5 Job Search Tips

Whether you have just graduated college or you are looking to make a mid-career job switch, searching for a new employment opportunity can be frustrating. There are enough job-search websites to make your head spin and keeping hope can be difficult after weeks of applying without receiving a single call-back.

If you are ready to take your job-hunting to the next level and finally land that interview, try using these five tips.

 

Look online. While it shouldn't be your only resource, the internet is a good place to begin your job search. Websites such as Monster, CareerBuilder, and Indeed have tens of thousands of job openings, with hundreds more added each day. You can also look at niche job search sites tailored to your specific geographic location or industry.

Utilize your network. Besides the internet, your personal network is the best chance you have at finding a job. According to the Wall Street Journal, as much as 50% of all job openings are never actually advertised. Instead, these positions are filled based on the references of a company's current employees. If you are serious about finding a job, ask your friends and family members to inquire about open positions at their companies – you might just get a lead or two.

Perfect your resume and cover letter. When it comes to your job search, your resume and cover letter are your two most valuable tools. Check them for grammatical errors, double check them, then check them again. Tailor your resume and cover letter for the particular job you are applying for, don't just attach the same generic document to every application. For more tips on writing an effective resume, click here.

Clean up your social media profiles. Roughly 91% of all employers admit to checking an applicant's social media profiles during the hiring process. Questionable pictures, suspicious activity, and excessive profanity are all sure-fire ways to remove yourself from their list of qualified candidates.

Go the extra mile. When it comes to setting yourself apart from the rest, the little things make a big difference. Print out your resume on resume paper and use an original header that stands out. Do research to find the hiring manager's name instead of writing “to whom it may concern” on your cover letter. Always follow up an interview with a hand-written “thank you” note. Doing things like this can go a long way towards getting yourself hired.

Want more advice? Check out this series of articles from the Huffington Post if you are serious about landing a job!

The graduate schools at St. John’s University in New York City offer more than 60 graduate degree and professional certificate programs in five acclaimed colleges, a School of Law, and institute dedicated solely to the growing field of biotechnology. Our highly competitive advanced degree programs will challenge you to become the very best you can possibly be!