Get that resume ready and prep your best interview outfit, it’s time to land your next career! Read these five ways you can speed up your job hunting process.
Searching for a new job can take time, and it requires serious dedication and a lot of patience.
Just writing your resume, creating cover letters, and applying for jobs is time-consuming. Add on top of that the phone interview, the first interview, the second interview, and the follow-up, and a new job search can take weeks!
And the bigger the company, the longer it usually takes.
Ready to land a new position now?
Here are five ways you can speed up your job hunting process.
Find a Recruiter
Recruiters get paid when they place candidates in jobs. So having a recruiter on your side can sometimes speed up the process.
Why?
Because you’ve got an ally communicating with the company to start the interview process and get the process underway. They want to earn their commission for placing you — and they’ll usually work hard to get you into a position (as long as you’re a good fit).
In some cases, recruiters may even have the inside scoop on available job posts that haven’t yet hit online.
Even when they don’t have the “perfect job” waiting for you, they can be quite helpful with the application process. Some recruiters will help you polish your resume and show you how to create cover letters to appeal to more employers.
Network
Reaching out directly to people in your network can be much faster than searching online job databases.
Employers are always looking for the perfect candidate, regardless of the position. If you know someone whose company is looking for someone like you, your contact might be able to push your resume to the top of the pile.
Start your job search by reaching out to friends, relatives, colleagues that you trust, and former coworkers that you got along well with. Let them know you’re on the hunt for a new position. They may know of one that isn’t a posting yet or that their company is finding it hard to fill.
It would be best if you also use your LinkedIn network as a way to find jobs. If you have 2nd and 3rd connections at companies hiring, reach out to your first connection for an introduction. A simple email introduction may get you a foot in the door ahead of other equally-qualified candidates.
Don’t have a strong professional network?
It’s time to start attending some networking events.
Look for professional associations or networking events in your city and your industry. Attend a career fair or two to meet some new potential employers face to face.
The better your network is, the more opportunities you’ll have — now and throughout your career.
Respond to Emails and Phone Calls ASAP
When searching for a new job, it’s essential to make yourself available at all times, even if you’re currently working another job.
Once you start applying for new positions, check your email, voice mail, and LinkedIn messages frequently. If an unrecognized number pops up on your phone — answer it. It just might be a call for an interview!
Scheduling interviews and fielding phone calls can be tough if you don’t want your current coworkers to know that you’re job hunting. At the very least, use your lunch hour or break time to check your personal email accounts, listen to voice mails, and return calls.
If an employee reaches out to you, they’re interested. Respond right away if you want to get the interview process going sooner rather than later.
Be Ready to Interview
Some employers may need to fill a position quickly. Others may be conducting “exploratory interviews” for future posts that may open up. Since you probably won’t know what the employer is thinking, it’s best to be ready to interview at a moment’s notice.
Have your interview outfit ready. Print extra copies of your resume to hand out. Get your portfolio together. Put together a list of references. Have all these things prepared before you even get a call for an interview.
That way, if an employer calls you on a Tuesday and asks you to interview on Wednesday, you can say yes and still get a good night’s sleep.
Ask About Next Steps
Employers want candidates to ask questions during an interview. If you conclude your interview without asking a single question, you will likely not get the job offer.
Asking a few questions shows that you’re interested, that you’ve done your homework, and that you’re the kind of person who can talk and listen.
And there’s one question that can really work to your advantage:
What are the next steps?
Do not leave an interview without asking what the next steps in the process are.
Their answer may be vague or specific. But the goal is to leave with some understanding of whether or not the company is conducting a second round of interviews. Try to learn if they’re just beginning the process, or if they’re looking to fill the position immediately.
How you follow up after the interview can be just as important as how you conduct yourself during the interview.
Send a thank-you note. Provide them with references the second they ask for them. If they tell you they are going to make a decision on July 1st, reach out to them on July 1st to reiterate your interest.
Conclusion
Getting hired for a new position can take time. Don’t let discouragement set in if it takes several weeks or even several months to land that new job.
In the meantime, here are a few things you can do to help speed up the process:
- Use a recruiter to help you find open positions
- Network with people you know and trust
- Respond to phone calls and emails ASAP
- Be prepared for an interview at any moment
- Be proactive in your follow-up by asking about next steps
If you’re lucky, your dream job is in desperate need to fill the position and wants you to start tomorrow. But, in most circumstances, this isn’t the case.
So be patient, be diligent, and if the job search seems to be taking much longer than you thought, buckle up. Sometimes job-hunting is a long and bumpy ride.
Author Bio:
Ryan Sundling is a Group Marketing Manager at Cardinal Group Management and works closely with Wildwood Baton Rouge to help them with their marketing efforts. He has over ten years of experience in the student housing industry.
