On The Hunt: Tips For Your Next Job Search

Job hunting is a daunting task, whether you are looking for a replacement for your current job, are looking for a second job, or you’ve been unemployed for quite some time. With unemployment at only 4.1 percent in the U.S. it would seem that finding a new job would be easy, but that’s not necessarily the case.
I’ve personally found the job market to be extremely competitive in the career areas that I’m interested in. At times I’ve been frustrated and I have worked hard to fix my broken ego, thanks to the numerous rejection emails I’ve faced on my job searching journey.
Here are some tips that I hope can help others who are on the hunt for a new job.
Use job searching apps
Using job searching apps can help you keep track of where you’ve applied and can also keep you updated on new jobs when they are posted. I personally have loved Indeed, because it has options to stay organized, allows you to save specific searches, and you can opt in for email alerts when new jobs are available. LinkedIn is another great website, and it makes it easy to apply to jobs as long as your profile is complete. Don’t forget word of mouth as well, also known as networking! Talk to your friends, people in the business you’re interested in. Social media sites are great to use as well when searching for jobs.
Revise, revise, revise
It’s important to make sure your resume is tailored for the particular job you’re looking for. Change key words to ones that are in the job description, and make sure your job duties are consistent with what that particular job posting is looking for. Are you writing cover letters? Don’t just use the same one and change the name of the company on it. Just like the resume, make sure you pull specific words and phrases from the job posting and put it into your cover letter.
Stay organized
Make a spreadsheet and keep track of where you apply, your responses, who you’ve talked to, their title and contact info., etc. I’ve personally used Google Sheets so that I can access the spreadsheet anywhere. You can tailor it to your needs, but I found that keeping track of the date I applied, the company and job title I applied for, as well as any important notes, and contact information that I came across helped me in my search.
Be willing to relocate
Is your dream job hundreds of miles from home? It might be time to pack up and move. You can always move back home after a few years, or who knows, you might love where you’ve moved to.
Have faith in yourself and your abilities
With applying to jobs comes rejection. Sometimes you won’t face any, and other times it may seem like no one wants to hire you. Try not to take it personally—your self worth should not be reliant on whether or not you’re hired to a job. And you will find the job that is the perfect fit for both you and the employer. These things can take time, and a little patience goes a long way.
Job searching can be a daunting, hopeless task, but I hope that these tips can help in your endeavor. There is a job out there for you. Keep on pushing and stay positive.
What job searching tips do you think I missed? Leave them in the comments.