8 Tips to Improve Your Job Search Results

The traditional ways of searching for jobs no longer work today. You can’t just hand in a resume and hope for the best. It is possible to supercharge your job search if you become more proactive. Here are some tips to improve your job search results. 

1. Scan your resume for two minutes

Creating your resume can take you much time and effort but according to CareersWiki.com, 68% of hiring managers will spend less than two minutes looking at it. 

They simply don’t have the time to read dense, complex descriptions or navigate their way through a badly-formatted resume. Scan through it and see if it gives a clear message about what you have to offer. 

2. Write a great cover letter

Make sure your cover letter isn’t generic or boring. A recruiter who hates your cover letter won’t even look at your resume. State why you’re excited about the job and why you’re the right fit. Know the company tone and your value. 

Show that you know what the company does and some of the challenges it faces and how your experience has equipped you to meet its needs. 

3. Start networking

Your networking skills and the professional relationships you establish can work wonders in your job search. Networking is usually far more effective than waiting for jobs to appear on job boards. Select some companies where you would like to work. Follow the companies on LinkedIn and Facebook. 

Write personalized LinkedIn connection requests and start conversations with people who can help you. Comment on blogs, join groups and conversations. Make yourself known and actively pursue the kinds of positions you really want. 

4. Optimize your LinkedIn profile

You need to make sure your LinkedIn profile is 100% complete. If a recruiter was looking on LinkedIn to find a candidate for the position you’re seeking, would your profile show up? 

Try it and if you don’t show up on the first or second page, you may have to take a look at the profiles of people who do show up so you can use the right tactics. They may be using certain keywords that give them a higher ranking. 

6. Create measurable goals

Setting firm goals when searching for a job can help keep you disciplined and motivated. For instance, you may challenge yourself to go for one interview a week and make five networking calls. 

Use technology to stay organized. For example, you can make up a spreadsheet with dates and check off tasks when you’ve completed them. It makes it easy to add job hunting tasks and also means that when potential employers call you, you’re immediately aware of what actions you’ve taken that may have prompted the call. 

7. Learn new skills

Factoring in a few hours a day to take a class or learn a new skill that relates to your dream job is always useful. Researching your job niche may even reveal exactly what courses you could take to improve your chances. Taking some online courses could help to make you more employable and help you to stand out from the competition. 

8. Follow up on applications

If you haven’t heard back on applications you have submitted and more than a week has gone by, you need to follow up. Your persistence may pay off. Sometimes simply expressing how interested you are in the job can help to get you pushed up in the application process. 

If you find out you’ve been unsuccessful, you can remove the job from your list. Don’t be put off by any setbacks in your job search but learn from your mistakes and move on.