Looking for a job is not an easy task, and sometimes sending CVs might not be enough. It’s good to have a plan thanks to which you’ll increase your chances of getting a job!
1. Make a list of companies you would like to work in
Sounds simple and obvious? Yes, if you know the market and companies that play key roles in it. Otherwise, you’ll need to spend some extra time on making good research.
Check their websites, blogs, Facebook & Twitter accounts to see what they’re working on. This will help you understand if you can be a “good fit” with your skills and if they might be the right choice for you.
2. Visit companies’ career websites
Not every company publishes job offers on popular job boards (like pracuj.pl for Poland or HH.ru for Russia) so make sure you visit your Dream Company website. By doing this you can be sure that you won’t miss any opportunity. What is more, the CV you send will be stored in a database and can be found also in the future.
This is what happened to me. I was satisfied with my job and didn’t have a reason to change anything. I made a list of my Dream Companies (“would be great to work there in the future!”) and decided to apply to one of them*. Back then I got an email saying something like: “thank you for applying, we will keep your CV for the future”. A few months passed and I got a call from that company. They told me that they’ve found my CV in a database and have a role in which I could be interested. I got an invitation for interviews, passed them, and joined the company!
(* Don’t be afraid to apply even if you think you don’t meet 100% requirements).
3. Didn’t find a role that you could apply for or didn’t receive any feedback after applying?
This is not the end, believe me! Visit LinkedIn (international market), and look for a Recruiter/Talent Sourcer that works currently at the company you would like to work in.
“Recruiter“, “Researcher“, “Recruitment Consultant“, “Talent Sourcer“, “Staffing Consultant” – these are some of the examples of keywords you can use to find them (* you can also look for Engineers working at those companies).
4. What next?
Reach to that person directly explaining who you are and why you’re contacting them. Don’t forget to have an updated profile before you send a message – here you can find my tips for making the most out of your LinkedIn profile.
There’s nothing wrong with asking for help and/or advice. This way you also get first-hand information: “If the role you applied for is still open? Or maybe they changed the requirements and now they’re looking for someone more experienced? I didn’t find a role I could apply for but would like to work in your company – do you consider people with my expertise?“. Do not be afraid to ask a question.
Avoid one of the most common mistakes: reaching out with a general/not personalized message (copy/paste send to every Recruiter) that usually goes “Hi, I want to work here, hire me”. People working in recruitment receive tons of messages like this and they rarely will have time to reply to (all of) them. Your chances of getting a reply increase if you show you’ve done some research before & you refer to a particular role(s) or information found online.
*** 5. Have updated LinkedIn profile ***
I always say how important it is to keep your LinkedIn profile updated. Companies work with external agencies or have their own internal recruitment teams whose job is to go online and look for potential candidates (this is what I was doing as a Microsoft’s Talent Sourcer 😉 ).
The better LinkedIn profile you have = the higher chances are someone will contact you about a job opportunity.
6. Share news on your social media profile(s)
Have already a social media presence (don’t forget about LinkedIn)? Then make sure to write a post including the most essential information: what type of role you’re looking for, location, start date, tech stack & more.
Don’t just write “I’m looking for a job, if anyone knows companies that are hiring now, please let me know”. While this type of message could work, not everyone will have time to visit your profile and figure out what might be interesting for you. Therefore, your post should already include some of your preferences – thanks to this you’re “helping people help you”.
7. Networking
Make a list of people who can help you and reach out to them (again, make sure to tailor your message). Or maybe you know someone who can recommend you for a role in the company they’re currently employed? You can also ask your network to help you and spread the word about your job search.
As you can see sending a CV is just one of many ways of looking for a job. Which one is your favorite one / worked best for you?
Thanks for reading & have a nice day,
Ela
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