As anyone who’s in the job market can tell you, searching for a job can be stressful! Between searching online, sending out resumes, making contacts, and going on interviews, it’s easily a full time job to look for work. Luckily, Western Union (WU) is here to help with some fantastic tips to help you organize and streamline the process, making your job search less stressful and more successful.
Create Resumes and Cover Letters for Different Positions
One of the most stressful and time-consuming parts of job searching is creating your resume and cover letter. Many companies use applicant tracking systems with search robots that scan resumes for specific keywords. Every resume you send out needs to be optimized for those keywords so it can appear in the interviewer’s database.
However, what if you have more than one skill set and you’re applying for different types of jobs? The best thing to do is to have several resumes written in advance that have important keywords that employers may search for, including job titles, certifications, education, and credentials. That way, when you see a job opening, it’s quick and easy to submit the right resume and cover letter for each position.
Apply to As Many Jobs as Possible
Applying for work is a bit of a numbers game. You aren’t going to get many interviews if you only apply for a small handful of jobs. You should apply for as many jobs as possible to have the best chance of getting an interview. If you get called into an interview for a job you’re not quite sure about, unless the job looks like a scam, go to the interview. The practice is invaluable for confidence building, and can prepare you so that you perform well in your interviews for the jobs you do want.
Take Temporary or Part-Time Work
If you’re unemployed for a long stretch of time, the lack of income coming in can be incredibly stressful and put a lot of pressure on your job search. The last thing you want to do is to become desperate and have to take any job that comes your way. To make sure you can find full-time work that’s the right fit, don’t be afraid to take on a temp job or part-time work that brings some income while still allowing you time to send out resumes and go on interviews. Temporary and part-time work can sometimes turn into a full-time job; you never know.
Use Your Network
Your own contacts can be your greatest asset when looking for a job. Be sure to ask your friends, family, and acquaintances if they know of anyone who is hiring in your career field. It’s always best to go into an interview process with a referral from someone the employer trusts if possible, but you usually won’t get one unless you take the initiative to ask.
Be Patient
When it comes to job searching, the process is always slower than you think or hope it will be. Even when an employer says they’re making a “quick decision,” it can still take a little time. Be prepared to wait several months for a company to make a hiring decision.
Remember that while getting a job may be your number one priority, it’s likely not your potential employer’s priority. Interviewers still need to get their regular work done while interviewing people for open positions when time allows. Therefore, be patient and continue submitting resumes every day so you’re not sitting around waiting for the phone to ring.
Have Faith and Be Flexible
It’s important to have faith that if you continue to apply to jobs and send your resumes out, eventually you’ll find work. However, it’s important to be flexible during the process. If you find that your resumes and cover letters aren’t getting you interviews, then you may need to revise them. Ask trusted friends or any industry contacts you have if they might be willing to take a look at your resume and cover letter and tell you what works and what doesn’t. This simple step can potentially take months off of your job search.
Do you have any other tips and tricks to make job searching less stressful? Let us know in the comments!
Apply to As Many Jobs as Possible
Applying for work is a bit of a numbers game. You aren’t going to get many interviews if you only apply for a small handful of jobs. You should apply for as many jobs as possible to have the best chance of getting an interview. If you get called into an interview for a job you’re not quite sure about, unless the job looks like a scam, go to the interview. The practice is invaluable for confidence building, and can prepare you so that you perform well in your interviews for the jobs you do want.
Take Temporary or Part-Time Work
If you’re unemployed for a long stretch of time, the lack of income coming in can be incredibly stressful and put a lot of pressure on your job search. The last thing you want to do is to become desperate and have to take any job that comes your way. To make sure you can find full-time work that’s the right fit, don’t be afraid to take on a temp job or part-time work that brings some income while still allowing you time to send out resumes and go on interviews. Temporary and part-time work can sometimes turn into a full-time job; you never know.
Use Your Network
Your own contacts can be your greatest asset when looking for a job. Be sure to ask your friends, family, and acquaintances if they know of anyone who is hiring in your career field. It’s always best to go into an interview process with a referral from someone the employer trusts if possible, but you usually won’t get one unless you take the initiative to ask.
Be Patient
When it comes to job searching, the process is always slower than you think or hope it will be. Even when an employer says they’re making a “quick decision,” it can still take a little time. Be prepared to wait several months for a company to make a hiring decision.
Remember that while getting a job may be your number one priority, it’s likely not your potential employer’s priority. Interviewers still need to get their regular work done while interviewing people for open positions when time allows. Therefore, be patient and continue submitting resumes every day so you’re not sitting around waiting for the phone to ring.
Have Faith and Be Flexible
It’s important to have faith that if you continue to apply to jobs and send your resumes out, eventually you’ll find work. However, it’s important to be flexible during the process. If you find that your resumes and cover letters aren’t getting you interviews, then you may need to revise them. Ask trusted friends or any industry contacts you have if they might be willing to take a look at your resume and cover letter and tell you what works and what doesn’t. This simple step can potentially take months off of your job search.
Do you have any other tips and tricks to make job searching less stressful? Let us know in the comments!
