How to Survive the Job Hunt when Dealing with Technology
As the calendar year prepares to wrap up in the next two months and a new year is on the horizon so are the opportunities to think about what is next.
For some people it means a milestone in some form be it graduation, a wedding or even a new baby. All these events while wonderful milestones have at least one thing in common, work. In that work means that a job of some sort must pay for these things to happen. But what happens when you’ve reached a point in your life where you must find a job if you are need one or are looking for one. How can you compete in the working world when adding the digital age to the mix? What’s changed? Listed below are a few things to think about when reentering the job hunt. But before getting to the list always remember if you are willing to keep looking and remain on the hunt eventually something good will happen.
1. Get Social
Are you on it?
Some sites claim that it really helps that as you are in pursuits of a new job that hiring managers be able to find you. This means if you aren’t on LinkedIn it’s time to get an account and to set it up well. Make sure you’re active on it and please add a profile picture to give the hiring manager something to work with. And if you don’t know what LinkedIn is then take this as an opportunity to educate yourself and get caught up.
2. Mailing in An Application Need Not Apply
There’s no need for a stamp
Rarely now will a company of any kind want an applicant to send in an application through the mail. The only way that may happen is if you make it past the first round. Therefore, be prepared to do either all or the majority of your job applications online through either the company website or through public job classified websites like Indeed.com.
3. Be Prepared for the Silent Rejection
Silence is the answer
Because there are so many people looking for work for a variety of reasons there will be times where you simply won’t hear a word from a job prospect. Accept that this will happen at some point in your job search and to not take it personally but rather use it as a chance to learn and move on to something greater by continuing to search. In most cases the average time to give for any job that you’ve applied to is two weeks. If you haven’t heard from anyone, let it go.
4. Be prepared to expand your network
If the people you already know haven’t helped you it’s time for a new approach.
Use the internet to your advantage and don’t let the hiring managers have all the power. There are so many ways to find out about new jobs that are done in person like at a networking event. Networking events happen anywhere from social mixers at bars hosted by certain companies to gatherings happening any day of the week that can be found from visiting sites like Eventbrite and seeing what’s happening in your town. You don’t have to just apply online see what else is out there.
5. Typing and answering the phone are no longer the only key skills
Having a great speed for typing and answering the phone are not enough anymore. One must be prepared to be friends with technology.
If you know that technology is not your forte and that can be a factor for you to get hired find ways such as reaching out to your local library or community center for assistance. In this technology advanced information aged no one can afford to not be up to date with their skills.
6. Staying Relevant
Who’s dating who?
Depending on your age and interest it may help to have an icebreaker on your hands when it comes to the job hunt. Find things that can make for light conversation in the interview and possibly in application by just knowing something well of popular culture. It’s the little stuff that may catch a hiring manager’s eye.
7. Key Words are Essential
When working on a cover letter it may help to have key words that match what is being asked for in the position as many jobs now have human resources people barely looking at applicants due to the high volume. Gone are the days where you can just write a simple note these days the stuff has got to stick out from the crowd on a bigger level.
8. Age is a big factor
Whether your hair has gray in it or you’re fresh out of college your age can be a factor in your hiring.
Be prepared to have to encounter this as you job hunt and figure out a way to make that work for you in this digital age. In truth your age isn’t a problem for you, but you must be prepared to sell it to the employer the benefits of having you no matter the age to that company. Own your life experiences and watch what happens.
9. Be careful with your Aggressiveness
Easy there, applicant
As times have changed no one can simply go up to an office building and leave a resume. These days it is best to avoid showing that side as much as possible. Hiring managers and heads of companies are harassed all the time from eager applicants try your best to refrain from being that person.
10. Expect the Dance
Rarely is anyone hired very quickly anymore so come prepared to know that it may take a while to land anything whether you have a lot of experience, some experience or very little. Be prepared and embrace that it will indeed take you some time to find something. It doesn’t mean you like the wait it just means you acknowledge that you’re not the only one looking for work.
