from this blog post is that your next job can come from anywhere. You never know if your yoga buddy’s cousin’s friend knows someone in their company who is looking for someone like you.
Telling everyone what you’re looking for can also help you refine your pitch and redirect you to opportunities you may not have thought of. It’s important not to stray from your goal by other ideas, but if a better idea does come up, it could lead you to an opportunity you didn’t know about.
Step 3: Follow through on opportunities and thank yous.
Perseverance is key when looking for a job. Getting a job is probably more important to you than anyone else you’re talking to. Others may take a while to get back to you or get busy and forget. Stay positive with gentle inquiries like: “Just checking to make sure you received my application.” “Have you had a chance to review my resume yet?” “Thanks again for taking the time to talk to me last week and refer me to your friend.” Thanking people is also important. Make sure to be gracious and thank everyone along the way who has listened to you, helped you, and interviewed you.” It shows you are a courteous person and that you’re taking initiative.
Good luck!
And if you would like help with any of these steps, feel free to contact me for career coaching.
