The journey to find a job isn’t a straight line. Because there are so many options and alternative paths to learning skills, the hiring ecosystem has become challenging to manage. Most traditional routes of searching for careers have limitations, causing frustration and a lot of work on your part.
The modern hiring and recruiting landscape is creating a more equitable experience that allows you to highlight all of your abilities and attributes. As you move forward in your search, check out our expert advice for job seekers.
What To Do Before You Start Your Search
There are several things you should do before you start your job search. As you begin the search process, here are four pieces of advice for job seekers to consider:
- Define your career goals. If you aren’t sure what they are, you can identify them with assessments, discussions with career coaches or through introspection. Goals can change, but documenting them gives you a North Star to guide your way.
- Determine your strongest skills and aptitudes. Consider others you want to develop that correlate with in-demand jobs. Knowing what skills you need to possess for a specific role ensures you are a strong contender for that role.
- Research the industry and possible employers. Diving into research about the future of a vertical helps you evaluate its potential and security. Learning about leading companies in the space also improves your familiarity with the industry.
- Explore different careers to identify if they meet your goals. You don’t have to narrow your search to one specific job. You can evaluate several options to get a feel for the day-to-day and growth opportunities.
Watch the video below to get more insights on connecting your work-life goals and attaining the job you want.
Expert Advice for Job Seekers During the Search
Today’s job search can include many channels and options to find roles that align with your abilities and skills. Expanding how you search can deliver better results. Heed this career advice during the search.
- Don’t limit your search to job boards. You can devote and possibly waste a lot of time on these websites. Job boards often involve long application processes and no direct connection to the employer, and there’s no guarantee you’ll find the job you want there.
- Reach out to your network for support. Having professional connections and relationships can broaden your job search. Networking exposes you to jobs that aren’t on the boards; 70% of roles never get listed. A 2022 survey revealed that 42% of professionals found their current jobs through networking.
- Look for work opportunities on unique channels, such as social media. These sites have become a way to network virtually, and some companies use them to post jobs. They aren’t just using LinkedIn; employers are branching out with job posts on a variety of platforms.
- Attend events, such as job fairs or career-matching events. Job fairs are a well-known option, but their format caters to employers, not you. Career-matching events are different. They center around candidates, allowing them to have more impactful face time with companies and find out about in-demand jobs and the skills required for them.
- Ensure you’re showcasing all your attributes, abilities and attitudes beyond hard/technical skills. Soft skills are transferable across your career path, and companies find them to be just as valuable as hard skills. Highlight all the things that make you a great fit for a job.
If these traditional job-seeking options aren’t working, you’ll want to rethink your approach. The emerging way to meet your work-life goals is to use a career-matching platform, such as pepelwerk. It’s a people-centered, revolutionary way to connect job seekers with employers.
How Skills-Matching Software Works
The pepelwerk platform has a foundation in skills for career matching. It uses artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to match candidates to jobs. You create one profile that covers all your skills and capabilities. Employers create defined job profiles that document the capabilities needed to succeed in the role. Based on this data, matches are made — no resumes or applications required!
The best career advice we can give to job seekers is to use a career-matching platform. These platforms are people-centered and present all your qualities, and you’ll have a much better candidate experience. Communication is regular and consistent, and the platform serves as the place for interviews and follow-ups.
Recommendations for the Interview and Follow-Up
You’ve got the interview. Now it’s time to ensure that you’re the most attractive candidate.
Follow these interview best practices:
- Do your research on the company and be prepared to ask questions.
- Focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your qualifications.
- Complete a practice run of the interview through role-playing.
- Remember to relax and be kind.
Post-interview, you send a follow-up thank-you note and reiterate your interest. At this point, things often come to a halt. Many employers don’t offer feedback or update you on the process. You may feel “ghosted” in this scenario.
However, job-matching platforms streamline the process and keep communication flowing so you know where things stand.
Job Hunting in the 21st Century Presents Challenges and Opportunities
While the ways to get a job have multiplied, they’re not all the same in terms of experience and opportunity. Some present more challenges and have you playing the resume game. Job-matching technology, such as pepelwerk, is different. Take our advice — learn more about this career search revolution.