Best Practices For Online Job Search
If you’ve applied for a job within the past decade, you’ve probably done it online.
With that being said, you might think that you’re an old pro at this, but that is not necessarily the case. There are plenty of tricks of the trade that you need to keep in mind when you are looking for a job virtually that tend to slip through the cracks.
Keep these Tips in mind when you are applying for jobs, and start applying.
Pick a Decent Job Search Site
Not all job search sites are created equal. One may lead you to your next dream job, and another may lead you to a bunch of scams and load of spam email.
Make sure that you do your research to find the best job search sites in the biz. Typically, LinkedIn and Indeed are going to be some of your best bets.
Take Interviews Just as Seriously
If you are going to be interviewed remotely using a tool like Zoom or Skype, you need to treat it just as seriously as if it were an in-person interview.
This means that you need to dress for the occasion! Wear professional business attire. Yes, this means you still need to wear pants. Comb/brush your hair, trim your facial hair and look your best.
Also, you need to prep your interview space. By conducting a remote interview, you are inviting the interviewer into your home. This means that whatever they see reflects you. Make sure that there isn’t anything messy or cluttered in your area, or anything unsavory in the background.
Keep Your Options Open
When you search for jobs online, you are opening yourself up to an entire world of jobs, including ones that you might not have considered in the past.
Just because these jobs didn’t catch your attention before, does not mean that you shouldn’t consider them now.
A few years back, I was looking for an editor’s job for a magazine or newspaper. After all hope seemed lost, I was offered a job to serve as an editor for an online publication. I had helped run websites for newspaper in the past, but I was unfamiliar with running an entirely online publication. This helped spark my love SEO, it introduced me to working remotely and it was one of the most fulfilling jobs of my life.
None of that would have been possible had I not kept my options open. Don’t be too picky and choosy, and allow yourself to take a chance!
Your Resume and Cover Letter are More Important Than Ever
At most, here is everything job posters will see when you send in an application:
- Your resume
- Your cover letter
- A questionnaire
- Your online portfolio
- An assessment of your skills
- An online profile
Typically, you will only be asked for your resume and cover letter more often than naught. This means that your resume and cover letter are by far the most important tools on your belt, and they need to be sharp.
If you need help with your resume and cover letter, we are the pros for the job! Check out our online schedule, and get a free consultation to meet with a resume writing professional! All services can be rendered virtually during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Make Use of Your Contacts
Take a look at your connections on LinkedIn or your friends on Facebook. Now, ask yourself which of them have jobs that you would love, or which of them you might want to work for some day.
Well… why not talk to them?
If you have some solid contacts, you should consider talking to them about the type of work you are looking for. Worst-case scenario: they can’t help you and the conversation is over. Best-case scenario: they get you a job!