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5 Tips for Job Searching

By Marbella Miller

A recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report stated that more than 38 million workers quit their jobs in 2021. This phenomenon coined the phrase The Great Resignation. Of the many reasons for the walkouts, the top reason was because the pandemic made them feel like “life is too short to stay in a job they weren't passionate about,” according to an Indeed survey.

With this mass job exodus came a cornucopia of open positions. In fact, BLS reported that there were approximately 11 million job openings as of October 31, 2021. While the myriad of vacant positions creates a massive arena of employment opportunities, it can also create an overwhelmingly stressful process for job seekers. Before you begin your next job search, here are five tips to assist you in your efforts.

1. Do Your Research

Find out which industries are hiring and are financially stable. If you happen to work in an industry that is in distress, then consider redirecting your talent and experience to one that is durable or flourishing. Research the ins and outs of your top desirable industries to set yourself up for success

2. Identify Target Companies

Once you know which industries are advantageous, identify a handful of companies within those industries that you want to work for. Learn about the companies, their employers, and the team you would potentially be working with. This will help you determine if a company is the right fit for you.

3. Be Open-minded and Adaptive

Many employers have reconfigured the blueprint for their employment infrastructure due to the ambivalence of workspace, budgets, and more. In doing so, we can expect to see more contract positions in the coming year. For an advantage in today's competitive job market, keep an open mind by considering a non-traditional job offer like a temp-to-hire or contract position—if it's right for you.

4. Optimize Job Search Apps and Tools

Use job search apps, including your association's career center, to help organize your findings. Some apps make it easy for you to search for the job you want with a filtering system. You can search for remote or in-person jobs, full-time or contract jobs, and so much more. Some apps also save your job searches and allow you to apply to a job and track the status directly from the app. These are all valuable time-savers.

5. Network

Mark Dyson, podcast host of The Voice of Job Seekers, said, “Conducting a job search is one of the hardest things to learn to do. It's full of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. However, networking is the single most useful tool in a job seeker's job search toolbox.” And he's right. Networking exposes you to word-of-mouth positions that may not be publicly available yet, positions you may not have seen online, and it can expose you to a potential future referral. Join a professional organization or assocaitoin or interact with people within your desired industry through professional social sites like LinkedIn.

In closing, avoid getting hired for a job you're not passionate about. Know what you do and don't want in a job and your career. Do your research, adapt to change, network, and use as many available resources as you can, like the tips listed above, to help you in your job search journey.