Looking for work can be difficult, but there are many ways to make your job search more efficient and effective. Tools such as the internet and social media have made it easy to find out information and connect with people, which is why we’ve gathered some tips here to help you create the best possible resume that you can.
Many employers use pre-designed templates or generic resumes when reviewing applications so this article will focus on how to design your own unique career summary document or résumé. We'll also go into detail about what content makes the most sense to include and how to optimize your profile photo.
Produce good quality work
Even if you are an experienced professional, it is not okay to put in poor quality work when applying for jobs. If you feel that your effort does not look nice or professional enough, then you should probably re-do it!
We, as professionals, need to set an example for other people. We show up at our job every day, so how we dress, what we use, and how we present ourselves can have a lasting effect on our career and personal life.
As such, even though there is no way of knowing what someone will think of your resume or your cover letter until you send them, you should make sure that they will appreciate the detail that you include and believe in the value that you bring to the workplace.
Producing low quality work may help you get a chance to be interviewed, but it could hurt you in the long run by making you lose confidence in yourself and your skills.
Develop your skills
Even if you are already working in related fields, it is important to keep learning new things and developing your skills.
There are many ways to develop your professional skill set. You can take courses at colleges or universities, organize conferences or seminars, study books that focus on improving your profession, and even get hired as an apprentice so that you can learn from someone more experienced.
By adding these resources into your daily life, you will be making progress towards advancing your career while also having fun doing it. Plus, being surrounded by other professionals who are willing to share knowledge with you is a very powerful thing!
Connect with a mentor
One of the most effective ways to develop your career is by having mentors, or people who you can learn from and get help from. Professionals have mentorship programs at their workplace that offer guidance to those seeking employment in theirs.
These mentorship relationships are very important because it gives you direct access to someone more experienced than yourself. The person providing advice may even be able to steer you towards an opportunity with them!
By establishing such a relationship, you increase your chances of being selected for a job vacancy. By spending time with your mentor, they will also provide you with insights into how they got where they are now and tips and tricks for developing your own skills.
Mentors are not only helpful to employees, but they also play a significant role in helping employers find workers. This is why there are so many opportunities to connect with others in the workplace. It’s never too early or late to start looking for a mentor, even if you’re already employed.
Personalize your resume
Even if you use templates, it is not okay to just leave them in place! You have to customize the template to make it relevant for different positions and employers.
Most career experts agree that while using templates is good, trying to take what people already have and putting your own spin on it will not work. It may even hurt your chances of being hired because you do not add value to the company or yourself by simply copying and pasting.
There are many ways to personalize a template. You can include your life achievements, emphasize skills that match the position, relate experiences to those positions, highlight potential strengths, etc.
And remember, be honest! Hiding information or omitting things only makes you look dishonest.
Link it to what you are doing online
Starting your search for employment does not have to be expensive or complicated, there are many ways to create a great resume that can be accessed free of cost. Many websites offer easy tools to make a professional looking resume quickly.
There are several good resources available to anyone who needs help creating a career changing document. Creating your own personal profile is an excellent way to begin shaping your image as an employee.
By adding yourself onto social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, you are giving people a look into your life. More than likely, someone will connect with you due to something you said or done.
If you add value to other’s conversations, then they may talk about you and how you could advance in your career.
Make a website
It’s not enough to just create your resume online anymore, you might even have to make yourself a web page as well!
Creating a website for your career is an excellent way to get more exposure for your professional self and brand.
It’s like having your own profile on all of the major job search sites at once — Monster, Indeed, Glassdoor, and now yours!
By creating your own user-friendly platform, you will gain credibility in the workplace that includes posting jobs, setting up notifications, and offering tips and advice to employers looking to hire.
Furthermore, many companies offer their employees the opportunity to apply through their company site or via mobile apps, so adding content to your site can help you look more professionally connected.
There are plenty of free tools you can use to quickly draft, edit, and launch your new website, which also do most of the hard work for you.
We recommend using Google Suite accounts to easily access and share documents, email, and other digital resources.
Practice interviewing
As mentioned before, hiring managers look very closely at your interview performance when making their decision whether to offer you employment. Therefore, it is important that you pay close attention to every detail of the conversation, and how you respond to questions.
Interviews are two-way conversations, so make sure to emphasize this during the preparation process. Also, be aware of what things are not allowed in the workplace and if these items come up, prepare a response!
It’s also worth noting that most employers will ask about previous work experiences as well as hobbies and activities. These can be done either through an attached document or via talking about them.
In regard to the first, do not send the original documents, instead pick out some new ones and upload them. This way you keep it fresh and do not get nervous thinking about going back and changing everything.
For the second, just focus on having fun and being yourself. Though you should avoid talking too much about past adventures unless they relate to the position you are applying for.
Prepare job applications
Many companies offer professional services such as drafting your own resume, helping you design it, editing it, and even preparing it for application via their connections. Or they will give you tips and tricks on how to improve it yourself!
By using these resources, along with yours, you will be up to speed in career changing skills in no time!
