1. Network, network, network
Reach out to stakeholders at companies you’re interested in.
You can do this virtually through LinkedIn, Lunchmeet, Meetup and other online media channels. You can also network in-person at local job fairs, public speaking events, networking events and more.
It’s not likely they’ll hire you on the spot, but networking can help you build a relationship with them. Additionally, talking to other people about your job search can expose you to career opportunities you never knew existed.
2. Prepare for interviews
You should prepare for interviews and fine-tune your communication skills before you get a response to your application. So, when you do get an interview in the pipeline, you’ll ace it.
Take time preparing answers to some common interview questions. When the interviewer asks questions, it won’t look good for you to draw a blank.
Create a system of insightful questions to ask the interviewer. This reassures them of your interest in the job position. When you do get an interview, you can customize the questions further.
3. Research potential employers
You can’t go wrong with researching the company you want to work with. That way, you can get to know the company culture, their values, and their goals.
When researching a potential employer, study keywords from their vision and mission statements and pay attention to their website and social media.
Doing this will help you prepare good follow-up questions to ask such as what processes do they have in place to measure success in achieving their company mission. Check out Glassdoor for some insight into the company’s interview process.
4. Be prepared to negotiate
Be ready to negotiate your salary, time off, allowances, schedules and bonuses, if warranted.
You need not settle for what the company offers you. Find out the terms they’re offering and, if necessary, come up with a counteroffer.
To provide a reasonable counteroffer, you can look into the average salary and benefits being offered in your area for the type of job you’re applying for. Check out Google, Glassdoor and Salary.com for information about your desired job.
5. Follow up
Always follow up after any calls or interviews you receive. Send an email to the hiring manager, saying thank you for the opportunity.
Follow-up emails may seem small, but it’s refreshing to see people offering such gestures in the cutthroat corporate world.
It even boosts your chances of success, especially if the hiring manager is already finding it hard to make a choice.
Liz Hogan is the digital partnerships manager at Find My Profession. She regularly shares her advice on job search and resumes writing with others. This article first appeared in the Feb. 7, 2023 edition of Job Journey. Visit blog/expresspros.com to sign up for this monthly newsletter by Express Employment Professionals, which provides tips and advice for every step of your working life.
This article appears in Capital City Jobs March 2023.
