7 Ways To Speed Up Your Job Search

There are plenty of good reasons you may be in a rush to find a new job. Whether your motivation is financial or anything else, you don't want to waste time. If you aren't quick to act, you could end up in a pickle. Learn how to speed up your search and get a good job before too much time passes.

1. Know Your Wants

Before you start looking for work, be sure of your wants. You can't just apply for every job you come across and hope to find the right one. In fact, having a broad approach makes it harder to find and apply for positions. As you read through hundreds of listings, you waste time sifting through jobs you have no interest in.

By taking a more focused approach, you can search through jobs that actually apply to you. Make a list of all the job titles you want and have a separate list of everything you're looking for in your new employment. In the end, you'll save time, and you won't end up applying for a job you would hate.

2. Customize Your Applications

The pressure of finding a new job could make you eager to send out as many applications as possible. Therefore, many job seekers rush out applications by using the same cover letter and resume for all their jobs.

Unfortunately, this approach makes it harder to find work. Hiring managers can usually tell when an applicant sends out a generic resume or cover letter. Furthermore, your lack of customization may not showcase your qualifications for the job. The fastest way to get an interview or job offer is to spend a few minutes customizing your application.

These days, many employers use applicant tracking systems to sift through job candidates. If certain words don't appear in your application, you have no chance of moving forward. The systems don't care how qualified you are for a position, so failing to pander to them could keep you from finding work. To appeal to tracking systems, scan a job listing for emphasized or repeated words and include those words in your resume.

3. Network, and Network Some More

One of the best ways to find a job opportunity is through your network. If someone knows you're the perfect fit for a job at their company, they can fast-track you through the hiring process. But no one will consider you if you don't have a strong network.

Unlike other aspects of the job hunt, networking isn't a single transaction. It's about building a relationship with someone and staying in touch. Even if you don't have a network when you start your job search, you can build one quickly. Take the time to work on your professional relationships, reaching out to former colleagues and employers. Attend job fairs and local industry events.

It's worth mentioning that networking shouldn't only be about you. If you don't offer anything of value to the people in your network, they probably won't be eager to help you out. You should be willing to offer help and advice when someone reaches out to you.

4. Use the Available Tools

If you think you're in the job search alone, you're wrong. There are tons of tools available to you, but you need to know where to look. On social media, you can join job groups or industry groups and read about new employment opportunities.

Job search engines are also invaluable tools. Whenever possible, set up to get email alerts about new jobs in your niche. The quicker you are to apply, the better your chances of finding work. And keep in mind you don't need to only use one job search engine. While you might have a preference when it comes to search tools, don't limit yourself.

When you search for jobs, don't be afraid to use filters. If you need a minimum salary, only look for jobs that pay above the salary. Other useful filters include the type of position, the date of the posting, and the education requirements. By using the filters properly, you can weed out all the jobs you don't want.

5. Look for the Right Fit

It's not only the job title or qualifications of a job that matter to you. As you search for work, consider how you fit into the position. Job seekers tend to ignore things like company values and benefits. But some companies may not be the right fit for you.

How does this speed up the job search? You could waste hours going on interviews for positions for a company you would never be content working for. You'll either decline a job offer or end up quitting after only a short time. If you pay attention to company values, you can only interview at the right places and focus your time on efforts that will get you work.

6. Follow-Up

After you apply for a job, don't move onto the next one without a single thought. If you don't follow-up with your applications, you could miss out on great job offers.

At times, hiring managers don't get eyes on all the applications. Unfortunately, this puts you at a disadvantage. You need a way to make sure they see your application and don't forget about you, and that means emailing about a follow-up.

7. Be Organized

If you don't take on your job search with an organized approach, you end up wasting time. For instance, you might apply for the same job several times. The best way to make good use of your time is to be organized. Have a spreadsheet with all of your job prospects, along with details about the date of your application and follow-up email.

Additionally, be organized with your resumes and cover letters. As you customize documents, you may find that you are able to reuse one resume without making too many changes. Know which resumes are appropriate for which jobs.

Finally, set deadlines. If you make a deadline to apply for 20 jobs in a month, you're more likely to be proactive.