Looking for work? Use these 5 job application strategies to help find employment

Being unemployed is a gigantic stress! Without employment, bills start getting behind and it doesn’t take long to find yourself in dire straits wondering what you’re going to do. To make matters more frustrating, the hiring market is tight, with companies often having hundreds of job applicants for the one position.

One of the best things to do if you find yourself in this situation is to educate and prepare yourself on good resume writing and job application practices. To help you get started, if you’re looking for work, use these 5 job application strategies to help you find employment!

1. Write to computers, not to a person. If you’re applying to a small coffee shop, the manager will probably be reviewing applications by hand; but if you’re applying to a large company, many use software programs that scan resumes for certain keywords. To put it simply, if you’re applying to be a software engineer, make sure those words are in your resume that you send in! This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be impersonal during the application process, but use words and references that are found in the job description to create a better match in the event the hiring company does use software. 

2. List your previous jobs on your resume or application that relate most to the job you’re currently applying for. If you’re worried about your resume or application showing a gap in employment due to this, you can still list your other previous jobs below the most relevant ones.

3. When describing what you’ve done in past jobs, use action verbs. Action verbs include words such as “managed”, “created”, “launched”, “solved”, etc. Leading with strong verbs that show action is easier for hiring managers to sift through, and it also shows good descriptive writing abilities.

4. Ask for job applications in person at places where you can directly speak to a manager, such as in stores. Making a personal connection will place a face with your application. Even if the place is not currently hiring, you may be remembered later on when a position opens up.

5. Last but not least, make sure your resume or application details are up to date. If it’s been awhile since you’ve last updated your skills or work history, it’s important to add them to show your full skillset.

Bonus tip!
Use all avenues to look for work - in person, using online job boards, LinkedIn and even social media sites!

In the meantime while you’re looking for work, check out our tips on how to dress for success in readiness for your next job interview!