The job search will be so much smoother and less stressful with the right habits in place. Whether you are knee-deep in the job hunt or just beginning your search, these five practices will help speed up your process so you can land that position that you’ve been aiming for.

Think Ahead

The best thing you can do as a job seeker is to set up your future self for success by thinking ahead.

In today’s job market connections are truly everything so never burn any bridges. That coworker that you can’t stand right now might have a connection to a potential employer, so stay on their good side! It could be for the mutual benefit of both of you.

Take advantage of every opportunity to connect with someone from a company that you are interested in. You never know how it can benefit you down the line.

You should also be taking notes on your new skill sets and successes in current and past roles. Update your resume regularly to reflect the current place you are in professionally. Keep track of those situations that would make the perfect answer to a behavioral interview question.

Even when you aren’t looking for a new job, you should keep the mentality that it never hurts to make connections as if you are looking. 

Set Goals and Deadlines

So many job seekers miss amazing opportunities because they simply wait too long to take advantage of them. Don’t save that job posting that looked great on LinkedIn and push it off for a later time to apply. The longer you wait, the higher the chance of it slips out of your fingers when you miss the application deadline.

Set some goals for how many jobs you want to apply to and where and then set deadlines for yourself. An action plan will help you tremendously in holding yourself accountable. Successful job seekers treat applying to jobs like a job itself!

You should cast your net widely, but be strategic. Don’t just apply to every position you see. Indeed suggests applying to around 10-15 jobs per week or 2-3 a day. For recent college grads, they suggest 10-20 hours of applying per week and 30-40 hours for folks who are unemployed.

The number of jobs you apply to may vary depending on your profession and the urgency, but figure out what works for you and set some goals. Schedule out blocks of time to do some research, tidy up your resume, and fill out applications, then set those deadlines. These practices in time management will boost your productivity 

Remember to keep track of the positions that you’ve applied for. There’s nothing worse than applying for a job just to get a callback and completely forget which job you even applied to. Keeping track will also help you know when to follow up with a call or email to reiterate your interest. 

Prepare for Interviews 

Get that interview outfit ready and pull up those behavioral interview questions, it’s time to prep! Preparing for interviews is one of the most common habits of successful job seekers.

We all get interview jitters and nerves are normal, but when you’ve practiced and prepared your responses, you highly increase your chances of success. You don’t need to prepare your answers so much that they feel rehearsed, but doing some mock interviews with friends can be really helpful for when the big day comes.

Don’t forget to do your research on the company, too! You want to be well informed when you walk in there so that you aren’t caught off-guard when they ask you what you like about their company. Prepare a couple of questions to ask at the end of the interview and make them good ones!

Lastly, do a little research on the person that will be interviewing you if you know their name. Once you have an idea of who they are, it will come more naturally to respond to them by name in your interview This is always a memorable touch.

Network

Networking is everything when you’re in the market for a new job. If you can connect with someone at the company that you want to work for, then your chances of getting the job greatly increase. 

Show off that brilliant personality with follow-up questions at industry events and sign up for every networking event that you can fit in your schedule. Contact friends at companies that look appealing or reach out if you think they might know someone who is aligned with your career values. 

Connections with people and career networking will save you significant time and resources. If you can get your name in the room then you have a much higher chance of getting a seat at the table. Proactive people always secure career success first.

If you’re a college student or recent college grad, take advantage of the college career center. Advisors can help you connect with alumni who may be able to help. If you’re making a career transition, research some names and companies in your field and reach out via email or LinkedIn.

For more tips on networking, check out our blog post on How to Expand your Network When Seeking a Job.

Stay Motivated

Job search success always begins with a couple of failures along the way so it is important to stay motivated. It’s okay if you bomb an interview with one of your target employers or you never hear back from an application. Treat these disappointments as minor setbacks and bounce back stronger.

Successful job seekers know how to implement motivating resources into their routine like a power playlist, a good YouTube guru, a self-help podcast, or a frustration-easing workout routine. Pick up that good biography and remember that these obstacles are all part of the process.

As long as you remain motivated and resilient, the right job will meet you with open arms and you will be more than ready for it.

If the job hunt is taking longer than expected, we have some tips on how to keep your head up. 

Our recruiting services can help you speed up that job search and land your dream job. Be a proactive job seeker and contact us today to be matched with a recruiter.