Jobs Search

Due to today's economy, it can be hard to find a job. The good news is that it isn't going to impossible for you to do, but it might be harder than say a few years back. So what can help you get a job? Of course having the skills and a good resume is key, but so is goal setting. As just stated, it might be harder to find a job in today's economy and a challenge is the perfect place for goals. These goals can help to provide motivation and more!

So when it comes to finding a job, what are some ideal goals to set for yourself?

Find Jobs You Are Qualified For - It is okay to apply for a few of your dream jobs or jobs that you like just because of the pay. On that same note, you want to focus on jobs that you are qualified for. This economy and the bad job market isn't the best time to be taking a chance. Because of that economy, fewer companies are hiring and when they do hire they want to ensure they are getting a qualified candidate; make sure you are that qualified candidate.

Improve Your Resume - In all honesty, your resume might be perfect (literally); however, it will not hurt to give it a second look. Print a copy and read it out loud. Do you notice any mistakes or any instances where a line doesn't make sense? If so, it is time to make changes now. Also, consider tailoring your resume to the position in which you are applying for. Remember, you want to show that you are the perfect candidate. Alter your objective to fit the job, bring extra attention to skills and training that are transferable, and so forth.

A Mock Interview Before Each Real Interview - Job interviews can be pretty nerve-racking especially if you haven't had an interview in a few years. However, don't be surprised to get some nervous butterflies floating around in your stomach even if you had a job interview two days ago! To help ease the stress and to ensure you are well-prepared, do a mock interview. You can always do this alone in your room with you and a mirror, but see if you can do a mock interview with any friends or family members (especially those who would be willing to provide unbiased feedback).

Search at Least Twice a Day - Since there are more Americans looking for a job than there are actual positions, lots of applications and resumes are sent out. Sometimes, a hiring manager can have enough applicants to hire for the position in less than 48 hours! Since there are no guarantees when resumes will stop being reviewed, you need to act fast. This means set a good goal on search, like search the career sites at least twice a day.

Send Out X Number of Resumes a Week - This is one of those goals that is good to have, but okay if you don't meet. As mentioned above, you want to focus most of your attention on jobs that you are qualified for. So lets say that you have the goal of sending out 15 resumes in one week. The week is coming to an end and you have only sent out 10 resumes, does this mean you need to apply to five jobs you aren't qualified for just to meet your goal? No.

Be Employed by XXXX Date - It is always good to have a job date in mind. With that said, this is not a goal that you can accomplish all by yourself. You can improve your chances of getting hired by searching often, applying for jobs you are qualified for, having a good resume, and having a great job interview. Even still though, you might walk away empty handed. Although there are no guarantees, create the goal of having a job in X number of weeks or months. If you meet your goal, good. If you don't meet your goal, you know you need to put forth more effort.

The above mentioned goals can help you greatly in your quest to find a job. If you are ready to get started today, consider downloading a job finding program. While these software programs aren't required, they do come highly rated and recommended. Good programs let you search thousands of job sites, setup alerts for new job listings, apply for jobs right through the program, and more!

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