News & Events

Identify your skill sets

Many people start their job search by looking at the job titles that sound most fitting to their career goals. While this method may prove to be successful for some, Glassdoor career expert Scott Dobroski suggests job seekers look at the required skills of a position instead. By doing this, Dobroski says employees will be able to identify the skill sets they already possess and the jobs that best match their experiences. Also, since job titles are constantly changing, Dobroski says focusing on the required skills of a position can open your search up to job titles that you didn’t even know matched your expertise.

Utilize online resources and company websites

Thanks to the Internet, looking for a job today goes far beyond asking a friend and searching for an opening in the newspaper. Now, companies use their website to advertise job openings, and job search platforms can also help you identify opportunities. Use these sites to not only search for a specific position, but to also look for “similar jobs” or “suggested jobs” that may pique your interest.

Narrow down your search to the best options

It’s best to narrow down your search and apply to the positions that sound most fitting to your skill sets and career goals. To go a step further in ensuring that a job is right for you, do a little bit of background research on the company to get a sense of its values. Also, dig into your own network to see if you’re connected to someone who has experience at the company and who can share their perspective on working there. Carolyn Thompson, executive recruiter and managing principal at Merito Group says connecting with someone at the company can also be an extra way for you to get your foot in the door. “Companies always give preferential treatment to employee referrals, If you don’t know someone there, then volunteering at a company’s local charity event can also be a great way to meet people.”

Save the best job listings for future reference

Even after you’ve submitted your application for a job, you should still copy and paste or print the job listing for future reference. With many employers removing a position once they’ve received enough applicants, Dobroski says saving a job description can help you prepare for an interview when you want to look back on the qualifications needed.

Customize your resume to match each position you apply to

Even if you’re looking at jobs that are all within the same industry, it’s still important to tailor your resume so that it matches each specific job you apply to. By doing so, you give yourself a competitive edge over the resumes that hiring managers know are used for any and every job.

Don’t restate your resume in your cover letter

According to Glassdoor, your cover letter should not read like an extra copy of your resume. Instead, it should provide hiring managers with more background information about who you are and why you are a right fit for the position and the company. If a job application doesn’t specifically ask for a cover letter, it never hurts to send one anyway. It can be the determining factor that sets you apart from the rest of the competition.

Prepare for your interview

Before going on an interview, Glassdoor suggests jobs seekers do the following three things:

1. Research the company you are interviewing with and the work they do.
2. Practice answering tough and common interview questions beforehand.
3. Look up background information about the individual you are interviewing with.

Always ask questions

In addition to preparing yourself for how to properly answer an interview question, you should also prep yourself on what information you want to know from the interviewer. According to Glassdoor, if you don’t ask questions in an interview you can easily “run the risk of unintentionally appearing disengaged or uninterested.”

To show your interest, Glassdoor suggests asking questions about the growth opportunities at the company or inquiring about the biggest challenges people face working there.

Send a thank you note

To really stand out and show your appreciation for the interview, you should always send a follow up note thanking the hiring managers for taking time out of their schedule to meet with you. This note can be sent via email or snail mail, but Thompson says before sending you should triple check to make sure there are no grammatical errors and that all names are spelled correctly.

Information on our job search programs at the YWCA Employment and Learning Center can be found at:

Employment & Learning

You can view the full original article written by Courtney Connley / CNBC at: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/17/10-job-search-tips-for-landing-your-dream-role-in-2018.html