Are you looking for a job? These days, there are dozens or sometimes even hundreds of applicants for every open position you want, so finding a job can be hard. With such a large pool of applicants, what can you do to ensure you float to the top? Here are a few job hunting tips to help you start (or continue) your career in a field you love, regardless of how much competition there may be:
- Apply to every job.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is being to snobby about jobs. You probably don't want to do certain jobs, and you might avoid applying if you feel like a job will be a step backward. However, when facing unemployment, any job is an improvement. Every day you are unemployed is a day that widens the gap in job history on your resume, which looks bad. Even minimum wage jobs teach you skills, such as how to work as part of a team, so they aren't completely useless. So, if pickings are slim, apply to every job. You can always keep looking if you don't find a job you like right away.
- Make sure your background check is in order.
Just like there might be mistakes on your credit score, there might be mistakes on your background check. This is especially possible if you have a common name. Most employers will check your background, and if it's popping up that you have previous arrests or other problems, you could be turned down for no reason. So, check your own name to ensure there aren't mistakes.
- Be prepared to discuss your past.
But what if things are showing up on your background check and they are correct? No one is perfect, and if you have a less-than-squeaky-clean history, you might have trouble getting a job. You can help combat this by being prepared to discuss events in your past. Rather than ignoring jail time, arrests, and other problems, put them out in the open and talk about them and what you've learned from these past mistakes.
- Clean up your social media accounts.
Many employers are now checking Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media sites before deciding which applicants to hire or even interview. So, before you apply, make sure you take down your drunk college pictures, delete status updates that reflect poorly on you, and make your accounts private. If you don't act responsibily on social media, employers often assume that you aren't a responsible worker either.
- Do research on the company where you want to be hired.
If you don't know anything about the company before applying, your cover leter and resume probably won't be as good as someone who does a ton of research on the business. You might get an interview based on your experience or skills, but employers want to know that you've done your homework. When they ask you if you have any questions about the job, make sure you have something to ask. Doing research also allows you to tailor your answers rather than just give more general answers.
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