Suncoast Tutorial On How To Find A Job This Fall

As the pandemic continues to cause everyday things to remain up in the air, many here and the Suncoast struggle to find a job. Maybe, you are confined at home due to medical or childcare concerns. Maybe it is the number of hours your previous role could offer is not enough. There are myriads of reasons that people are searching for a career shift or new role. We have compiled a quick list of the best ways to navigate the changing landscape of job hunting this fall here on Suncoast.

Know Your Stance

The topics of vaccinations, masks, and other post-Covid restrictions rages. First and foremost, know your stance and nonnegotiables related to working closely with vaccinated, unvaccinated, and masks. While many don’t want to share these vocally with others, it will inform your job seeking. For example, many ads now list if you need to be vaccinated, optional masks, social distancing protocols, and the like. Additionally, indoor roles versus outdoor, or maybe you are looking to stay at home all the way to minimize your exposure in total.

Leverage Who You Know

This is a great thing to consider when looking for a new role. People you trust providing references, feedback on companies they work for, and an outside perspective can help you make the best decision possible. Questions to ask may include:

1. What do they like best about the role?
2. What is the biggest downside they find at the company?
3. Is the work remote, in-office, or hybrid?
4. What is the management team like?
5. Are they looking for a new role? If so, why?
6. Which open position do they feel, knowing you, would be the best option?”
7. Are they willing to put in good work for you as a reference?

Remember, people that know you might be more brutally honest. Use this information as a goldmine to inform your job hunt, from how you dress, pros and cons you might need to work on to companies you wish to align with, and others that might need to be a hard pass. Like products or services we purchase, reviews from actual employees are a great place to start when available.

Selling Resume

Remember, you might not get a shot to talk to someone directly, so having a killer resume is key. Ensure that the following items are addressed on your resume:

1. Relevant Experience
2. Education
3. Personal information such as name, phone, and email
4. Job listing specific qualifications
5. Vocabulary checked
6. Optimize for applicant tracking systems by including key phrases and words from the job description
7. Length not over two pages for most roles
8. Proofread carefully

This is your one shot in many cases to prove you are qualified, professional, and the best candidate for the role. Ensure grammar, vocabulary, and clear details on qualification, past experiences, and education is laid out. Avoid headshots, social media linking, or such unless your role specifically requires it, and even then, consider laying that information out in a cover letter or supplemental document.

So Many Sites

From big to small, professional to seasonal part-time, the number of online job-seeking sites is overwhelming. The top 15 sites for looking for a new role are:

1. Indeed Job Search
2. Glassdoor Jobs
3. LinkedIn
4. Google for Jobs
5. Monster
6. ZipRecruiter
7. Simply Hired
8. CareerBuilder
9. Snag (Formerly Snagajob)
10. LinkUp
11. Craigslist Jobs
12. US.jobs
13. Robert Half
14. Job.com
15. USAjobs.gov

The good news is that everything from part-time seasonal in-person to remote professional jobs can be found on these sites. This is where knowing your stance comes in to help take these sites and narrow them down to your perfect list of open roles. Obviously, if only able to work from home, “remote” should be the location you try on any of them; also, keywords are critical to narrow your search. Remember keywords on your resume to best match the right jobs is something that will help you when that resume is under consideration by potential employers.

Cover Letter Etiquette

A cover letter is more than just a personal introduction. It’s a means of showing more value to the company and explaining how well you fit in with the organization. A cover letter acts as a first impression and gives you a chance to stand out as a strong candidate. It also makes a great place to further explain some of your skills and experience or share a story in which you utilized them.The following list explains cover letter scenarios to try and others to avoid to offer a better understanding of how to use them:

• Explain how you can help.
• Don’t focus on what the job can do for you.
• Discuss your skills.
• Don’t focus on your current job title or education.
• Research the company before writing the cover letter.
• Don’t mention any negative media mentions.
• Include specific keywords.
• Don’t put too many keywords.
• Ask someone to review your cover letter.
• Don’t submit an unedited cover letter.
• Include new content in your cover letter.
• Don’t repeat information from your resume.

Interview Readiness

You cannot be too prepared for an interview. This job market is tough, and you will have stiff competition interviewing before and after you so must stand out from the crowd. Indeed one of the best search sites out there, has a great graphic (below) to properly prepare for an interview, that should serve as a concise amazing reference for all job seekers:

Whether you are transitioning to remote work from an office, trying to find a new job after a layoff, or simply moving for better opportunities job searches can be exhausting. Try to build a plan, execute that plan, only apply for roles you are well qualified for, and practice interviewing with a friend. There are a lot of jobs out there right now, though the landscape for types of jobs still seems transitional post-pandemic, with perseverance, you also can find the perfect match you have been seeking.

Photos courtesy of Deposit Photos and Indeed