10 Best Tools to Speed up Your Job Search
Getting a job – first or tenth – is not easy, even if you have all the necessary skills and experience. Fortunately, there are several tools that, if you have and use them, can increase your chances of getting not only any job, but one you enjoy.
10. Free resume templates
The first step to a better job is a better resume. If you have one and just needs a little love of layout and design, or want something simple to get you started, check out the free Google Docs resume templates we highlighted earlier or these free resume templates for Microsoft. Word . If you’d rather try something that allows you to fill in the blanks, try a resume builder like ineedaresu.me . Once you have this awesome resume, make sure it is well formatted to get you through the candidate screening systems and robots.
9. Best Resume Builder
Speaking of a resume builder, if you’re a creative professional or just like the idea of a modern resume, you can go all out with a builder tool like the previously mentioned EnhanCV or a similar tool we’ve highlighted Sumry . If this is too modern for you, CV Maker is a little more down to earth and simple, and creates resumes that look a little more traditional. Which is right for you depends a lot on your style and the industry in which you are trying to find a job.
Likewise, if you need a quick start without typing in a ton of information, consider LinkedIn’s resume builder (update: it looks like it’s dead). It works really well , and if for some reason it doesn’t, Creddle is another service that will create a resume for you based on your LinkedIn profile, which we hope should be a testament to your experience and skills.
8. Sites with testimonials about the company (for example, Glassdoor)
Before blindly looking for positions you would like to have, or even companies you would like to work for, be sure to check what current employees at Gla ssdoor have to say about them. The site is invaluable for job seekers looking to get inside information on what it is like to work for a company in a particular position and how much you can expect to earn if you receive an offer. Even if you are generally familiar with it, it is worth taking a look at.
At the same time, don’t be limited to Glassdoor only. If you’re a woman looking for a garbage-free company, consider browsing FairyGodboss , a site dedicated to empowering women to discuss important company issues and evaluate their employers accordingly. If you are concerned about work- life balance and care about being respected by a potential employer, WorkDifferent works hard to ensure that they only work with companies that truly care about their employees and make them stand out.
7. Salary comparison sites (for example, Salary.com)
Speaking of how much you will earn when you receive this offer, make sure you do a good job on how much you are worth before you get to your interview. Salary.com and PayScale.com (as well as the previously mentioned Glassdoor) provide valuable insight into how much you can expect to get a certain job, depending on where you live, and other companies in the same field. For even more information, check out a comparable , new service that crowdsources information and allows senders to remain anonymous , so no one has to worry that they will get in trouble for disclosing their company’s pay rates.
6. Job boards for specific fields of activity
So you’ve got a new resume, some compensation in mind, and you’re ready to look for a new job. Before posting your resume on major job boards (which you should do to be clear) like Indeed and CareerBuilder and hoping for the best, you should also check out job boards and sites related to your industry or niche.
For example, the previously mentioned LanceList is a great tool for collecting vacancies in various employment forums , while MediaBistro is very important for anyone working in writing, journalism or new media, and HealtheCareers is useful for people looking for jobs in the healthcare industry. and medical fields.
5. Contact managers who remind you to follow up
When you apply for a new job or send an email to a hiring manager, recruiter or HR professional, your next step is to make sure you keep the conversation going and keep talking, even if you’re not quite sure you are going to get the job, you never know when someone is helpful in your professional network. Choose a contacts app that helps you remember to keep track of your contacts, or encourages you to refer to your contacts on a regular basis.
The previously mentioned JobHero is great for this and helps organize your entire job search. NextCall is useful for this as well, and it can help you remember to connect with more people , not just job prospects. Also, remember that the reminder is just one thing – you don’t need to follow up unless you think it’s right, and you certainly don’t need to be annoyed when you do .
4. “Work Diary”
The value of keeping a work journal goes far beyond just finding a new job, but once you start looking for one, you’ll be glad you have one. A work diary can help you track your progress (and avoid past mistakes), keep you motivated , and help you identify your greatest accomplishments so you can use them to advocate for a promotion or, in this context, flesh out your brilliant resumes. and clearly explain to the hiring manager why you are the right person for the job. Trust us, start today.
3. Job Researcher or Career Seeker.
Don’t get hung up on the idea that because you are always doing a certain job that you always have to do, or that this is all you are qualified for. Job Researchers like Glassdoor or the previously mentioned MySkills My Future can help you find a job that you may never have thought was right for you, but really leverage the skills and experience you have in the positions you have worked with. …
You never know, you might find a great job that you never thought of before, but maybe just what you need to adjust to a career or get out of a career rut .
2. Social networks
You probably know that a good Facebook and Twitter presence is essential to getting a good job – and that you can even find work through social media by contacting the companies you want to work for. These are all great things and you should definitely do them, but social media can really do a lot more for your job search.
For example, consider joining industry groups on Facebook and LinkedIn to connect with other people in the field you work in and work in different companies to connect, share stories and talk about the skills needed to get a new job and promote. in the service. If you can not see it, start it, or make another step and create MeetUp group in your area , and communicate with other professionals in your area.
1. Strong professional network
Probably the best and most effective tool you can have in your arsenal for a new or better job is a strong professional network full of people who know your skills and capabilities and can open doors or vouch for you. If you don’t have one, it’s time to start creating one. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be a crude, self-promoting process to create one. After all, a professional network is just a group of working adults willing to help each other with work issues whenever possible. Keep this in mind and remember to disconnect from the network as well .
Not sure how strong your network is? Try taking the “firing test” or “if I got fired today, what ten people would I call to talk to?” If you don’t have ten people, it’s time to make a few calls, step up online play, and of course, reach out to friends and colleagues and see how you can help them , so maybe they’ll return the favor when you need it.