5 Steps to Getting Interviews Faster
When it comes to getting a job, nobody wants to have to go through the waiting process that seems to come with every single job search. Not only does finding a job to apply to take a long while, once you find the perfect one to apply for, submit your paperwork, go to the interview, and then finally get that phone call letting you know that you’ve been offered the position, the process from submitting the application to showing up to your first day of work can take months. If you are like the rest of the world, it’s common to get a bit impatient during this period. So, what can you do to speed up the process? Here, we’ve broken down the process into five easy steps so that you can find your dream job on a more expedited schedule.
Step #1: Timing. The timing of when you apply for a job actually makes a big difference. Some times of the year are easier to find a job than others, depending on the industry you are going into. As a general rule, though, more jobs are available at the beginning of the year—in January and February—and right before the holiday season—usually beginning in late October and going into mid-November. Applying for a job during these timeframes will increase your chances of success.
Step #2: Be Proactive. If you don’t put yourself out there, no one will know that you’re searching for a job. This goes far beyond just applying. It means letting friends and contacts in your network know that you’re searching. Even if they can’t be of help, they might have a friend who can. If you don’t take that initiative to get the ball rolling and the seed planted, nothing will ever happen. Yes, this is a small step, but it can have huge rewards down the line.
Step #3: Show Off Your Skills. Rather than waste space on your resume with an objective, spend some time summarizing your skills and experience. A summary statement at the top of your resume can show a prospective employer what you’ve done, what kind of experience you have, and what you’re good at. It allows them to save the time of reading a boring resume or potentially skip it altogether like they may have, and get to the meat of what they’re looking for right away.
Step #4: Build Experience with Volunteering. Working for free isn’t high on many people’s list of things to do, but valuable volunteer experience can build skillsets that can increase your chances of getting a job in the future, and may even have an impact on how much you are going to get paid. Find something that you care about, and use the skills that you have to enhance other people’s lives. Not only does this show that you’re a good and responsible person, it showcases how your skills can have proven results.
Step #5: Pay Attention to Your Trail. Social media can help you, or it can hurt you. Having pictures of yourself on Facebook or Instagram being irresponsible will come back to haunt you. Before you even start your job search, clean all of this up. You don’t want to have something you posted five years ago hurt your chances of getting the job that you’re applying to tomorrow. This might take a while, but if it this step saves you a few months in your job search, you will be very glad that you did so. You’re a hard worker and you deserve a great job, so don’t let a few hours of fun ruin that.