Look for Work

Looking for work can be a terrifying prospect for people, whether you're a newly unemployed experienced professional or a college student looking to get your first real job. Learning to craft a good resume, knowing how to network, and keeping a positive attitude can make your job search easier. We’ll walk you through the process with this guide on how to look for work.

Steps

Preparing to Look

1. Craft your resume. The resume is one of the main ways your potential employer is going to get a good look at what you might offer their company. You have to make sure that it is formatted in a way that draws attention, that it's free of errors that could cost you the job, and that it is accurate.
   • Consider three skills that you could offer a potential employer (it's best to think in the specific for each employer: creative thinking might be good for an office job, but less relevant for a job in welding) and write them down. You will want a person reading your resume to get a sense of these three skills. For example: instead of saying you're a creative thinker, highlight examples of times when you presented creative, useful solutions to a problem.
   • Be specific and tell a story. Your resume tells the story you want it to tell about what kind of worker you are. For example, if you worked at a restaurant, don't say "waited tables" say "managed up to 5 tables during busy nights and ensured a positive customer experience." This shows that you handle stress well, that you can multitask, and that you care about customers.
   • One of the most popular ways of formatting your resume is chronologically. This means that you list your work history from most recent to earliest, so that your employer can see how you’ve progressed through your career.
   • A slightly different way of formatting your resume is to put the relevant work experience first. This means that you have a section detailing the jobs you've done that correspond to the job you're looking for. After that, you might have a section with other jobs in chronological order. The benefit of this method is that the potential employer can easily how much experience you have for the listed position.
2. Prepare for a job interview. You should never go into a job interview without having prepared for it beforehand, even if you think you’re a shoo-in. There are certain questions that you'll almost inevitably be asked at a job interview that you should consider beforehand.
   • Your employer will probably ask about your experience at a previous company. What they want to know with this question is how your past experience is going to relate to the job you're interviewing for. They may ask what your biggest professional accomplishment is to date. Use this as an opportunity to provide an example of why you should get this job. For example, if they ask you "Why are you the best person for this position?" you will need to give an example or two about what sets you apart from the other candidates.
   • The biggest and typically most terrifying question is “What is your greatest weakness?” The best way to answer this question is to be honest, but strategic. Answer truthfully, but address what you're doing to improve on your weakness. For example: "My greatest weakness is that I have a tendency to take on too many things at work. I've been working to get better on giving closer attention to the most important projects, while still maintaining time for and quality of the smaller projects."
   • Practice the 2 minute SAFW response method. This means "say a few words; statement; amplify; few examples; wrap-up." For example, if the interviewer asks you about your experience at a previous company, say something like "My previous company was a great opportunity to hone my customer service skills. I worked with a wide range of customers to ensure an optimal experience for each one. When I was answering the phones, I once talked an 80-year-old first-generation German ex-pat through the sign-up process, despite him speaking almost no English. The previous people he'd talked to had gotten really frustrated with his lack of English, but he and I worked through the process very carefully. I even learned a few new German words!"
3. Research your potential job fully. While this is part of the preparation for a job interview, it is one of the most important parts of showing why you're a good fit for the company. Even if you're putting out a bunch of resumes, you will need to know enough about each company you're applying for that you look like you know what you're talking about if you get an interview.
   • Know who you're interviewing with, if possible. Find out if it's the manager, owner, or another person in the company. Try to learn their name and a little about them. If you can learn something about what they look for in an interviewee—if you know someone who works at the company, for example—that can help you tailor the interview to their standards.
   • Have some idea of what the company does. Even a simple internet search can benefit you here. Asking really obvious questions about the company or having no clear idea what it is the company does makes you look desperate for a job and not interested in that job specifically, which will limit your chances of success.
4. Craft good questions. Interviewers are paying attention to the questions you ask, so this is just another part of the assessment. For example, ask your interviewer to give you some examples of projects you might take on, the typical job trajectory for the position you're applying for, why they like working there, or how you would best contribute to the company.
   • You can also ask if they have any concerns about you or your qualifications that might prevent you from going to the next level.
   • Avoid certain questions, like what the company does, if they do background checks, if they monitors internet or email usage, or the interviewer's qualifications
5. Dress appropriately. You don’t want to show up to your place of potential employment dressed like you just rolled out of bed. This includes when you turn up to ask about job openings or to drop off your resume.
   • Try to get a sense of what the dress code is like for the company. This depends on the type of company you’ll be working at. Working as a barista is going to require different clothing than a bank teller.
   • Make sure that you and your clothes are clean. If this is something difficult for you, some shelters, nonprofit groups, or local laundromats offer discounts or free services to people who are experiencing financial hardship.
6. Be realistic. In order to look for work and to actually get far with your job, you must have tenacity and guts. Be aware that you're probably going to get rejected more than once for a job. Finding a job can take time and effort.
   • It's unlikely that the first job you apply for is the one you're going to get. You cannot allow that to discourage you. Instead, look at each interview and each time you give someone your resume as an opportunity to make a connection and to learn from any mistakes you make. The more you interview and write resumes, the greater your chances of success.

Looking For a Job

1. Ask around. While plenty of people find a job in the classifieds or over the internet, the best way to get a job is usually through word of mouth, preferably by someone already in the company. Friends and family can be a great resource, so let them know what kind of work you’re looking for to see if they have any connections.
   • Having people you know already in the company you're looking to work for makes it much more likely that you'll get hired, especially if the people who work there are good employees. A personal recommendation can be a huge asset to your resume.
   • If you graduated from a university, your alumni network is a fantastic way to find a job or get contacts in the industry you’re interested in. Most universities can hook you up with former students who can answer your questions about getting a job in a specific field, who can write recommendations, or even offer a job in their company or field.
   • Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have connections to the industry you’d like to work in yet. It’s completely possible to get a job even without these connections, and building a network from scratch is always an option.
2. Look at local listings. There are usually bulletin boards (online, in paper, or on an actual wall) all throughout your community. People post all kinds of job opportunities in these places, including some of the more unusual possibilities. It's a good idea to keep an eye on these places, because you never know what might come up.
   • Check the listings at the local library. Libraries and public spaces often have listings for different kinds of jobs.
   • Look in your local newspaper's job listings. The classifieds have all kinds of jobs, including some rather unusual ones. Make sure you know the companies or people that are offering the jobs, because anyone can put a classified in the newspaper. Check things out before you get too far into the interview process.
3. Use the internet as a resource. Quite a few people are finding that the internet is a great job hunting tool and networking opportunity. You will have to make sure that you filter out the resources that aren't very good and make sure you research a job you find on the internet before committing to anything.
   • Find a website specific to your niche. If you're looking to be a journalist, for example, there are specific websites that offer information about different types of jobs available in journalism.
   • Websites like LinkedIn are a really good networking tool. You can add professionals in your area of interest and even message them to see if they’d be willing to talk to you about their professional journey. Sites like Craigslist are sometimes be useful, but it can be very hard to wade through bad listings to find that one gem of a job.
   • Clean up your social media presence. Employers frequently check the internet presences of potential employees, unfair as this may seem. Make sure that your settings are on private—that way, you can maintain a professional image for employers.
4. Find a temp job, an internship, or part-time job in your chosen field. Part-time, temp, internship, or seasonal jobs are all good ways to get your foot in the door in a company or field that you're interested in pursuing.
   • Employers tend to look at the people they know. If you've worked for them in one of these types of jobs you're more likely to be considered and considered favorably than someone they've only seen the resume of.
   • These jobs (especially internships) are also a great place to network. Keep in contact with the people you work with, make sure they know the kinds of jobs you're looking for, so that you're first in their mind when they hear of something.
   • Go to your local college and universities and check the bulletin boards outside the job resource office. Part-time, seasonal, and nanny jobs tend to be posted here rather than online or in the newspaper, because the employers are looking for a very specific type of person.

Networking Like a Professional

1. Take advantage of opportunities to network. Networking is one of the most important things you can do to look for a job because it opens up opportunities and introduces you to people you might not otherwise have met. People are more likely to hire someone that they know, for instance.
   • Get out and meet people. Networking requires that you go to events where you can make new contacts: conferences, events, trade shows, and business meet-ups. Keep an eye on the newspaper, or follow news about your area of work for opportunities to meet people.
   • If you’re someone that faces discrimination in society, such as being part of a racial minority group, disabled, a woman, or trans, networking can be more difficult. Fortunately, many networking groups have sprung up specifically to meet the needs of people from diverse backgrounds. You can find these groups online through LinkedIn, or even use a site like Meetup.com to find networking groups in person.
2. Find places to network. There many different kinds of networking events that you can take advantage of, like conventions, meetings, and mixers. Don't limit yourself just to specific networking events, however, because many of the deepest and most useful connections form from unusual places.
   • No matter the kind of employment you’re looking for, there are plenty of organizations dedicated to your line of work. These organizations often have annual meetings and other types of conferences or conventions. If you can, check websites and magazines associated with your work; these will often have information about meeting opportunities.
   • Look for people to talk to at the gym, while volunteering, at your coffee shop, on an airplane. One good thing about networking with people outside of work is that you are more likely to develop a personal connection, while still delving into work stuff.
   • Strike up a conversation. A key skill in networking is being able to start conversations yourself. A good way to do this is by introducing yourself briefly and then offering the other person a compliment. Even better is if you can use that compliment to get them talking.
   • For example, if you're sitting next to someone on a plane, compliment her on the pin she's wearing and ask her the story behind it. You might be able to get a new friend who can help you find new job opportunities.
3. Develop a strategy. To effectively network with potentially useful people you'll need to develop an effective networking strategy. This means coming up with a way to get yourself across to people quickly. It also means knowing who you want to meet and a little about them.
   • Find out who will be attending the networking events and make a list of the people you would most like to meet at the event. Try to find out a little about them before the event, like what kind of work they do and if they have any interests they’ve made public.
   • Practice your elevator pitch, which says who you are and what you do (and perhaps what you're hoping to do) in as natural a way as possible. You want it short and easy to remember. "I'm Mary-Ellen Jones and do copy editing for an up-and-coming internet company." Look at every interaction as practice for networking and getting better at striking up conversations with people.
   • If you have business cards, keep them with you, but don't immediately hand them out. Wait until you’ve had a short conversation with someone before giving them your information.
4. Have a specific image. Like your elevator speech, you want to have a short, specific distillation of who you are. This makes it easier for people to remember you and to describe you to other people, like potential employers.
   • Take another look at those three skills that you feel like you can offer employers, and make sure that those are the qualities that you highlight. This means keeping specific examples in mind.
   • For example: if your three qualities are that you’re hardworking, a creative thinker, and punctual, you would show examples of times when you used these qualities, either on their own on in conjunction with one another. You want these qualities to be what people remember about you and pass along.
5. Use networking as a two-way street. If you're just thinking of networking as what can this person do for me, you're using it incorrectly. Networking goes both ways: what can you offer other people? Lending a hand to others, will make them more likely to help you down the road.
   • If you ask more questions and listen more than you talk people will remember you more favorably and will be more likely to recommend you or help you out further on.
   • Ask the people you meet questions about themselves. Who are they? What do they do? What do they enjoy about their work? How did they end up in that job? You don't need to get super personal about your questions, but you should show your interest in what they do.
6. Maintain your network. Once you have connected with people you need to maintain that connection. Constantly re-evaluate who you need to keep in your network and who isn't as useful.
   • Avoid burning bridges. You have no idea who might help you out in the future, and badmouthing people or having a public fall-out with someone can label you unfavorably in other people's eyes.

Using Proper Job-Hunt Etiquette

1. Pick the right time. Fall is one of the best times to look for a job. More companies seem to hire in the fall, which may have to do with using the unspent money in their annual funds. It’s therefore a good time to really start getting your resumes out there.
   • Pay attention to seasonal jobs, which usually start hiring before the holidays (November and early December). These can be a good way to get your foot in the door for a more permanent job later on, especially if you prove that you're a good investment. Both retail and food service often have seasonal jobs in the winter and the summer. You can find good outdoor jobs in the summer too—just make sure to start looking in late winter or early spring.
   • Different jobs may have some different hiring spikes. For example, teachers seem to have hiring spikes in March, November, December, and September. On the other hand, May and January seem to provide opportunities for folks looking to work in healthcare.
2. Make yourself unique. You need to find ways to make an impression on the people who might potentially hire you. To do that, make sure that you show what unique combination of qualities and experience make you best suited for a job.
   • Personalize your cover letters, resumes, and interviews to the specific company that's looking into hiring you. Generic and vague cover letters will make the interviewer less interested in you. Remember, you're trying to answer why this company, why this job, and why you. Having specific answers to those questions will go a long way towards making the company interested in you.
   • Use the rule of three. People tend to only remember three things about whatever person they met. Stick to having three qualities that you're looking to push home and find ways to reiterate those qualities throughout your cover letter, your resume, and your interview. Give specific examples of these qualities throughout your job-seeking material.
   • Find ways to get involved with the company or area of job interest. Try to get a tour of the company facilities, get introduced to Human Resources, or volunteer for an event the company is sponsoring. Finding a way to put a face to a resume can make a huge difference in whether you're hired or not.
3. During the interview process, be courteous to everyone. This means even the people on the lowest rung of the company ladder. Assume that anyone and everyone in the company you're interviewing for could give the hiring manager feedback on whether they liked you.
4. Be politely persistent. The people who get the jobs are the people who don't stop looking and don't stop being persistent about the jobs that they want. There's a fine line between persistent and annoying. Being polite and courteous at all times will keep you in the former category.
   • During the interview ask "What are the next steps in the process?" and "When may I follow up with you?" This gives you a better sense of how soon to contact them if you haven't heard back.
   • When you are following up with a potential job, make sure the people you're speaking with know that you appreciate that their time is valuable. Say something like "I know you have a lot of work to do and I really appreciate the time you've taken to help me out with this." You should always thank them for helping you.
   • If you aren't getting a response, your best bet is to check in three times and after that, acknowledge that you probably didn't get the job. If you know someone within the company, you can ask them where the company is in its hiring process and who is the best person to contact about getting a response.
5. Send a follow-up thank you. After any job interview, you should send a follow-up thank you message. Almost everyone sends e-mails these days, so if you want to stand out, you could consider sending a handwritten note.
   • Make sure that your thank-you note is as specific as possible. Thank the person who interviewed you, go over a few of the points that you discussed in the interview and why they were important to you, and reiterate your interest in the position.
   • Although it may be a bit of overkill, you can send a thank you email and a more formal thank you note.

Tips

• Don't be afraid to look in unusual places. You never know where you might come across a job.
• Stay positive while you're job hunting, even when you've suffered setbacks. People are going to remember your positivity and be a lot more likely to hire you than if you have a negative, self-defeating, or desperate attitude.

Warnings

• There is no guarantee that you'll get a job, even with these recommendations, but that doesn't mean that you should stop looking! The more persistent you are, the more likely you will find something.

Related Articles

• Dress for Work
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• Get a Job

References

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