Whether you are a graduate straight out of your studies or you are looking for a career change, getting a new job can be intimidating. The job market is so competitive that the process of getting a new job can be long, challenging, and overwhelming at times.
When you start the journey of looking for a new job, you will find that you come up against a number of challenges, for example, long wait times, silence, rejections, skill gaps, rewriting applications to tailor it to the job application, burnout, interview preparation, technical issues, and a lot more. You will endure all of this, as well as financial stress and likely a hit to your confidence. It is really hard to build and keep momentum while crafting your resume to stand out in a crowded market.
To help you with the inevitable challenges that you will face, preparation and a strategic approach to your job search are going to be key. Here are some of the most important things that you need to know that can make or break your job search journey.
Preparation
Preparation is key, but what does that mean when you are searching for a job? Before making any kind of plan, it is important that you know yourself and get organized. Consider what it is you are looking for in a job role and a company, what your strengths are, and begin to map out your career goals. Treat your job search journey like a project. Organize your applications, statements, and resumes, track your applications in a spreadsheet, and set daily, weekly, and monthly goals and check-ins so you can stay focused and keep yourself accountable. This will help you when you need to draw on the information in past applications to help you write new ones, and know who to follow up with and when.
Conduct research into the industry you want to work in and build your knowledge for interviews and your future career. Make sure you investigate the companies before making any applications, so you can ensure that you are a good fit, and they are a good fit for you. You shouldn’t just randomly apply to anything that you can find.
Use the knowledge of yourself and your strengths, and your career goals, to craft your resume and cover letter. This will be the foundation of your job applications; however, it will likely need to be tailored for each application. Putting this effort in at the beginning and having the main points down in a document will help make the application process a lot easier.
Mindset
Mindset is a really important part of the job search process. Searching and applying for jobs is not only tedious, but it can also be hard work, tiring, stressful, and overwhelming. It can negatively impact your mental health if you are not careful, and worse, lead to burnout. It is important that you manage expectations from the beginning, consider your time management, frontload the work in the preparation stage, and work on self-care. When you can continue to look after yourself with regular exercise, fueling your body, and staying hydrated, you are going to be in a much better and more resilient position during this process.
Most importantly, it is crucial to consider learning how to manage your stress and anxiety. The job application process is going to really test you and increase stress and anxiety. But if you can learn to regulate your nervous system and manage your stress, you will be able to mitigate burnout, stay optimistic, and enjoy the process.
Application process
With each job application, if you want to increase your chances of being successful, it is important that you customize your resume and cover letter for each job that you apply for. Consider what they are looking for in an applicant, and leverage those key words and points within your resume. Include your key strengths and anything unique that can help you stand out from the crowd.
Background checks
It is standard for a company to run a background check on you at some point in the job application process. This is to verify your information and what you are claiming within your application, such as your job history and education. It may also include checks like your credit, criminal record, right-to-work, identity, and other suitability checks. These always require your consent. It is important that you are aware of your own records and that you are transparent within the application process. Unfortunately, there have been known issues with this part of the application process, especially with companies like Walmart. If you find yourself unfairly rejected from a Walmart job, then it is important that you seek support.
Skill development
You don’t have to wait to get all the skills for the jobs you are applying for. Some of what you have is going to be transferable, and others you can show you are willing to learn. It can be beneficial during the job searching process, as you learn about the main requirements for the jobs you want to apply for and where you want your career to progress in the future, that you start to work on and build those skills. This is great to show and talk about to potential employers.
Networking
In addition to just sitting around and searching for jobs, you can boost your profile and prospects by getting out into the world and networking. Connect with people within the industry, attend different online and local events, and see if anyone is willing to mentor you. Networking is a really powerful thing that can help you in multiple ways on your job search journey. It can unlock hidden opportunities for you that you would not have found otherwise, gives you inside information, helps you to stay up-to-date on trends and insights, builds your reputation, provides you with excellent career advice, and so much more.
The job search and application process can be tedious and challenging. Follow these top tips to reduce the stress and make it a little easier on yourself.
