Looking for a job? 7 resources you should be using
When it comes to listing job opportunities, companies advertise their job openings in different places (or sometimes not at all). If you want to find a variety of jobs that interest you and fit well with your experience, you have to diversify your efforts.
Below are some of the most common sources for finding a job. Each source, on its own, is a great way to find a new job. But using a combination of these sources will be that much more effective, enabling you to widen your efforts and accelerate your job search.
Networking events: It’s often said that, when it comes to finding a job, “it’s not what you know that matters, it’s who you know.” Having skills is necessary to landing a job, but knowing the right people can get you there faster. Networking events are opportunities to meet people in your industry who can connect you with potential job opportunities, provide valuable advice or act as mentors. Use sites like Eventbrite or Meetup or even Google to find in-person networking events. You can even network online. Networking can be scary, but the more you do it, the easier it gets.
Social media: Social media isn’t just a great way to kill time while waiting in line at Starbucks or at dinner with your parents. It’s also one of the best ways to supplement your job search. Follow and connect with companies you’re interested in on various social media platforms (they’re usually listed on the company’s website), where they often post about company news and the latest job openings. You can also engage with the company in real-time, posing questions about the culture or the best way to apply for jobs. You might even find people in your social circle who work there and can offer advice or put in a good word for you.
Staffing firms: Staffing firms work with companies to help them find the best candidates to fill open roles. Oftentimes, these roles aren’t advertised publicly. Therefore, when you use a staffing firm, not only will you find out about opportunities you wouldn’t find otherwise, you will also get helpful guidance on your job search. The best part? Working with a staffing firm is free for job seekers, so you’ve got nothing to lose.
Company careers pages: If you have a company in mind you'd like to work for, go straight to their website to see if they're hiring. Almost every company has a dedicated "careers" section with information about available opportunities and the benefits of working there. Even if a company doesn’t have any openings right now, it may have a talent network you can join. By joining a company’s talent network, you can be the first to know about new job opportunities, get in front of recruiters and learn about any networking or recruiting events the company might have.
Online job boards: Job boards remain one of the best ways to find out about available jobs and apply to them. Not only can you search for jobs by job title, skills or company and location, but you can also upload your resume so that employers and recruiters who are searching the site for candidates can easily find you. Perhaps one of the best benefits of using an online job board is the ability to sign up for job alerts. With job alerts, you get new jobs that match your search criteria emailed to you (saving you the time of going back and starting a new search every time) and because you’re among the first to learn about newly open jobs, you can get a jump on other potential candidates.
Professional organization websites: For almost every industry you’re in, there’s at least one professional organization dedicated to it - from the American Institute of CPAs to the Public Relations Society of America to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). These organizations usually have industry-specific job listings on their websites. Look into joining a professional organization to get exclusive membership benefits, such as members-only networking events, professional development opportunities and certifications.
Google: You use Google to find everything from the best sushi restaurant in your neighborhood to the closest place to get an oil change. Why not use it to find a job, too? Google recently enhanced its search function to make searching for jobs even easier. Just type a job title into the Google search box to see a listing of available jobs in your area, which you can then filter by category, type of job, date posted, company type, location and by category, job type, date posted, title and even commute time for some jobs.
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