Job searching has come a long way since paper applications –where walking into a business and filling out an application on the spot was in vogue. Today, we have the internet!
Advancements in technology have made online job searching quick, easy and convenient. On the other hand, searching through online job postings can be overwhelming, difficult to track, and downright depressing –especially when you consider how drastically different a job posting for a “Customer Service Representative” or “Account Manager” position can be from business to business.
Here are four tips to help you wade through the waters of job postings with generic job titles.
1. What Do You Want?
Before even starting your job search, take time to consider what you like doing.
Where can you apply your strengths, and what skills would you like to develop? The better you know yourself, the more likely you’ll find a satisfying role.
Consider what is most important to you in a job; make a list and rank these qualities from most important to least using the guidelines of title, money, promotion, the work itself, location and company culture.
2. The More You Know
Once you know what you want, do some research on the companies you’re applying to and cross-reference their mission statement to see if it aligns with your professional (and personal) values.
A great tip for finding a new job is to investigate a company’s reviews. This will help you get a feel for their company culture and see if it is a match.
[blockquotes color=”highlight” quote=”yes”]Digging deeper into a job listing with fluff words is essential to determine if the position is truly a match for you[/blockquotes]
3. Job Titles Vs Job Responsibilities
We’ve all heard the saying, “Apply for the job you want, not the one you have.” Ambition is important when applying for a new position, but blindly applying to as many jobs as possible is counterproductive and can actually hurt your odds of hearing back.
When navigating the thousands of different jobs with the title “Customer Service Representative”, make sure you read the responsibilities and requirements to see if it aligns with your skillset and/or the skill set you wish to acquire.
Digging deeper into a job listing with position buzzwords like “administer”, “office assistant”, “coordinator”, “processor” and “manager” is essential because those words have been used so frequently to “fluff up” positions, they’ve started to lose their meaning.
4. Track Your Applications
Recruiters and hiring managers do appreciate followup once you’ve submitted your application. Remember to remain humble and try not to take it personally if you do not receive a response right away.
The best rule of thumb after submitting your resume is to follow up with an employer a few days after application submission via email.
In your email, remember to be formal and professional. Introduce yourself, include the date you applied. If you can, reattach your resume to the message and list the best time and number where you can be reached. Most importantly, THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME.
OPEN POSITIONSQUICK APPLY[/blockquotes]
What's Next?
Whether you’re taking the next step in your career or starting on a path in a new one, applying for jobs is a job in and of itself.
During your job search, it is important to stay positive and not let the generic titles of job postings cause you to lose momentum. Be sure to use these tips when reviewing job descriptions and keep in mind, you just need one “yes”, and that interview for your dream job could be one application away.