4 Things You Need To Do When Searching For a New Job

Finding a job is not a walk in the park. This is because you can send dozens of applications out without getting invited for a single interview. In fact, there are people who have been job hunting for more than a decade without success. The problem is that there are usually many job seekers than the number of vacant positions. You must, therefore, be proactive for you to get hired. The good thing is that there are tricks that you can use to boost your chances. Here is a list of the things you should be doing as you wait for your next job.

1. Update your Resume

A resume is not one of those documents that you write once and for all. You need to update it so that it reflects on your level of experience and education. If you received any rewards or went for any training while working for your former employer, make sure that you add such achievements in the resume. Besides that, you should check whether your referees still use the telephone numbers that they provided. The last thing you want when searching for a new job is to provide contacts of referees that can’t be reached via phone. In fact, resumes keep evolving. It’s therefore advisable you check for resume examples on the internet so that you can know the things that need to be changed in your current format. Keep in mind that a resume is the only document that markets you as a brand. If it fails in making the right impression, you might remain jobless for decades.

2. Work as a Volunteer

Instead of staying for weeks and months without work, you should consider volunteering your skills. Although you will not get paid, it will help in improving your work experience. You will actually have a better chance than someone else who is just idling around.  Besides that, volunteering helps in ensuring that you utilize your skills and keep up with the current trends in your field of specialization.

For instance, if you are a computer engineer, you will get an opportunity to try the majority of the software that are used in computers. But if you opt to remain idle, your skills might become outdated. Someone who was trained to become a network engineer using Windows XP but remained jobless may not know how to do the same with Windows 10. The other advantage is that you will be given the first priority in case the company you are working for wants to hire new employees.

3. Advance your Skills

As mentioned earlier, technology keeps on evolving. You must, therefore, advance your skills to gain a competitive advantage over other job seekers. Having advanced and multiple skills will definitely increase your chances of securing employment because most companies prefer candidates that are flexible. Nowadays you don’t even need to go to a brick and mortar institution to learn something new. There are actually so many courses that taught on the internet for much less money. You can enroll for an online course at Coursera or Udemy. The good thing is that they will give you a certificate after completing the short course. In fact, you will be learning at your own pace and convenience.

4. Reach Out to Friends and Relatives

Nowadays the majority of employers don’t advertise vacancies in newspapers. With so many job seekers out there, getting the best talent has become a lot easier. All that the employer has to do is to ask his current employees to refer their friends and relatives. That’s why you must let the people in your inner circles that you need a job so that they can alert you the moment an opening is reported in their respective companies.