How to Make Your Job Search Effective

Even without the job market being as competitive as it is, finding a job is more complicated than just responding to an ad or submitting your resume online.  Make sure you're taking the following steps to ensure your job search is as effective as it can be.  The good news is, it's not that hard and won't take up that much more of your time.

So, here we go....




This one seems like a no-brainer but I've seen it so many times, it bears repeating.  Make absolutely certain that you have no misspellings or incorrect grammar on your resume. This alone can get your resume tossed out before anyone even finishes reading it.  That doesn't just mean run spellcheck, make sure you're using correct forms of their, there and they're and its and it's.  Keep in mind that your and you're are not interchangeable.  They're really not.  I promise. Google it if you don't believe me. I'll wait.  The perception is that if you pay so little attention to detail, or just don't have a strong enough grasp of the English language, you aren't going to work out at a job, either.  

Related: How to Screw Up Your Cover Letter

Make sure you have questions prepared to ask your interviewer.  When you get to the part of the interview where they ask if you have questions, a blank stare is not what they're looking for.  Take some time in the days before your interview and research a few good questions to ask.  Write them down in a small notebook with some room to take notes on the answer.  Then remember to take the notebook with you on the interview.  When they ask if you have questions and you whip out your little notebook, you'll give the impression of caring about the job and taking the interview seriously.  Which, if you hadn't guessed, is a great impression to make.

Related: Questions to Ask During an Interview

Impress them.  Ready, go!

Be able to clearly state what kind of job or position you're looking for.  This is also called your "elevator speech", as in, a concise statement of your employment objective that you can convey during the few seconds you have with someone in an elevator.  Sounds simple until you start trying to put one together that sounds reasonably intelligent.  It does take a little work but, when you come up with something that sounds good, practice it.  Rehearse it until you can say it without thinking while making it sound natural and conversational.  Like I said, it takes a little work but it's worth it.

One of the most important things to remember is to say thank you when you're networking.  If someone gives you an introduction to a person that may help you find a job, remember to thank them.  And when that new contact takes the time to talk to you about what you're looking for, say thank you to them, too.  Make sure you're appreciative of the help people are willing to give you because, really, they don't have to help you.  And if a network connection leads to an actual job, at the very least, send them a thank you card.  An actual, physical card.  It's a nice touch.  So is taking them to lunch but that's not always possible.  Besides, it's just good manners.

Related:  Networking Basics 

And the last thing, make sure you're easily found online.  If someone searches for you and doesn't find a LinkedIn profile, at minimum, you'll appear to be outdated and out of sync with today's technology.  And today's technology ties into every field you can name.  If you give the appearance of being out of touch, they won't even give you a chance.  At the same time, make sure your online image is something you don't mind people seeing.  Take some time to Google yourself and remove anything that you wouldn't want a potential employer to see and promote links to things that present you in a positive light.  If you're not sure how to do this, hire a professional.  This is one of the services Career Dragon provides, by the way.  It's more important than you probably realize.  A negative or non-existent online presence can cost you a job before you're even interviewed.

Things were much simpler when a "for hire" sign was placed in a window and you could just walk in.  You had the opportunity to make a great first impression in person, which is much easier than through a profile or resume.  The advances in technology have their pros and cons.  On the up side, employers now have access to a much larger candidate pool.  Although this makes competition for those positions more intense, it also gives you more options in the location, pay and type of jobs you can apply for.  But don't get nostalgic and go wandering in somewhere, unannounced, looking for a job.  It's considered trespassing, now.  And a bit creepy.  And creepy is not the impression you want to make.  I promise.