Searching for a job or an internship can be a job on its own and at times can seem like a process filled with roadblocks when employers do not reach back out to you for an interview.
So how do you manage the job search and stay motivated when you are not receiving feedback that could lead to a potential opportunity? The key is for you to trust the process which means taking the proper approach in the job search to market yourself effectively and being confident that you are taking all the necessary steps to reach your career goals.
The question then becomes “How do you ensure you are taking the proper steps in the job search so that you can just trust the process?” Well it first starts with evaluating how you have you gone about the search thus far. That includes looking over your resume, cover letter, networking approaches and overall resources being used to uncover potential opportunities. Your professional documents such as your resume and cover letter are your marketing tools; you must ensure that they are catered specifically to your field and are tweaked based on the job description obtained.
You always hear that employers only look at a resume for about 15 seconds, which means you have to be strategic in getting their attention. This is why if you structure your resume and cover letter by highlighting experiences relevant to the position and details on how you have developed transferable skills needed for this opportunity, then you are more likely to be called for an interview. A good question to ask you is, “If I were the hiring manager for this position, what would I be looking for in applicant?” Then read your documents to see if the areas you identified were showcased on your resume or cover letter. If you are unable to find them on your documents, you need to ask yourself if you would hire yourself for that position.
It is tedious to change your resume based on the job, but remember this also sends a message to the employer that you are passionate about the opportunity and have a strong work ethic as not everyone would be taking such a strategic approach in the application process. In addition, by writing detailed cover letters for each opportunity, you will create an avenue to tell you story, which the resume does not offer because it is not written in narrative format and is more focused on just stating what you have done. The cover letter connects what you have done to what the employer needs from this position and explaining how you can bring value to their organization.
You also must stay organized during the job search and be prepared to take a proactive approach in meeting with employers. Let’s say you start the job search on Monday and apply to about five to seven positions a day. By the end of the week, that list of potential jobs is pretty extensive, which can be a problem if you do not organize yourself accordingly. How embarrassing would it be to answer an employer’s phone call and confusing the organization for another job you applied to earlier that week?
A great way to organize your job search is to create an Microsoft Excel document where you can have multiple columns including jobs applied, name of employer, date applied, company website URL, link to job description, and even a date to follow up with the employer, which should be at least 7 business days after applying. This approach not only makes the job search easier but will also help you avoid any confusion with employers or applications submitted.
You do not want to spend the entire job search process applying to jobs as they appear. As a professional, you must take a proactive approach to uncover what some in the industry describe as the hidden job market. Make a hit list of companies you would love to work for and begin reaching out strategically to these professionals. One way of being proactive in the job search is conducting what’s commonly known as an informational interview. An informational interview is a strategic way of gaining valuable information about a certain profession, while networking with employers. Another option to be proactive in the job search is attending a conference or career fair, a great way to interact and network with professionals, share experiences and position yourself for potential opportunities, as long as you’re prepared, confident and know how to best tackle the experience.
Overall, the job search can be filled with road blocks and can seem discouraging at times. But if you continuously take all the necessary steps to market yourself effectively and proactively and engage employers through a variety of avenues, you will need to trust the process that will lead to you reaching your career goals.
