Online job hunting is no easy task, especially if you are new to the game. You have to go through the application process again and again, which can be time-consuming and boring. In addition, there are so many fake job vacancy advertisements out there by heartless people just to waste your precious time and resources. This is where the word “Smart” comes in. You need to be smart when finding a job online, thus landing your dream job quickly. Landing your dream job becomes easier when you know the right job-seeking methods and strategies to use. In this piece of content, you will discover some top job searching tips to find a job online.
1. Know how to use online job boards
I put online job boards in the first spot because many job seekers nowadays use sites such as Glassdoor, Indeed, and Monster, to name a few, to look for jobs. The good thing about these sites is that they make it easy to search through multitudes of jobs and apply for them. However, you need to know how to use these sites the smart way. I don’t want you to waste your time. But rather, I want you to land your dream job as quickly as possible.
That said, let’s use Indeed.com as an example. On the Indeed.com homepage, type the job position and location in their respective fields and click on the “Find Jobs” button. After that, you need to sort the available vacancies by date. To do that, you need to change “Date Posted” to “Last 24 hours.” The idea is to be among the first people or even be the first to apply, thus increasing your chances of securing an interview.
However, make sure to apply for jobs on the company’s website. Job ads that require you to apply within the job board are likely to be fake. Every successful organization has an online presence. So I strongly advise you to always submit applications on companies websites. Moreover, Google about the company if it’s a firm you’ve never heard of.
2. Showcase your skills
Finding a job online typically involves filling out application forms and reaching out to companies. However, you can make recruiters come to you instead, if you possess some of the specific skills they are looking for. Nowadays, many professionals have online blogs or portfolios that showcase their skills. Freelancers often use this strategy to win clients, but it can also help you land a full-time job if you sound like a person who knows what he or she is doing.
Simply put, digital portfolios make it easier for potential employers to view your work samples. They contain vital pieces of supplementary information that can serve as proof of your skills and abilities to potential employers. According to an Indeed article, including a link to your portfolio in your resume or cover letter helps set you apart from other candidates. In addition, it can also improve your chances of getting an interview. Some of the most common professionals who use online portfolios include but are not limited to:
- Copywriters
- Graphic designers
- Illustrators
- Digital marketers
- Architects
- Educators
- Makeup artists
- Programmers
- Photographers
What to include in your digital portfolio:
- Original contents
- Brief description of what you do
- Summary of your career goals and aspirations
- Resume
- Contact info
- Relevant skills
- Work samples
- Testimonials
Where to create online portfolios:
Examples of professional portfolios:
Whatever you do, remember to keep your portfolio up to date. As your career is a work in progress, so must be the nature of your portfolio. In addition, link your portfolio to social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
3. Be active on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform where job seekers connect with employers. According to a report from Datareportal, LinkedIn members have reached 849.6 million globally as of July 2022. This whopping number includes marketers, job seekers, employers and others.
LinkedIn‘s recent hiring rate in the United States:
Needless to say, the hiring rate as shown above inspired me to advise you not to give up on the platform. It’s no secret that many employers use LinkedIn as part of their candidate search. To leverage LinkedIn to its fullest, use the advanced search to reach out to organizations you’re interested in and follow them. To make the job hunting process much easier, make a list of the companies you’d like to work for and frequently check their career pages. Always check the job section of each company page you visit on LinkedIn for new opportunities. In addition, you can as well create a job alert to be notified when the companies you are following post new jobs that match your interest. This will keep you informed about your favorite company news and new job offers as they become available.
On top of that, there are other important things you need to do such as polishing your profile, highlighting recent experience, and building your network to the 1st degree.
4. Visit company websites
Sometimes, companies don’t advertise job offers when they are looking for candidates. Instead, they post the jobs on their official websites so that visitors to the site can apply. So it will be much more effective if you have a list of websites of the companies you want to work for. Keep checking these sites for new job offers. If you visit a company’s website, look out for sections such as “Careers,” “Work With Us,” or “We Are Hiring.” Practically every company has these pages linked to the header or footer of their websites. This strategy can help you find golden opportunities that aren’t advertised on job boards. Furthermore, it might also be the best way to land your dream job. The screenshot below shows the footer of Oracle’s official website where you find a link to their careers page.
5. Know the day on which to apply for jobs
To increase your odds of getting hired, it is somehow important to know the best day to apply for jobs. In addition, you also need to know what time of the day is best for job applications. According to a survey conducted by Smart Recruiters, Tuesday is the best day of the week to find a job. Although virtually 58 percent of job listings happen from Monday through Wednesday, the study, which looked at over 270,000 job postings, finds that Tuesday is where most of the action happens.
During the weekend, as a job seeker, polish your resume and get your references lined up. On Monday, start watching the job boards for new postings and get ready to apply as soon as they go live. Further, the study finds 11 a.m. to be the most popular time companies post new job vacancies during the week. According to data, 70 percent of candidates apply for jobs around 1 to 2 p.m.
So the best time of the day to start applying for jobs is 11 a.m., which is the most popular time of the day many companies post new job listings. The bottom line is to increase your chances of getting that first interview.
6. Contact recruiters directly
Sometimes, the best way to land your dream job is by contacting employers directly. And the best place to do that is on LinkedIn, needless to say. Don’t be shy. After all, that’s the purpose of the platform, connecting job seekers with employers. So take advantage of this platform to reach out to recruiters using the following tips:
Make sure you reach out to the right person: For example, to search for recruiters on LinkedIn, you can type your industry and the word “recruiter” in the search box, e.g. “Accounting recruiter.”
After finding a recruiter in your industry, it is time to connect. However, before you hit the connect button, you need to first figure out what to tell him or her. In other words, you need to attach a message to your connection request, which is essential. A connection request with no message will likely not be accepted. That said, attaching a short message to your LinkedIn connection requests will increase your chances of being accepted as you begin reaching out to recruiters.
Once your connection request gets accepted by a recruiter, it’s time for further conversation via LinkedIn message or, if available, email. In a few concise sentences, describe your experience, qualifications and skills for the recruiter. Consider the following example when sending a message to recruiters:
In addition, you can attach your resume, too.
Ready to find a Job online!
From knowing how to use online job boards, creating an online portfolio, being active on LinkedIn, visiting company websites, and reaching out directly to recruiters, you are now ready to find a job online. To sum up, it is important to get your resume noticed by highlighting how you achieved success in the past using your problem-solving skills. As a result, you will be increasing your chances of finding a career that matches your personality type. Good luck on your job hunting journey!