Ways to Pursue a Job

Using the jobs portal on your job seeker website is a good place to start but certainly not the only place for you to search for your next, better paying job. There are many different ways to look for work; some are generally more effective than others, but each has its advantages. More effective ways often involve a higher degree of human connection. Employing more than one technique will probably help you reach your desired result sooner, so consider at least three to use when reading through the sections below:

-            Where else to find jobs

-            Working with a recruiter

-            Ways to search through networking

Where else to find jobs

In addition to any job postings accessible directly from your job seeker website, as demonstrated with CareerForce in the previous post, there are several other places to look for your next higher paying job. I strongly recommend you review What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles, which has a whole chapter that talks about several ways to look for a job and how effective each one tends to be. Believe it or not, Bolles finds that applying online for a job is actually one of the least effective ways to get a job interview! That said, one good thing about online job postings is that reviewing them for your desired role can help you get a stronger sense of the qualifications that employers are looking for in that role. Get a copy of the book from the library, a friend, or a bookstore and read this chapter to learn more about the 11 different approaches Bolles explains.

One good place to look for jobs that surprisingly is not mentioned in the chapter (at least in the 2019 edition) is job and career fairs. You can visit one of these and find several employer booths with people you can introduce yourself to and talk to, and they will frequently offer you literature you can review later to learn more about jobs in their organization. Dress professionally when attending one of these events and bring many copies of your resume printed on resume paper (maybe a dozen or two). Carry them in a professional looking portfolio (a document holder with pockets for pens, a paper notepad, business cards, and other accessories) and offer a copy of your resume if you talk with someone about a job opening that sounds like a good fit.

Working with a recruiter

While you need to be careful about ensuring the recruiting company you partner with is legitimate and has a good reputation, working with a recruiter does have a few advantages. First, the recruiter and their company will have some knowledge of job openings at a company that you won’t find online. Second, they have a financial incentive to help you find work with one of their clients. Of course, you should consider that this incentive means they’re looking to place you in the first role where you’ll do well enough so they can bill the client for an extended period of time; they’re not necessarily looking for the best fit for you. Also, know that while some recruiting companies will provide you with some support after you’ve been hired to work at a client company, many will not and you shouldn’t expect it unless they explicitly say they are going to provide that support.

The big concept here is for you to try harnessing someone else’s incentive to make money by getting you placed into a better paying job.

Ways to search through networking

Simply put, networking is your best tool for finding a better paying job. Networking for a new job can take many forms, however. Advantages of networking include learning about job openings before they are posted online and networked connections being taken more seriously than unknown online applicants. This is another reason to proactively network before you need help in the future, as mentioned in the recent networking post.

In the parachute book, examples of networking include joining job clubs, visiting federal or state employment offices for assistance, asking people you know if they’re aware of any job openings for your role, or visiting small employers of 25 or fewer employees directly (my note: especially consider this if there’s a “now hiring” banner or flag outside the building).

Conclusion

There are lots of jobs out there and many ways to find them. Taking the time to learn about the different places to find jobs is a worthwhile activity. Be open-minded and willing to try a variety of different approaches, learning what you can from each and improving the effectiveness of your job hunt with what you learn. Working with other people is the single best thing you can do regardless of how you try to get your next, better paying job; don’t try to find a job in isolation because you’re proud or embarrassed to tell others you’re looking for new work. Finally, always stay alert for ways you can help others in the process of your job search along with how they could possibly help you.

Learn about and implement at least three different approaches to finding job openings for your desired role today!

The next step on the roadmap: Coming soon – stay tuned!