Ready for My Top 10 Positives About Job Seeking?
Job Seeking. Sigh. In 2024, I am back on this bandwagon, so here I go again with this top 10.
Adventures in Career Changing means job applications.
Beyond networking, education and research, there are just sometimes some forms to fill out. I have filled out – I have no idea how many. And while there are problems with many of these forms, there is also some good out there, along with other aspects of looking for a job these days.
#10 – Following X or Bluesky for Job Seeking
There are all sorts of Twitter X or Bluesky streams which showcase any number of openings. Company streams, in particular, can be a good source of leads. Make sure to watch for perhaps a week or so in order to determine whether the content is being updated frequently.
#9 – LinkedIn, Land of Job Seeking Opportunity
For power users of LinkedIn, there are numerous ways to look for work. One good way is to check their job listings, and apply through the site. Some openings allow you to apply directly via your LinkedIn profile. Others send you to a company’s website.
But make no mistake; companies (or at least they should) check the traffic sources for the job applications they receive. And so by going to a job application directly from LinkedIn, you show that, at least in some small way, the biggest online networking site in the world matters.
But instead, you should apply directly on the site if you can. Why? Because applying through LinkedIn is often just a means of showing an interest only. Sometimes, it can’t be helped. But if you have a choice, apply on the company website every single time.
#8 – LinkedIn Skills and Endorsements
If you’ve got an account on LinkedIn, surely you have seen these by now. So fill in your skills profile! And make sure to endorse other people as well. A lot of them will reciprocate.
#7 – Scannable Resumes
Gone are the days when most resumes were eyeballed, at least to start. Because your resume is far more likely to be read by a machine before a human. So get your resume loaded up with relevant keywords! Why? Because you’ll make the first cut, that’s why.
However, much like with regular old search, keyword stuffing is a lousy idea. If you’re job seeking for a career in marketing, then larding up terms like marketer, marketing, market research, etc. can often be too much. Yes, you want to match well. But you also don’t want to turn your resume into an obnoxious laundry list of terminology.
#6 – Personal Websites
The good, the bad and the ugly are out there. My own, for instance. I leave it to you to decide which category it falls under.
At least this site is completely functional and current. And it comes up quickly, plus you can readily find everything on it. Finally, Google ranks it fairly well. I know I can improve it. But it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
#5 – Clarity
Job descriptions can become very precise these days, as employers can (in part, in some instances) select software and versions from drop-downs to better communicate their needs to the job seeking public.
One special form of clarity is now the law in a lot of states—salary transparency. May it become the law of every single state, and soon!
I truly love salary transparency, and a lot of people do, too. In fact, there are plenty of people who will not apply to a job that does not list a salary range. I love this idea, although in all candor, I don’t always practice it.
But salary transparency, bottom line, saves time.
#4 – LinkedIn Recommendations
Unlike endorsements, these require a bit of prose. But they can be rather powerful. At the very least, you don’t want to be a job seeker who doesn’t have any. So ask! And not just your boss or former boss. Ask your coworkers as well, and offer to reciprocate.
If the person you ask doesn’t think they’re good at writing, offer to write the recommendation for them and have them, of course, adapt it as they like and post it or not if they wish. And the same in reverse. If you’re uncomfortable, ask the person to write a rec for you and then you can enhance it or take out bits as you see fit.
#3 – Blog
Just like this one, a candidate can use a blog to provide more information or get across personality without having to overload a resume. Savvy employers will look candidates up on social media. Why not give them something good to find?
Something better than Facebook rants, voter rolls, etc.
#2 – LinkedIn Functionality
For jobs advertised on LinkedIn, for some of them, you can apply by connecting them directly to your profile. What could be easier? But beware, as that’s not too specific to jobs, and hiring managers don’t like that.
And functionality changes over time. One thing you can do is inform a company that you’re interested in them (via LinkedIn). You can also, although I believe you currently need to have the paid version of LI, tell them if theirs is one of your top choice jobs/companies.
#1 – Being Able to do Job Seeking Online
Finally, of course, a lot of the job search still must happen in an old-fashioned manner. Interviews will, for the most part (except, perhaps, for quickie phone screens, particularly where relocation is at issue), be conducted on screen. Some may still have to be done in person.
A lot of networking will still happen at events and not on LinkedIn. But a ton of it can happen in cyberspace. It makes the search far easier and faster than it ever has been.
And God bless the developers of Zoom. An initial interview pulls maybe an hour out of your day—instead of a good four or more.
Got any of your own gems you’d like to share?