Top tips for the job searching process

Finding a job is a long and strenuous process. You go from drafting cover letters and resumes to applying for jobs to interviewing for any number of roles. There may even be second, third, or fourth round interviews depending on the amount of competition.

There are plenty of steps you can take to boost your chances of success and secure your next role faster. In this article, we discuss five tips to boost your job searching process. 

Determine your core values

Your core values can mean many things. It might refer to what you bring to the table or what you want in a career/employer. Core values are the foundation of who you are. Your skills and experiences further layer on top of your core values to create your complete package.

For example, a person whose core values are work-life balance often applies to different jobs than someone who wants to make the most money possible. If your core values don’t match with a potential employer or role, it may be best for both sides to go their separate ways.

As you go through the job searching process, ensure that you’re applying to employers who have core values that match with yours. This can increase your chance of being hired and ensure you’ll enjoy your role at the company. 

Don’t box yourself into one passion

We sometimes fall into a trap, thinking we need to be specific about our goals and aspirations, especially in a career. Whether you’re a new grad or have years of work experience, you may think your only option is to start or to continue as an accountant or dev ops engineer. However, industries are rapidly changing. Employers are frequently creating novel roles, while traditional roles become obsolete. 

It’s okay to apply to roles outside your ideal position or generalize your area of expertise. Instead of only applying to accounting jobs, you can generalize your job search to roles within finance. It’s not uncommon that an employer wants someone with a strong accounting background for a finance role. You may also find new challenges by pivoting to a new line of work. 

Reach out for an informational interview

When you apply to a job online, your application often goes through a bot system and low and mid-level human resource people before it even reaches the hiring manager. With so many applications, your resume can get lost in the weeds. 

To set yourself apart, try reaching out to people in the organization who are in your aspirational role. Even better, try to reach out to the hiring manager. Setting up an informational interview where you learn more about the company and role can help you better decide whether the company and position fit you. It also helps you get your foot in the door and past all the bot systems and human resource people. 

Interviews are conversations—not pitches

You may want to approach an interview as a pitch and try your best to memorize the company’s core values and script how you tell the other side about your achievements. However, this is rarely the way to go. 

By staging your interview as a conversation rather than a memorization test, you can create a better relationship with your interviewer. It can help both of you get more comfortable with the process and ultimately land you the job offer. 

Creating a conversation includes preparing your questions — not just answering the interviewer’s. Go beyond generic, fact-based questions, such as what the role entails or what the salary is. Try to find their opinions by asking questions such as:

  • What do you like about the company?
  • How does someone succeed in this role? 
  • What do you look for in an ideal candidate? 

These questions are open-ended and can help you continue or enhance the conversation with the hiring manager. 

Remember the “thank you” email

Interviewing is a challenging process for both you and the employer. After the interview, you should promptly send a follow-up email to thank the individual for their time and recollect some parts of your conversation. This can leave a lasting positive impression on them and help ensure your name is at the top of their list.

The job search process is no easy task. We hope that these tips can ultimately help you land your dream jobs. 

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