Whether you are looking to switch jobs or are entering or re-entering the workforce, you probably want to shorten and simplify the hiring process. If you want to learn how to get a job fast through knowledge of recruitment procedures and hiring management tips and tricks, no matter if you have been working for a while or you need to know how to get a job without experience, you’re in the right place.
If you want to find out how to get hired, follow these steps.
The first step in getting hired is by optimizing your job search. This should be a multi-method approach so that you can quickly become aware of all of the opportunities in your field, your area (or in an area you are willing to move to), the appropriate job title for your skill set and experience and companies you would want to work at.
You may always have wanted to work for one or a handful of companies. If this is the case, make a list of these companies. Then go to their websites and see what positions they have posted in the Jobs or Careers area of their sites. Apply to any relevant job postings and check the page frequently to catch and apply for any new postings. Some company websites allow you to set up a profile with your resume and get job alerts; take advantage of this when it is available.
Create profiles on two or three major job sites as well as on a smaller, but industry-specific job boards if there is one for your industry. Search for your industry and then job titles within your industry in which you are interested and create job alerts for those. These will come by email, usually daily, so check your email every morning and apply as soon as you see a job posting that interests you.
In addition to your online searches and alerts, tap into your personal and professional networks to see if anyone knows of good opportunities. If you have a mentor, this is a great place to start. Otherwise, think of family and friends who work in or know others who work in your industry or the companies that are on your list. You can also attend networking events and work LinkedIn.
These types of connections can alert you if they know of job listings that have not been publicized outside the company. They may also be able to recommend you if your skills fit a company need even if a position has not yet been created. This is job search gold!
In the wake of COVID, many companies are currently having trouble finding workers so they are actively recruiting, frequently through job fairs and company-specific hiring events. Some of these are in-person events, while others are virtual job fairs. Either way, they are great opportunities not only to find out more about available positions, but to meet hiring managers and perhaps score an interview on the spot.
Dress professionally and have your updated and formatted resume on hand. Be enthusiastic, but polite and always get the contact information for anyone you talk to so you can follow up with a thank you email.
Plenty of job seekers are so dissatisfied with their current job that they miss job opportunities right at their current employer. Some companies prefer to promote from within, which gives you an advantage over job candidates from outside the company. In addition to promotion opportunities, you may be happier in a lateral move in a different department or division with a different boss and duties.
Maybe there is no opening at your dream company that exactly matches your desires, but there is a position for which you are qualified. Some job seekers will opt to take that less-than-optimal job to use as a jumping off point for advancement in the company or transfer to their dream job once it becomes available.
To supercharge your job search, you may want to engage the services of a recruiter. There are a number of nationwide and local recruiting companies, including some that specialize in certain industries or professions. A recruiter may have an inside track on job opportunities that have not yet been posted and can match your resume with prospective employers. They can also help you market yourself to employers and give you insight about companies. Legitimate recruiters get paid by the hiring companies; you should not have to pay them for their services.
A company may post a temporary or independent contractor position for a new project or product to test it out before committing more funding. Although it may not give you the job security you want, many of these positions will turn into full-time permanent positions if all goes well. Part-time positions are another way to establish yourself and show what you can do for an employer. As positions become available, it makes sense for companies to look internally at those who already have the skills and experience to move into those full-time jobs.
Most people think that once you have updated your resume, that is where your resume work ends until you need to search for your next job. However, most companies and recruiters use computer algorithms to sort through and pre-screen the hundreds or thousands of resumes they receive for each job opening.
The algorithms look for specific words in the job description and match them with the words in each resume. If the words and phrases do not match exactly, the system rejects the resume and moves onto the next one. For example, if the job description says search engine optimization and your resume says SEO, it will get rejected even though these are equivalent in meaning. If your resume says you have PowerPoint skills and the job description is asking for presentation skills, it will be rejected, all before an actual human can look at it.
Rewriting your resume to include those exact skills and requirements will give you a much better chance of advancing to the next level where you can get an interview. The same goes for cover letters, which should be even more specific, highlighting specific experience that relates to a top priority in the job description.
If you are unable to get a regular job right away, consider becoming an intern. Not all positions have internships available, but many do. For example, an internship is one way how to get a job in HR. Internships give you hands-on experience and allow you to build connections in the company as well as add an entry to your resume. Some internships are unpaid, but more and more are paid a nominal amount.
If you follow these tips, you will soon be past the job search process and on to employee onboarding.