The resume you used five years ago won’t make it through today’s electronic applicant screening process. These systems pick out keywords that are relevant to the position being advertised, and resumes with certain formatting are more likely to be forwarded for review by a person. If digital resumes are outside your expertise, leave this task to resume specialists.
Letting your Facebook friends and Twitter followers know you are in the market for new opportunities is a good start, but the real action is on LinkedIn. Upload a professional photograph, solicit written recommendations from current and former colleagues, and establish yourself as an expert in your field through regular business-related posts.
While applying for jobs online is a critical part of your search, there is something to be said for old-fashioned calls and visits. When you see a help-wanted sign, stop in and say hello to the manager. If a contact number is listed for the position, call and introduce yourself. In today’s job market, the personal touch has been lost, so when you bring it back, you’ll quickly outshine your competition.
You never know who is hiring, and any number of people are aware of job openings in their own place of employment. Tell every person you talk to, from friends and family to the local bartender, that you are in search of a job. Attend business-related events and social gatherings to boost your chances of coming into contact with the right person at the right time.
