How To Find A Job In A Competitive Market
How To Find A Job In A Competitive Market
With the job market being volatile in nature, it can sometimes be a job in itself to find a job. The tech sector was especially hit hard as of 2023 due to various FAANG employee layoffs. Whether you are simply seeking new employment opportunities or you have been laid off, finding a job is not always easy. Although the tips in this blog post are specific to the tech sector, they can be applicable to other fields. So, in such a competitive job market, how can you find a job?
Search While Employed
The best time to find a new job is while you’re still employed. This way you are not desperate for any job and you can hone your search to employment you desire. Take advantage of your current situation while you’re still bringing in an income. If you have been laid off and your company has given you a severance package that includes income and benefits, use this to your advantage. Looking for a job is now your full-time job.
Job Resources
Some resources you can use to find jobs are ZipRecruiter, Indeed, and LinkedIn. These are platforms that you can use to showcase your professional identity, search for jobs, and let recruiters find you.
Take Advantage Of Premium Subscriptions Trials
LinkedIn has a premium career subscription that helps you to see your competition with statistics, among many other advantages. They offer a one month free trial which may just be enough time for you to find the job you desire.
With LinkedIn Premium you can get access to LinkedIn Learning which allows you to take courses to build your skills. Premium also gives you applicant insights to show you how many applicants applied for a specific position and where you fall among other applicants.
Utilize Artificial Intelligence
We live in a digital age with technology at our fingertips. With the rise of artificial intelligence, some people utilize ChatGPT to revise and personalize their resume or cover letter. Since many applicant tracking systems (ATS) scan resumes that are in a Word or PDF format, make sure your resume is in the right format with appropriate keywords before applying. Of course, human intervention should still be involved and you should review anything generated by AI and tailor it to your personality. AI can be a great asset to help you in your job search.
Automate Your Job Search
Automating certain aspects of your life can be beneficial, especially in your job search. A few ways that you can automate your job search is to set job alerts for specific keywords depending on the platform you are using. These job alerts can be sent as a push notification or an email. The alerts can notify you about new jobs that fit your criteria or if your application has been viewed.
Social Networking
LinkedIn is a business social network, use it to your advantage – without shame. You are marketing yourself after all. Having an online presence can benefit you in your job search. This is your digital footprint.
On LinkedIn you can connect with and/or message recruiters from job posts you apply to and companies you want to work for. Don’t be afraid to reach out to recruiters and mention your interest in a job at their company. This can get you seen if there are many applicants. Even if you use LinkedIn to search for jobs, strive to apply directly on the company’s website if possible that way you bypass the middleman. Also, take into consideration the job post date. The earlier you apply before the influx of applicants, the better your odds are of being seen.
You can also let your friends and family know that you are open to work, referrals, and letters of recommendation.
Be Flexible
I understand that some people prefer working remotely and others prefer working on-site, but when it comes to your job search it is important to be flexible. If you’re able to find your dream job that meets 100% of your criteria, more power to you. But just as we live in an imperfect world, you sometimes have to be flexible with your requirements.
I have seen some LinkedIn posts of people who say that they cannot find a job. But a hard requirement that they listed is that it has to be remote. Filtering your search to only remote work may be impacting your odds of finding a job because many other people want to work remotely too. So you now have more competition. Many jobs that are remote are remote across the USA. You are literally competing with applicants in the entire country who applied to this job.
To reduce your competition it may benefit you to be open to working hybrid or on-site even if it’s less convenient. Also working a hybrid schedule can be a middle ground. Since hybrid and on-site roles are typically local, you have now reduced your competition to only those who live within the vicinity. You may even have the leverage to request that a hybrid or remote schedule be built into your job offer.
Prepare For Interviews
First impressions matter more than anyone can admit. Make sure before having an interview you know what kind it is – phone or video. Do brief research about the company and notate key points. This can include the type of company, company culture, reviews, and any news about the company. Nearly all companies have a website so all of this information can be easy to find. Have a few relevant questions ready to ask which can be an indicator of your interest. Be prepared to give a high-level overview of your experience and skills. If you know there is going to be a technical interview panel, prepare for that and brush up on the requirements outlined in the job description.
When it comes to scheduling, schedule interviews during times when you are least distracted. If possible a quiet, illuminated, and bare background such as a home library or library study room can suffice.
Dress for the occasion. There may not be a need especially in initial interviews to wear a suit and tie but make sure your clothing is neat and professional.
Beware Of Scams
When job searching beware of scam job posts. A few ways to detect this is to research the company online, check the company website, and do not respond to personal email domains offering jobs. There are various ways to verify a company’s legitimacy.
You may want to remove your address from your resume and strictly put your city or state to reduce your personal information from getting in the wrong hands, especially if your resume is on a job board. You can also use a Google Voice number instead of your real number as an extra measure of protection since your phone number can reveal information about you.
When it comes to scams, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
Continuing Education
In your job search take advantage of using any spare time you have to learn. Being bilingual can serve as an advantage to you in the job market. You can learn a new language for free using Mango Languages or Duolingo.
There are also some good books to occupy your time that can give you additional tips on your job search. The 2-Hour Job Search is a good book that offers recommendations to help you search for a job and learn how to ride the trends in the modern market. To brighten your perspective on your job search another great book is “Everything Is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo and this mantra can be applicable to many aspects of life. Regardless of the circumstances that put you on the job market, that too is figureoutable.
“Every pro starts off as an amateur. There’s not one top artist, athlete, writer, scientist, architect, entrepreneur, programmer, musician, or potter who enters the field at the top of her game. To begin anything new or learn anything new means you will be a neophyte. Be willing to suck. Remember that gal that gave up? Neither does anyone else.”
— Marie Forleo