It’s obvious to add your resume to a website and apply when you see a fit, or get an alert. However, If that is the only way you are handling your digital job search, you definitely won’t maximize your results. Before you utilize the job search strategies listed below, be sure to tighten up your resume and cover letter; if you need to customize either one of them, you should do that as well.
Set up job alerts on every platform you can.
Whenever you job search on a site, in most cases they ask you if you want to set up a job alert. If it is a site you trust, you should definitely set up job alerts, so that you don’t miss any opportunities.
Google search your role.
Google searching your role will pull up a vast amount of search results online. For example, if you don’t narrow down your search, it will pull up just about every company, city and state that has opportunities for you, which can be a good thing if you still don’t know whether you want a remote, contract, or full-time job.
Follow companies on every social media platform they are on.
Once you find a company that you are interested in, you should follow them or connect to them through social media. Even though we have social media management platforms like Hootsuite and Bluurp, some companies do not always update every social media platform they are on. If you follow a company on every platform, this maximizes your chances of seeing job opportunities as soon as they are posted.
Check out business journals for the city and state you are targeting.
Most major cities have online business journals, and these journals tell you about the coolest companies in the area (or, at least what they deem to be the coolest companies in the area). Business journal lists usually include a lot of startups; if you are looking to get into the startup industry, this may be good for you.
Search your role on Glassdoor.
When you search your role on Glassdoor, not only will you be able to see what companies have opportunities for you, but you will also be able to see what current and former employees are saying. You’ll be able to immediately see details on what a particular company may be offering for your role.
Join any digital groups you can on social media.
When I lived in New York, I attended tons of networking events (this was before and after Meetup became a thing). However, now Meetup makes it easier to find meetups in your field and in your area. Also before you move to any new place, check for digital meetups near where you’ll be located.
Don’t just focus on Meetup; you should also do searches on Facebook. For example, the Houston area of Texas, has a “Houston Digital Jobs” group; direct employers and recruiters also post full-time, contract, and intern roles there. If you spend time on any social media platform, you should search to see if they have groups to join.
Do “blind auditions.”
If you find a company you like and they are not hiring at all or they are not hiring for your particular role right now, you should still contact them. Visit their careers page to see if they have instructions about how to contact them for future openings. If you don’t have any luck on the careers page, look for any human resource links on the site.
You can also look for the “Contact Us” form to ask a question about where to send a resume and cover letter. Since this is what I like to call a “blind audition,” you need to make sure you put your best foot forward and work overtime to get contacted back. As with any job search process, you want to customize your resume and cover letter, and find ways to say unique things about the company.
For example, if you are a full-stack developer, you want to mention that. However, you also want to make sure you mention specific technologies the company is utilizing right now. If you are applying for a job at Twitter, you want to mention any work you’ve done with Twitter APIs.
Use remote and onsite job search strategies.
While some companies may be 100% onsite, and some may be 100% remote, this does not mean that a remote company will never need an onsite person or that an onsite company will never need a remote person. Companies grow, and needs change from time to time. So, if you see a company you like, don’t be afraid to email them and ask. They may also welcome you to apply for a role in the company if you ever move to the area. Either way, you now have a contact that you didn’t have before.
Job searching takes patience, persistence, and humility. There will be times when you are simply just not a good fit, and that is okay. Whatever happens during the process, you will learn new strategies that you can teach others. So, get out there and job search!
Featured photo credit: Maret Hosemann via pixabay.com
