Guide to making your job search easier

As the job market has hit an all time low around the world, many are going through a lot trying to find and create a decent life for themselves. 

The ignoring of labor laws, increase in toxic work environments, and desperation (distrust and greed) corrupting the economy has made security become something that is a luxury rather than a standard.

So what do you do when you find yourself needing to secure something to lead the life you want to life?

Step by step guide on how to plan for, secure, fully utilize a job in today’s market

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# 1. The Plan

First step in trying to throw yourself into the jaws of corporation, business, and franchise is to know why you’re doing it in the first place. This seems easy enough and something that comes naturally but it honestly doesn’t. This can become unclear especially as the process becomes muddled by everyday problems. 

It’s great to have an idea of what you need, what you want, and why — but it’s even better to breakdown these into a list of some kind then to figure out what methods for keeping track of them is easiest for you. Whether you make use a budgeting template, savings plan, how you are going to invest what you make, taking in account any need for accommodations or possible health issues that can get in the way of work, something to turn to before and when you get burned out, and exit routes so you don’t feel tied to a terrible job that depletes you of progress, personal time, or achievement. 

# 2. The Starting Line

Second, you after brainstorming on this, you’re going to want to make something straightforward dividing up your short term vs your long term goals. Know these won’t be concrete and that you will have to adjust to them as life happens. This is your starting point.

# 3. The Process

Third, Don’t start by thinking about your experience when starting your job search. It will lead to unnecessary stress and it’s needed until you start working on a resume which you shouldn’t rush to just yet. Resume building isn’t the step you want to get to before the following steps. Why?

Considering experience right away is for people who are seeking senior or specialized roles, or for people who are wanting to be considered for a promotion within the company where they are employed. 

If you are someone in a specialized field or seeking a senior role but you’re having trouble finding work in your field, you’re going to ask yourself some important questions on what is limiting positions in your field and how to avoid be listed down as overqualified. You’re also the group that is going to spend the most time figuring out the nuances that are getting in the way because for you it won’t be some overarching hard-to-grasp concept, but rather something small like demand, are you in a dying field, etc. Your group despite any of the issues getting the way of you making progress is actually going to have a lot more options in what you can do. Depending on whether you will be seeking work in something new or crossing into a different field you might have to try what is listed below.

If not, what you actually want to do after having a solid and realistic understanding on what whatever job you find is going to cater to, outside of just money, is research. What you will be doing is setting aside some time to learn what are the top industries within the area you are able to locate to for work. You want to make this specific so go by city. If you’re planning on doing remote work, research what are the top industries for remote work either internationally or within your region. The average person wants a job as soon as possible that pays what they think is worth the time and effort, because of this you want to focus on what will be the easiest to get into then work with what you need to in order to have your job search actually cater to you so you don’t become desperate or stressed in the process.

# 4. Effective Standards

When beginning your job search, you want to focus more attention on what’s ideal rather than what you don’t want. This is how you prevent yourself from wasting too much time spending hours going through job applications and burning yourself out early. Also make sure to apply within a week at the very latest of an application, skim through the description, and take a small amount of time to look up the pros, cons, and environment of working for the company you apply to. If you can’t find the company or anything reliable about them as employers do not waste your time considering the role. If you were going to work for a new business, know it is best for temporary short term work like something seasonal and a way to have formal training and knowledge rather than dedicated long term experience — recent experience in a similar related field.

Look out for immediate, paid training, urgent, new, and highly favored work environments when applying for work. The last mention is work doing something you know you would love aside from management and possible downsides, and companies with well respected professional handling of their employees and systems. When applying for any role you want to avoid work that doesn’t seem right, is too demanding (ridiculously long listing of responsibilities for one role), or the pay doesn’t add up to what is being asked of you whether it is more or less than the appropriate amount.

Important note: Do not wait till you are no longer working there or problems arise to start applying to more reliable opportunities after being trained and becoming adjusted to the work. If it works out great, but it’s not something you should rely on and this is for any job though for a reliable position you want to make sure you plan to stay for a decent amount of time to save, invest, and pursue long term goals. Make sure you have an exit route for short term work and have a back up plan for long term positions that didn’t work out.

# 5. The Resume

When making your resume don’t start from scratch. If you want to use a template instead of making your own outline, make sure the format is suited for you. If you have a employment gap, returning to work, is appropriate and best for the industry you’re in, and if it won’t get your application rejected by an automated system. This outline or template will be what you copy and use, to build and tailor each resume for each role so it should only take you a couple minutes to do so, not counting if you are multitasking, breaks, or get distracted. When creating your resume outline reference other resumes for your field that are professional and easy to skim, same for choosing the right template. Understand the types of resumes that are best for your circumstances and the standard for formatting for your region — or field. 

If you want to do a cover letter or have to, create an outline or read over 3 that are already made for related work and reference them when you feel stuck to get through the process in a timely manner.

\*\*\*If the application process is lengthy and exhausting, do not force yourself to endure it and seek better applications. This is another reason why taking a few minutes to quickly research about the company can help save you time. 

# 6. Setting a routine

Having a healthy and organized routine in your day plays a bigger role in your apply to move forward in life than you might be aware or acknowledge. Take note of what habits get in your way of having the life you want and make small steps to change and switch them up. Find out what works for you and put effort in respecting your natural way of living, have patience for your shortcomings and don’t feed into how you might let yourself down. Know none of us is perfect and have kindness for yourself when your life doesn’t add up to what you want it to be. Research ways to organize your life in whatever way is best for you and make a habit out of small actions that can make your life easier rather than harder.

Note: If something is difficult because of emotional or mental experiences, it’s not about what you’re doing wrong but what you need more of and how you can find the support you need, supplement it (in a healthy way), or seek assistance for what you’re going through. Sometimes we just need to feel seen, understood, and have someone present with us in what we’re going through so we can feel less alone and this can be done a number of ways even when our options feel limited.

Take the time to learn small ways to feel like yourself again or find peace that might mean more than what it seems at first.