Top 7 Steps to A Successful Job Search

Searching for your next job may be a drilling process. The whole procedure may seem lengthy and unpleasant but wait! You can always break it down into smaller pieces of effort to achieve higher results. Stay tuned with me; I will explain to you the 7 steps to find your next job.

How do you find the most desirable job? What are the appropriate portals to look for? Should you use your connections or not? You and I will discuss everything in detail.

What if I say that job seeking is simple? I know it would be difficult to digest these words, but yes, job-seeking can be the most amazing and exciting part of your career. You will get to meet new people and experiences, and market standards will be clear for you, and, my personal favorite, there will be loads of self-awareness.

The 7 Powerful Steps You Require to Prepare For Your Next Career Opportunity

1. Make Your CV Stand Out

How? Start with reading the job description. Don’t go with the old and boring CV pattern by following the forever-used templates in a CV. There are astounding resume templates on the internet that you can choose from. Try using powerful words and be specific with what the employer wants. Precision and accuracy play a great role in resume building.

Demonstrate your hard skills and add complementary soft skills. You may not know, but recruiters seek how you relate to your work. Moreover, make sure that your CV is mobile-friendly. Very few people pay attention to this, but this can really make a difference.

If you have Mark Zuckerberg’s level of achievements, you can easily flaunt them on a two-page CV; otherwise, one page is enough. Also, don’t neglect the cover letter. I feel they are too underrated. Last but not least, always use adjectives describing your skills and achievements. Follow the CV format guidelines to structure the most impressive CV!

2. Utilize the Job Portals and Tools to Apply.

Hundreds of job portals claim to land you your dream role, but you must scrap out the untrustworthy and non-reliable ones. I advise you to keep it simple and go with the popular options, like Naukri, Indeed, Monster, Times Jobs, and my personal recommendation, LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is underrated when it comes to a job search. People take it as a network-building platform, but NO! I have seen a few people getting their desirable roles through LinkedIn only. I have discussed this in the next section in detail.

Organize your job search, invest your precious time, and be ready to flourish your job search with a satisfying outcome. You can make a list of your favorite companies that you would love to work for.

The biggest mistake you can make while finding your next job is applying randomly on job portals. For example, if you are looking for a job as a “social media manager,” don’t type it in a search bar and apply it to every result coming your way.

Reading every job detail may not be possible, but at least try to gain a little information given on the front display banner. It will save you from later disappointments.

3. Build Your Network

Network building may seem like a two-word term, but it has a broader meaning. I refer to it as an umbrella term where making contacts and creating a professional persona gets covered. Using networking-building platforms like LinkedIn to create an effective network can help you find your next job.

You must network for a job before you need it. Suppose you are a professional actively posting about your career, achievements, and experiences; people on the platform will tend to know more about you since you have marked your presence. It’s a kind of self-promotion and leads you to grab attention.

Furthermore, if we talk specifically about LinkedIn (since it’s the most popular one), it allows you to explore hundreds of job opportunities. Don’t take it for granted; you can actually find a job through LinkedIn!

Networking doesn’t only mean that you create a professional account, but it also includes personal interaction and attending events, both online and offline. My recommendation would be job fairs and industry-specific conventions.

4. Research is the Key.

I am dividing this step into two crucial parts;

A. Learn About the company.

Spend a lot of time finding out about the company, including its history, achievements, market value, and, most importantly, its work culture. You never know, but you may change your mind.

Fortunately, if you decide to go ahead, this will help you in the interview process. I mean, there is nothing like impressing the recruiter panel with the company’s information. It shows that you are enthusiastic and keen to work with them, putting you ahead of the competition.

Go through the company’s official site and social media pages to check their background.

B. And the Industry Standards.

Suppose you face hiring managers without prior knowledge or the latest information about the industry. That can be a serious issue for you because, in this case, you would know nothing about your market value and worth, current salary standards, and key areas and skills that are important to target.

Recruiters can fool you in the negotiation round. Keep reading the news articles, join events, and talk to your peers. Let yourself know the right pay scale and what you need to improve.

5. Win the Interview Rounds.

Congratulate yourself when you reach this stage. Since you have already researched the company and the industry standards, you have won the halfway race. The next step is to practice the interview questions (some common questions that are expected in your field).

You can use the STAR method and enhance your communication skills to look confident in front of your interview panel. Don’t forget to choose the appropriate interview attire and carry your documents.

A pro tip: You can also check with the recruiters if they want you to carry any specific document.

There may be more than one interview round where you will have to face the company’s junior or senior-level positioners, but if you are well-prepared, nervousness will leave your side in every round.

Good luck!

6. Make Sure to Follow-Up

It is one of the most forgotten and ignored steps on the list of my 7 steps to getting a new job.

Most of the time, when I advise people to take a follow-up after the interview, they ask me back surprisingly, “What? Do I have to do anything even after the interview?” This is mere ignorance.

You must thank your interviewer for taking out the time to meet. It is the most important post-interview action; sadly, many people have not even heard about it.

You can document an email thanking and appreciating them. It will show your passion and zeal for the opportunity. You can also add something crucial that you forgot to mention in the interview.

Keep reminding yourself that recruiters shortlisted you for the interview and considered you a sincere candidate. Prove them right by doing so.

7. Accept or Reject

If you get selected after the interview, the final call is yours. Don’t accept the offer only because you are selected. Assess it thoroughly.

You can also make a comparison if you have more than one offer. The evaluation must be careful. Be mindful of the factors that you use to compare the offers. Moreover, I suggest you keep your negotiation skills strong to grab the opportunity at its best.

Allow your current employer to counteroffer you. This way, you will have one more opportunity.

If you do not find the opportunity suitable, decline it politely. Don’t ghost them. Talk to them and explain the reason wisely. And if you want to move ahead, you know the next step, right? Accept the offer and be proud of yourself.

Key Takeaways

• Break your job search process into 7 steps to finding a job.
• Start with creating your resume and cover letter. Don’t forget to use LinkedIn to showcase your skills and candidature.
• Apply on multiple reliable job portals but avoid random applying.
• Connect with people online and offline to create a strong and remarkable presence. Attend industry-specific events.
• Research the company and the industry standards to stand up confidently in front of recruiters.
• Prepare rigorously for the interview and ensure to take the follow-up afterward.
• Compare all your offers and assess them deeply before making any decision.

Good luck!