Being unemployed for a prolonged period can be emotionally draining and very stressful. It does not matter if you walked away from a job, were laid off, or fired; being out of work is a very difficult situation to handle. In today’s post, we will discuss the best methods to jump-start your job search so you can find a new job as soon as possible.
Work Temporary or Part-time Jobs
An excellent way to jump-start your job search is to work temporary jobs or part-time jobs while unemployed. Instead of sitting at home trying to figure out how you will find a new full-time job, consider signing with a temporary staffing firm that can place you in a job. Or, you can work a part-time job at a company that you would love to work for full time. Doing this could lead to a foot in the door that might turn into a full-time job.
Network
Network as much as possible while unemployed. The same thing can be said while employed, but this is vital while out of work. Go to networking events within your industry, attend conferences, go to career fairs and update your LinkedIn profile as much as possible. Even if you are unemployed, continue to post content to LinkedIn so you can become an expert in your industry, which could lead to a job offer down the road.
Use Cover Letters Effectively
Make sure you always accompany a resume with an effective cover letter. All cover letters should be created specifically for the job being applied to and should not be generic in nature. This means that you need to find out the name of the person who will be hiring for the position and address the cover letter to him or her. You also need to include information from your career in the cover letter that relates to the job for which you are applying.
Check References
A long period of unemployment is the perfect time to check your references. Find out what they are telling potential employers and what they actually know about you. Make sure these people know you as a person and an employee. They need to be able to speak about you as a team player and strong employee. If they do not remember who you are when you call them, then do not ask them to be a reference.
Use Social Media
An excellent way to find a job today is by using social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Be proactive and connect with potential employers and top people within your industry on these sites.
Contact the staff at Halpin Personnel today to discuss the best methods for jump-starting your job search during prolonged unemployment.