5 Tips for Finding a Job Fast

Whether you’ve already left your last job, or are desperate to find a new one because your current role is unfulfilling, there’s a good chance that you’ll want to secure a new position quickly. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to get a new job fast – you will have to spend time looking at job ads, perfecting your CV and cover letter, as well as attending interviews. But there are some ways in which you can speed up the job hunting process. We’ve looked at five tips you can use in order to secure a job quickly below:

1. Don’t Just Rely on Job Ads

While job boards and job listings are a great way to find and apply for jobs, you should explore other avenues too. One of the best things you can do is use your networks and connections to see if any local businesses are hiring. There’s even a chance that you’ll find out about a role before it’s been advertised.

Ask your friends and family whether their employer is currently recruiting. You should also start reaching out to people on social media, particularly professional networking sites such as LinkedIn, to discover what roles are available. Then, if you do learn of a vacancy, make sure that you ask your connection for a reference. Employers tend to prefer candidates who have been recommended by current staff members, and could ask you to come in for an interview faster.

As well as using your personal and professional networks to find a new job, you should also consider other ways of applying. For instance, you could search newspapers for job ads that haven’t been posted online, or you can make applications via a company’s website. Not all businesses will post their vacancies on job boards, and will instead just advertise them on their websites. This is particularly true of larger organisations, so perhaps think about the big businesses in your industry, and see if any of them are advertising roles.

2. Don’t Apply for Every Job You See

Although it can be tempting to apply for every available job, especially if you’re hoping to get hired fast, you should try to be a little more selective about the roles you submit an application for. If you apply for jobs where you don’t meet all the relevant criteria, you’ll only be wasting your own time, as well as that of the hiring manager.

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t submit applications for roles where you meet the basic requirements, but don’t have all of the preferred skill sets. The employer may be asking for too many skills, and you could still be the best candidate for the role. As long as you tailor your application to the specific job, you may still get an interview, and the opportunity to impress the interviewer.

3. Customise Your CV and Cover Letter

People do tend to alter their cover letter to fit the role they are applying for, but not everyone thinks about tailoring their CV. Both are important things to customise, as employers will be looking for the job requirements listed on your application. Try not to copy these ad verbatim, but at least allude to each specification in both your CV and cover letter.

The idea is to impress the hiring manager before you get to the interview stage, making it clear that you meet all the criteria listed in the job ad, and that you’d be a perfect fit for the role. Write about what you could bring to the business, and what excites you about the position you’re applying for.

4. Prepare for Every Interview

With most job interviews, you can’t just turn up and expect to be given the job. You’ve got to put some legwork in first – researching the company, and going over practice interview questions. And even if you’ve been to plenty of interviews already, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to prepare, as every hiring manager will approach an interview slightly differently.

When attending the interview itself, make sure you dress appropriately for the business and role you’re applying for, and try to be yourself. It’s likely that you’ll be at least a little nervous, but as long as you’re honest in your answers, the interviewer should respect you and hopefully invite you back for a second interview.

Another thing to bear in mind during the interview process is that it’s helpful to use examples. Rather than simply saying that a strategy you developed helped improve the yearly revenue of the company in your current role, provide specifics! Give a percentage of increase, or an overall amount of how much money you brought into the business. Numbers and concrete examples are a good way to show that you are truly qualified for a job.

5. Consider Temp Work

You may not find your dream job straight away, and the process can take months. You should therefore consider taking on a temp role in the interim. This will help you cover your bills and other expenses, and ensure that there are no gaps on your CV. Temp work can also help you develop new skills, increasing your work experience and overall employability.

Depending on your skills and experience, you may also wish to think about freelance work. Like a temporary position, freelancing can allow you to expand your skill set, and provide more work experience. It can furthermore help you to expand your network of industry contacts, which can in turn lead to a new job opportunity.