Job Search Tips For Finding The Perfect Job

Finding a job in today’s tough economic climate may be challenging, but it’s certainly possible. Your job search will be made easier by organising your resume, developing a great covering letter and using your networking skills to make contacts the get the job done, so to speak.

If you are on the job hunt due to general redundancy, downsizing, or simply seeking a change.. the following are some basic tips that are essential for anyone going through the job search process.

1. Update your resume. A well-written, updated resume is your first point of contact with a potential employer, so make sure it is void of any typographical errors or sloppy mistakes.


2. Also, make sure that it is not too wordy. Detailing the job duties of your first job 10 years ago is probably too much. Scale down your resume and include only the most pertinent information. The general rule to adhere to with resumes is no more than 3 pages – so keep it brief and to the point!  If you don’t feel you have the skills to write your own resume, there are plenty of professional resume writing services around that you can use to assist you.


3. Develop a convincing covering letter. Just like your resume, your covering letter must be well-written and pristine. If writing and spelling isn’t one of your strong suits, then find someone to proofread and edit it for you. Your covering letter should be clean, crisp and convincing. It should also be straightforward and exact; a wordy covering letter will do nothing more than lose the employer’s interest. Keep the covering letter to 1 page – absolute maximum! Any longer and you run the risk of losing the readers attention.


4. Network, network, network. Now is the time to begin calling business contacts, colleagues and friends.  Often times the best way to find a job is to simply start talking to people. Getting the word out is the best form of advertising for your job search.  Ensure that everyone you know is aware you are looking for work … and that they have a current contact phone number for you.


5. Check the employment job boards when you are job hunting, but don’t rely on them. Remember that if you are checking the job boards, so are thousands of others looking for employment.


6. Be prepared for an interview. If you are poorly prepared for an interview, your potential employer will naturally assume you would be unprepared to handle the job. Instead, do your homework and study the company beforehand so that you can come armed with information and a positive attitude.


7. Consider the services of a recruitment agency. Many recruitment agencies have contacts and resources to which you may not be privy. If your job search is not going as well as you had planned, you may want to consider the services of a recruitment agency to help you land a job. 


8. Ensure you have a voice message service on your phone – be it home or mobile.  You wont be able to take calls 24 hours a day and you never know when a call from a prospective employer may come through.  You want them to be able to leave a message so when you call them back you can be prepared. If an employer cannot get hold of you easily, they will simply move on to the next candidate.

Above all, don’t loose hope. The job search process can be frustrating and time consuming so ensure you have a good support network to help you get through it. If you are still having difficulty securing a full time position, then consider part time work while you carry out some more study to expand your skills and knowledge base.