Nowadays, people have become more adept at finding new job opportunities. Some of the more traditional strategies are no longer popular and although are still an option, aren’t quite as effective as other approaches. With technology ever-developing, the old days of circling job ads in the classified section of newspapers are certainly in the past and people have become more creative, making use of new strategies when it comes to finding out about job vacancies.
If you’re a bit lost about where to look to find out about opportunities, here are a few places that you could start.
1. Networking
A large number of job vacancies aren’t actually advertised, so in order to find out about these vacancies, job seekers must find a way to get their foot in the door. Networking with the right people can be extremely helpful in locating these hidden jobs and getting yourself known to individuals in the industry. Even if these people don’t have any openings themselves, there is always a chance that they know someone who does. In this digital age, networking doesn’t have to be in person. It can be done online through social networking sites, such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
2. Referrals
Some companies offer a finders fee to employees who refer a successful candidate to the company as an incentive to assist in the hiring process. If someone sends you an invitation to apply for a job vacancy, and you successfully land the job, not only do you not have to look for a job yourself, but your referrer also gets a bonus, so it’s a win-win situation. If you happen to know anyone who works at a company you’re interested in, make it known to them that you are looking for a job and they may be able to help.
3. Company websites
If you already know the company that you want to work for, check out the company’s official website and look for its “Career” section. Many companies post their job vacancies in this section and if there aren’t any listed you can find their contact details and enquire about any vacancies that they may not be advertising. Make a list of companies that you’d like to work for and check out their websites on a regular basis. This will usually take you a few minutes a day but the return could be huge.
4. Career websites
Companies often post their job vacancies on career websites such as CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com. They are the Google of the job search world. These job search engines allow job seekers to specify their search criteria and only display job vacancies that meet the specified criteria. This will help you narrow down your search.
5. Social media
Once you have identified a few companies that you would be interested in working at, check out whether they have any social media accounts and follow them. Often businesses will advertise their vacancies via social media and they will come straight to your newsfeed when they do. You may also wish to connect or follow the hiring manager of these companies on LinkedIn or Twitter to get yourself known and identify yourself as a potential employee.
6. Job fairs
Industry-specific career fairs are a great way to meet the people who work within your sector and to find out about vacancies at different companies. Pop along to check out the companies that might interest you, and don’t forget to bring some copies of your resumes. Talk to recruiters and company representatives about what kind of role you are looking for. Some companies may even interview potential candidates on-site.
7. Recruiting firms
If you have trouble finding a job, there is always professional help. Some companies, especially larger ones, hire through recruitment agencies. These recruiters locate candidates to fill these vacancies or find positions for job seekers who need help finding work. Identify a recruiter who is hiring into your industry and get yourself on their books so they can contact you or put you forward when a suitable opportunity arises.
