Get savvy on how to find a job – it’s a great skill to have.
Better ways on how to find a job
Previously, I’ve given a short rundown of how to find a job in this article: Finding a job. As you can read there, the bottom line is that once you know what to look for, it’s generally quite easy to follow the other steps and the hardest part is probably getting through the interview processes and negotiating your salary. That said, it’s not always easy to know what you want, because hey, there’s so much choice nowadays and no-one wants to commit, right?
What do you like to do?
Before looking at anything else, I believe that you should be looking at what you want to do. If you aren’t doing work that makes you happy or that you enjoy in some way, I don’t know why you even bother doing it. You will simply destroy yourself slowly, together with those around you. Also, your productivity and performance will dwindle, as will your chance for promotions and future jobs.
Think about what makes you happy, what you like to see as making a difference in the world and what work would make you feel accomplished. These and other thoughts will lead you to what you want to do in a job. Even if you don’t have the skills to do this “enjoyable job” yet, you should still know what you’re aiming for.
What skills do you have?
Now turn to what you actually can do. Be honest with yourself. There is no shame in admitting that you can’t do something – you may realise that you enjoy it and therefore can start to do something about it, such as go on a course or skill up through a part-time job. The main point here is to whittle down your skill set to your top three skills. Don’t add hundreds of “top skills” to your CV – focus on what you do well in a broader sense.
Next, see if any of these skills, or a combination of them together, are somewhat unique. If not, you will have to find another way to differentiate yourself amongst other applicants. Check on a job aggregator like Adzuna to see if they are found often in job descriptions. If one is quite rare, you know you have good chance of finding a job with that skill.
If you find a conflict between what you would like to do and what you can do, this is an issue you need to solve right away. Often money is the other factor tearing you apart, which means a lifestyle change or a talk to your significant other is in order. However, do not go out looking for jobs and signing offers for jobs that are going to tear your soul apart. Life is short and it’s not worth it.
What kind of job would you prefer?
Would you prefer a temporary, contract, part-time or permanent role? Is your next vacancy best situated in Cape Town or London? What is the lowest salary you’ll accept? It’s time to list all the things you want you job to include as well, such as which benefits the position offers, the ideal size of company and other factors such as training offered, where you can be in 5 years in that firm and so on.
The key here is to know these things now to search well, but also for later when you are faced with decisions. Being confident that you’ve thought about everything and know what you want is very important to employers.
Make some lists
Now you can make some lists, if you like. Firstly, make a list of all the companies that you know of that may offer this type of position. Usually, the ones you like are in there somewhere. Then, go do some research and add to the list. This shouldn’t take you more than half an hour. Secondly, work out which of these companies is within your location range and would probably have the kind of job you would like. If you find that your list is very long, you might as well throw away the list and just apply to jobs – no problem here, it’s just that you don’t need to worry much about who you’re going to work for, just make sure you land a job you like and can do (as mentioned above).
Next, make a list of the things you can do for these companies. You may find that your skills match a certain type of position they do offer, but even if it is filled right now, a great idea is to make contact with them. Those candidates who connect with companies and stay in touch are never without opportunities.
With the above tips, you will hopefully have a great idea of what you want to do, which makes the process much easier in job searching, applying and CV writing. How to find a job is not about where to look, but also to know what to look for.
