Finding the right opportunity at the right time can feel very much like a stroke of luck, as is all of the variables of your job search are falling seamlessly into place to present you with this one can’t-pass-up opportunity. But if you’ve been seeking work for quite some time and aren’t getting the results you’re looking for, you know there’s a lot more to it than that – and you can’t afford to wait for luck to strike. Here are some practical tips to help you take charge of your search and find a job you love.

Know Yourself

It’s important to start with a good understanding of who you are and what you want. While getting your resume out there to a variety of employers is part of a successful job search, you also need to focus your search to increase the chances of securing an interview and avoid spreading yourself too thin. This process starts with carefully taking inventory of your skills, experience, and short and long term goals.

Think Beyond The Job Title

What do you really value when it comes to the world of work? It’s a simple enough question to ask yourself, but the answer can be very telling and help guide your job search in a direction that is more conducive to your goals. A job with a highly demanding schedule may initially catch your eye if it entails a pay increase, but if work/life balance is a top priority for your right now, you may find that something else is more compatible.

 

 

Research Different Options

Start researching different career options and get an idea of what is available in your area. What industries seem to have the most opportunities? What are average wages in your area? Exploring a variety of options may help you uncover hidden passions and develop a sense of what careers can realistically be pursued in your local job market. 

Register With a Staffing Firm

When you apply for a position with one company, that hiring manager is likely looking at your skills with a narrow scope to see if you would be a good fit for that role. When you work with a recruiter, we look at the whole candidate and work to find a variety of options for you. Sometimes you many even find out about opportunities you didn’t know you were qualified for. 

 

 

Make a Plan

Compare your existing skills and experience with the jobs you’d like to pursue. How do you get to where you want to be from where you are now? If you’re pursuing a job in a line of work you have plenty of experience in, charting that course can be relatively easy. If you’re branching out into new territory, you’ll definitely want to identify any gaps in necessary skills and experience and seek out ways of bridging them. Are there any jobs that you are currently qualified for that would allow you to get your foot in the door of the industry or company that you desire to work in?

 

 

 

 

 

Take Advantage of Resources

For instance, if you are registered with Manpower, you already have a free and versatile training tool available to you. Manpower’s PowerYOU training platform provides you with access to hundreds of free online courses that cover a wide range of topics, programs, and business skills. It’s an excellent starting point for those wishing to develop and strengthen their abilities to make them more competitive in the marketplace, or simply stay on top of their skills. Are there other resources available to you? Be sure to utilize them – your next opportunity could be right around the corner.