5 Powerful Tips For a Fresh Job-Search You Didn’t Know About

In 2010, the average U.S. unemployed devoted 41 minutes to job search on weekdays, exceeding their European counterparts. Online job search in 2013 yielded only 8% per cent success rate, though only 29.9% of job vacancies were searched online.

Notwithstanding your decision to change career, boosted by an intimidating resume and an impressive set of skills, your next dream job starts with a search. To stand out in a competitive market place and differentiate, here are some five ways for a fresh job-search you probably haven’t tried and likely underutilized by your competitors:

1. Follow Your Passion:

Organizations like to recruit people who have intimate connections and can passionately identify with their brands and services. This emotional link with a brand can make you stand out in interviews. You can start by looking at the products and services in your household. You obviously love those products to spend so much on them every month. The culture behind the organizations producing these products likely resonates with your values. Use this as an alternative job search strategy by connecting with the people and their lifestyle.

2. Join a Network of Professionals:

Almost every industry has an association where you can network with professionals in your target industry. These associations provide industry and marketplace tools like bulletins, career fairs, tradeshows, job boards and business journals as launch pads for potential careers. These associations enhance exchange of networking talents and ideas in mutually beneficial ways. It doesn’t stop at who you know but who knows you too. ‘Give and take’ is a fundamental principle of all enduring relationships, networking and job search inclusive.

3. Recruit The Recruiter:

Refuse to be entirely laid back during interviews. Be technically and intellectually offensive with rippling insight, questions and profound data about the company out of your personal research, even if you went through multiple interview sessions only to be turned down at the last minute. Be grateful to the panel for expending so much time and resources quizzing you many times. Ask for feedbacks and recommendations, be specific and deliberate in your strategy. Inquire about the availability of similar positions or openings while keeping an eye how to foster a relationship with some members of the panel by asking for their business cards.

4. Attend Business Happenings:

Conferences, exhibitions and career fairs provide ample opportunity for recruiters and potential employee to distillate and make a memorable impression. You will convince your intending employers of your passion for their company by attending industry events. You will enrich your knowledge about the organization’s culture, values and brands. When asked; How did you here about us? Simply say you did your research about the company both online and offline. It signifies great intent and focus.

5. Engage With Social Media:

Job search and the dream job increasingly becoming social. For example, you can leverage on the search tools available on most social media sites to look up previous employees who used to work in your intending company. On LinkedIn, you can type “Former employees of so, so company”, “Past accountants of XYZ company”. This will no doubt provide insights and new leads about the career progression of past employees, the company’s culture, job recruitment preferences of employers and how you can leverage on this to differentiate yourself.

Good luck in your job search!