Good and Bad Ways to Look For A Job

Sooner or later, student life comes to an end after one graduates from an educational establishment. That's when the job search skills will come in handy. This article is meant to give some insight into ways to look for a job. According to the recent findings it takes from 1 to 6 months to get employed depending on what you do to land that job. In average, job seekers spend 25 weeks to get hired according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While these numbers may be lower for entry level positions, the principle remains the same - it takes time and effort to get a good job. The aforementioned numbers mean that what you do and how you look for a job matters as it will define the amount of time you will spend being in the status of a job seeker. In this article we are going to look at some of the most common tactics people use to get hired. Some of the ways are great and effective while others will just waste your time.

Available Job Search Tactics

1. Using job boards. This one is probably path number one job seekers take when they need to find a new job. They just go to multiple job boards surfing through different job postings and sending their resume to different employers. Surprisingly enough, this method works about 5% of the time. Sadly, but this method use the majority of people looking for a job hoping that somehow quantity will convert to interview invitations and, eventually, job offers. That said, we should also add that job boards are not useless at all. Roy Maclaughlin, a career expert from Prime-Resume, claims job boards can actually help a lot, only not in the conventional sense of using them as a platform to send out resumes.
2. Going to employment agencies for help. When it comes to employment agencies, one has to be careful since they all vary in their staffing: there are some who have very competent people who can make a difference in a job search but there are also those agencies who are inept. This approach is more effective as you rely not simply on your resume but on the help of people who are professionals and who know how to use your resume better (in case you turn to a good employment agency, not a scam-like firm).
3. Answering newspaper ads. This method can work when job seekers usually target local newspapers and, as a result, local companies who are seeking to hire new people. This method works best for those who are okay with low-level salary jobs. It doesn't do much good for those who are after managerial positions that offer a very good pay.
4. Meeting employers where they look for workers. If you go to places where employers usually pick up new workers, you may have a decent chance to get a job. This tactic is a must-try for those who are union members with access to union hiring halls. But because not many private sector employers are union members today, by far not everybody can make use of this opportunity.
5. Emailing your resume to employers directly. This one doesn't require much on behalf of the job seekers, therefore, so many people like using this method. Write your resume, find the right company, email it - as simple as that. But with this approach, you still have a very little chance to receive an interview invitation. One study suggests that only one out of 1500 resumes results in an actual job offer when this method is used.
6. Generating job leads. Ask your family members and friends whether they know of a company that is looking for a person with your experience and skills. While you may feel awkward when doing so, you should know that this approach works better than any of those listed above. If you can get a friend (who is already working in the company) arrange an interview for you, then you would significantly boost your chances on getting a job.
7. Going directly to the employer. Not many job seekers choose this path because it feels even more awkward than when previous method is used. You leave your comfort zone, meet the potential employer where it is, and ask whether they have any job openings. Obviously, there are certain things you should do and say in order for this method to be effective but this should be a different blog post. But if used correctly, this approach will probably open more doors for you than you can think of.

Final Thoughts on Job Search Strategy

In order for a job search campaign to be successful, one has to understand that it is all about employers. For many years people were writing resumes to brag about their own accomplishments (whether made up or real) without even relating them to a specific job or employer. These days every job search effort, including your resume or any other application document should be tailored to meet the specific needs of employers. Job seekers today need to learn how to leave their comfort zone (their comfy sofas and computers) and meet employers where they are. Having a good resume isn't enough anymore.