How to Organize a Job Search
Finding a new job is work itself, except that you are not paid to do it, there are no benefits, and it is impossible to know if you are doing it wrong. Applying for a job can be a long and lonely struggle with self-doubt, and to stay resilient you need to be organized and have a plan. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to structure your job search and position yourself for success.
Clean up clutter in your workspace
Research shows that cluttered workplaces are distracting and can reduce your productivity. So create a distraction-free workspace, comfortable enough to work for several hours every day, and treat it like an office from which you will do your job search. If you’re a dirty person by nature, one trick is to pretend you’re sitting in someone else’s home office — do empty coffee cups, crumbs, and stacks of paper suddenly seem a little nasty to you? This also applies to your computer desktop and browser tabs: keep it clean and distraction-free.
Organize your files
On your computer, create a “job search” umbrella folder and add additional folders to it for various cover letters and resume projects, as well as samples of your work. You will also want to create templates for resumes and cover letters by type of job (if you are applying for more than one very narrow job); Once you have a template, you can further customize it to fit a specific job listing.
You will also want to keep track of your job applications as they are submitted. A simple spreadsheet will do and you don’t have to think too much about it: you have a separate column for company name, role, application date, job posting link (insert URL here), status (open or rejected), and some notes, which may include a description or additional contact information. Some sites recommend adding even more fields, but this can lead to a lot of workload, especially if most of your applications get rejected (which is normal – according to TalentWorks , most people apply for about 20 jobs before an interview, and can go through 10 or more interviews before hiring).
Why bother with all this tracking? If your new job is a job search, take this document as a result. This will keep you up to date and help you keep an eye on applications you might want to explore later.
Never stop updating your resume and cover letter
It sounds obvious, but the most important thing to remember when canceling the dating of your resume and cover letter is to do it all the time , especially if you are not very lucky with the interview. It’s amazing what rejection can do: What may seem like your best effort at the start of unemployment may seem like rubbish a few weeks after you’ve noticed a few typos or a few awkward emails you missed earlier. Remember, your employer has a lot of applications to process, and while they are looking for an outstanding candidate, they are also looking for a reason to turn you down . According to Glassdoor, you have about 7 seconds to grab the attention of a potential employer . Does your resume stand out (in a good way)? Is it too cluttered? Are your skills clearly represented? Typically, read your resume and cover letter aloud – if it sounds unclear or unnatural to you, you will have to rewrite it.
Make a schedule
If you treat your job search like a job, you need to count down the hours. Most people don’t spend all day looking for a job – this leads to burnout – but it’s a good idea to set aside a few hours a day (and remember that only a certain number of new jobs are posted each day). Divide your day into specific hours for job search and application writing and stick to it.
Use job sites and work on your network
Install the browser bookmarks to the main sites with vacancies – LinkedIn , Indeed , Monster , Snagajob , and the Google Jobs – and perform a search on him every day. Stay up to date with new posts as anything older than a couple of weeks may be out of date .
Also make the most of your networking skills; Research shows that 70% of all jobs are not published publicly on job sites, and up to 80% of jobs are generally filled online, according to CNBC . Use social media to let people know you are looking for a job, ask for advice, and look for people to talk to. Which of your target organizations could you talk to? Or do you know someone who can introduce you?
Keep applying
Some job sites suggest applying for 10-15 jobs per day (this depends on what you are looking for – this number can go up or down depending on the skill level and the number of ads you see). The key is to focus on the quality of the apps, not the quantity. If you’re looking for more qualified jobs, don’t include Linkedin’s Easy Apply or other resume reset options that don’t require cover letters as part of your daily job application quota. And yes, writing cover letters can be painful, but take them seriously as this is your only chance to substantiate why you deserve the job (also try to say something astute about the company you are applying for so that it’s not easy reads like a standard letter).
If you’re unlucky, by all means change your approach, but make sure you stick to a schedule and keep tracking your apps. Usually, your job search takes several months, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find one in the end.