After 25 years in the entertainment industry, I took a Covid-forced leave from looking for work and recently began to look for steady employment. According to Indeed, the average time it takes to find a job is 20 weeks. I am now approximately one-fourth through the five months.
My first step in my job search was to meet up with a friend who just finished his job search. During our two hour conversation, I took notes and jotted down many pages. A computer scan is the first thing that happens after you submit your rsum in a job application. These are just a few of the other things I learned.
Check that your Rsum is scan-worthy
First, your resume is read by a computer before anyone can see it. An applicant-tracking software scans your resume for keywords that are relevant to the job you are applying for. To find the most suitable candidate for a job, the system scans rsums. Your rsum should include appropriate buzzwords, and be professionally written.
This can be a lot of work, especially if you're trying to change careers. My friend advised me to use a rsum-writing and review service. My rsum was rewritten by them to be as tech-friendly as possible, without losing its readability. My experience in marketing has led me to include keywords relevant to that industry in my rsum. My rsum is formatted better. The price for the service is reasonable. I selected a package that included a rsum overhaul, a cover letter and an update to my LinkedIn profile. These services are offered by many other companies, including LinkedIn.
It took me about a week to secure my updated rsum, cover letters, and LinkedIn profile. After I received the documents, I used another service to post my resume on several job boards. This was especially helpful for those that were difficult to find. This service allows me to quickly post my rsum on multiple job boards in minutes, which is something I wouldn't have done if it was not for the time-saving features. My rsum was uploaded to over 50 job sites by using the service. Although you don't have to spend money, it helped me expand my search.
LinkedIn is Your Friend
Many hiring companies, if they are not the majority, use LinkedIn to find potential candidates and connect with them. A profile is essential. While a free account is acceptable, premium features include direct messaging to recruiters and interview preparation tools. You can also see how your application compares to others. Employers will be interested in seeing if you have a webpage. Employers will want to see your employment story. It's a social network, so engagement is important. You can comment on other people's posts, post your stories, and write articles relevant to your industry, knowledge, and experience. You can also join professional associations related to your field and take part in them. This is a great way to network on social media. You can also use the recommendation feature on the platform. This allows other people (prior employers, work associates) the ability to recommend you. You should recommend people to improve your job karma. Don't forget to check out other websites while you are on LinkedIn. There are many other sites, such as Monster, Indeed and Glassdoor. FlexJob is another. (The AARP has a job search page for its members.
Social Media Can Be Helpful Too
LinkedIn is a great social media platform, but there are other platforms that can be helpful. You should pay attention to how you use Facebook and Instagram as well as other social media platforms. Do you have friends or connections who are doing the same thing as you? You could ask them for advice. Are there any brands, companies, or businesses you like? You might find them mentioning open positions. Keep an eye out for other postings. You might find a job opportunity or a worthy idea for employment. Join groups that could lead you to your next job.
Reach out to your Past
Next, reach out to people you already know. It's important to let people know that you are looking for work. As I did with my friend at coffee, you can approach your family, friends and past employers. You can reach them wherever they are on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.
June Smith, Entertainment One's production human resources lead, said this about networking: "Never underestimate its power. Use technology because it's the new way of doing business. If you are interested in a job at a company and have a LinkedIn profile, check to see if there are any connections. Reach out to people you have in common and ask them to introduce you.
Register for our newsletters and alerts
You can also subscribe to newsletters and alerts to keep up to date with the job search process. Are you looking for a company that is a good fit? Many companies have job alerts and newsletters that you can sign up for on their website. They will send you an email or alert with the latest job openings. You can also sign up for Google Alerts for specific job titles and companies, as well as alerts on LinkedIn in the industry you are interested in, and at companies you wish to work for. My experience in entertainment marketing led me to create a job alert for "marketing" on LinkedIn. Perhaps you would like to work for Netflix. You can create a job alert on LinkedIn for the company. Any new jobs will be sent to you as soon as they become available.
Retrain, If Necessary
Despite my role in job search being marketing-related, I noticed repeatedly that many companies were looking for Salesforce experts (listed under the desired skills). I wasn't familiar with the technology so I searched Google for more information and signed up to take a class to learn it. If you are considering retraining to increase your chances of getting accepted, it is worth looking into. These courses can be found on Google and LinkedIn. While you may not be ready to commit to a degree or certification, being familiar with a relevant platform or tool in your field will help you stand out from the rest of the applicants.
Online interviews
If a company decides to interview you based on your online application, it will most likely be conducted online. This is especially important considering the Covid closings.
Here are some tips: Dress professionally, be professional, be polite, check the background lighting and make sure you have a Zoom call. Close the door to any room that you will be entering, and keep children and pets away. Michael Bridges, who is now Parks California's director of development, recently finished a successful job hunt and offers some interview tips. "Think about the job interview like you were being hired for the actual job. Many companies will continue to use Zoom for their daily work activities after the merger with Parks California. If they hire you, the way you present yourself in a Zoom interview is a good indicator about who you are as an employee. From the first interview, you must show them who your coworker is.
