How many times have you been told that doing the same thing over and over will likely result in the same outcome? This is especially true when it comes to looking for a job. If you’re not getting the results you want – namely, a job offer – then now is the time to rethink your job search strategy.
Rethink How to Best Use Internet Job Boards
It happens all the time. Someone is laid off. They go through the initial grieving period. Then they rewrite their resume. They post it on the Internet. They mail it to prospective employers who have posted their job openings online. And over the course of the next few months their new job is looking for a new job.
According to Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., leading career expert and coach, in his article, “Recession Job-Search Do’s and Don’ts,” job seekers should spend no more than 5% of their time on the major job boards. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use the Internet. It’s just that the big boards – Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, HotJobs.com – are nationally focused. So they’re jobs are all over the map (literally and figuratively).
If you want to make the best use of your Internet job search time, look for boutique job boards that focus on a specific industry or job category. Or better yet, find a company you want to work for and visit their website to view their current job openings.
Consider Expanding Your Job Search Location
Have you considered moving? Yes, it’s a big step. But it just may be a step in the right direction. If you have been looking for work in a specific neighborhood and found little luck, it may be time to look outside your current parameters.
Naturally, it doesn’t make sense to drive hundreds of mile and spend lots of time on the road for a minimum wage job. However, a great career opportunity, especially for job seekers who are renting and open to relocating themselves, might be as close as a nearby town or, if you're game, even across country.
Think Outside Your Current Industry and Job Focus
Another way to expand your job search is to consider changing industries and job focus. Take the case of Margaret Weigel, a woman interviewed in the Boston.com article, “Lack of courtesy in job search can be daunting, but don’t give up.” She had spent her career in education and found it tough to break into another industry. By taking temporary, consulting and volunteer projects in other industries, she was able to gain new work experience.
Or perhaps your current career uses similar qualities and skill sets as other careers. Yes, the natural instinct is to stay close to what you know. It’s comfortable. However, a willingness to explore options not only signals someone who is flexible – a great trait in an employee – it gives you a lot more career opportunities to consider.
Help Recruiters Find You by Posting Your Resume on Google
If you’re going to take the time to post your resume online, you need to make sure you get it in front of every recruiter who might be interested in your background, education and skill set. Posting it with the large, national job posting sites means you risk not getting noticed by employers who don’t pay to search for resumes.
That is why you should consider posting your resume with Google. In the November 2010 SimplyHired.com article, “Help Recruiters Find Your Resume on Google,” they suggest posting your resume to Google Docs. Plus they show you how to do it.
As more and more employers conduct Internet searches of candidates, posting your resume on Google Docs means that a search of your name will not only get your resume in front of the right people, it will show you in the best light possible. And you’ll always have access to a web version of your resume for sharing.
If you find you’re getting stuck in a rut when it comes to looking for a new job, maybe it’s time to rejuvenate your job search strategy by rethinking how you use job search boards, where you’re looking for work, the type of jobs you are considering and where you post your resume online. Rethinking your job search strategy is one of the best ways to bring new life to your job search.
Deborah S. Hildebrand - Deborah S. Hildebrand is a freelance writer & HR consultant with 20+ years in human resources & a Bachelor's degree in Business.
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