Looking for a job is hard work, but what if you didn’t have to pound the virtual pavement to find your next gig? Passive candidates are always popular, because recruiters and hiring managers are human: they’ll chase you harder if they think you’re in demand. But, even if you’re not in the enviable position of looking for a job while you have a job, you can set things up so that opportunities come to you.
Here’s how:
- Keep making connections.
Your personal and professional networks come with some powerful potential. Unfortunately, too many people don’t call on their connections during times of need, potentially depriving themselves (and their contacts) of something that could turn out to be beneficial for everyone involved.
So, tell your network that you’re looking for work. Networking doesn’t have to feel yucky. It’s all in the way you think about it. Use the resources available to you and opportunities might start popping up that you wouldn’t have found any other way.
- Maximize your use of online tools.
LinkedIn and other professional networks can be wonderful tools to help you find work. Just be sure to put in the time and energy needed to really hone your profile. Also, avoid making some of the more common mistakes. Maximizing your online presence, and your use of the professional social networks available to you, could help the job opportunities to come knocking.
Positioning yourself as an expert in your field, or even just someone with a passion that they’re dying to share, could make all the difference in the world when you’re looking for a job. The trick is, you have to be sincere.
Think about what you can contribute to your industry that is exciting and unique, and then find a way to share those ideas with others. You might publish a piece online, attend a conference, or sit on a panel. As long as you focus on identifying and sharing your powerful ideas with others, you’re on the right track. See if this powerful energy doesn’t draw others in your field to you like a magnet.
- Stay on top of everything.
When you’re looking for work, it can sometimes feel like you’re putting a ton of time in without getting much back in return for your efforts. Until, suddenly, that’s no longer true – you’ve found a new position and all that time spent now feels well worth it. So, when you’re in the process, be sure to be diligent and not miss a beat. You should be putting a good amount of time into your search.
Plus, be sure to check your email, phone messages, and professional social networks often. Opportunities sometimes open up and then shut down again pretty quickly. You need to be ready at all times to leap through those open windows of opportunity when and where you find them.
Want to really be prepared for job interviews? Know your value. Take PayScale’s Salary Survey, and generate a free report telling you how much your skills are worth on the job market.
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