10 Tips To Get A Job Fast

Many candidates don’t have the luxury of time when it comes to their job search. They feel a sense of urgency gnawing at them to find a position as fast as possible. Whether you’re stuck in a job that you hate or recently got fired from a long-term role, getting hired becomes the top priority on the docket, and you want it to happen fast.

Reasons Why Candidates Have Trouble Getting Hired

If you’ve been struggling to secure a new job for a while, there are a few things that could be standing in the way of an offer. Some of the most common reasons why candidates have trouble getting hired include the following;

1. Half-hearted job search efforts. When searching for a new position, many candidates have one foot out the door when it comes to their efforts. This is especially true when an applicant already has a subpar job that they’re spending the majority of their time on.

   The job application process is a difficult endeavor and requires full commitment if you’re hoping to come out successful.

2. Lackluster application materials. Before applying to any professional opportunity, the materials you submit need to be updated to perfection. Your resume and cover letter should be tailored to accommodate the position that you’re applying for.

   Otherwise, you run the risk of your application being tossed out after going through an applicant tracking system or failing to impress a hiring manager enough to receive a call for an interview.

3. Straying from the application instructions. Many employers will embed their open job postings with covert instructions for applying. Sometimes, this will be information about resume formatting specifics, who to address in a cover letter, or other details that are tied to the company’s hiring process.

   Application instructions can also be a little more sneaky to test how much every candidate is paying attention to. For example, a recruiter might embed an instruction within the text that says, “Mention pineapples in your cover letter if you’ve read this far” to determine which applicants paid attention to detail.

   Failing to comply with the big and small application rules shows a hiring manager off the bat that you can’t follow instructions properly.

4. Applying for positions with unfulfilled qualifications. If you’re applying to positions that you’re unqualified for, then you’re likely squandering your chances before the process even begins. Hiring managers include requirements for their open jobs because these qualities are required to handle the role.

   While the immediate reaction to needing a job quickly might be to submit applications to as many open positions as possible, this lessens the chance of being noticed by any of them. Take the time to evaluate your skills and find a position that fits them perfectly.

10 Tips to Get a Job Fast

The stress of job search is only made greater when you’re in a time crunch. Before crumbling under the pressure of needing a new position as soon as possible, read through the following ten tips to get a job fast.

1. Improve your resume and cover letter. The root of many candidate’s application issues is that their resume and cover letter aren’t up to snuff. Even if a candidate has everything an employer is looking for, they need to be able to communicate this in a concise way to get the job.

   When you need a job immediately, the first place to start is by taking the time to update and improve your application materials.

   While this might seem like a big effort during an already stressful period, it’ll dramatically increase the chances of a successful application process. Applying to jobs with iffy materials is a waste of your time and the employer’s time.

2. Know what you’re looking for and qualified for. Another golden rule for applying to jobs in a time crunch is properly vetting every opportunity before submitting an application.

   You want to be sure that you’re only applying to positions that you’re fully qualified for. Narrow down your job search criteria to include aspects that match your professional history.

   Applying for a position without meeting the requirements diminishes the likelihood that the employer will consider you for a better-suited job in the future.

3. Prioritize applying with employers that have multiple spots to fill. When you’re feeling the pressure of a job search and want it to be over as soon as possible, one trick to consider is only submitting applications to employers with multiple spots to fill.

   Many job postings include details about how many candidates an employer is willing to take on for a particular position. Applying with employers that have an abundance of available spots improves the chances that there will be immediate room for you at the company.

4. Follow the job application instructions. While applying for a job might seem like a straightforward process, it still requires attention to detail.

   Many employers embed their job postings with special instructions that are specific to their hiring process. In preparation for applying to a new job, read through the entire job posting to ensure that you’re following every instruction down to the last detail.

5. Turn to your professional network. When you’re in need of a job quickly, it can feel like you’re completely alone in a difficult situation. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Turning to your professional network could be the speediest solution for finding a new job.

   The people that you’ve worked with, or attended university with, can be an excellent resource for discovering career opportunities.

   Your supervisor during an internship five years ago could be the person who knows of an excellent job matching your background that wants to hire a candidate immediately. All it takes is reaching out with a professional and direct inquiry.

6. Consider your job search to be your current vocation. A big problem that occurs in a lot of candidate’s job searches is that they don’t put enough effort into getting their next professional opportunity.

   When you’re jobless or anticipating it happening soon, the biggest priority in your career needs to be finding the next move to make. Start spending scheduled hours of the day devoted to securing your next great job. Carve out SMART goals for your job search along the way to keep your efforts targeted.

   Looking at your job search as if it is your current occupation increases the chances that your efforts will be successful because you’re committing more time and energy to it.

7. Optimize your LinkedIn profile. While most candidates imagine a job search as them reaching out to potential employers, it can also work the other way around. Employment opportunities could just as easily find you in the form of recruiters. Being offered a shot at an open job is a lot less intimidating than going for it on your own.

   One of the best ways to allow professional opportunities to fall into your lap like this is by optimizing your LinkedIn profile. By using targeted keywords in your profile summary and enhancing the overall quality of your LinkedIn, it improves your chances of ranking in search results.

   This means that when a hiring manager is searching for a candidate with your qualifications, they’ll stumble across your professional networking profile.

   Not only does optimizing your LinkedIn profile help you find a job faster, but it also opens doors to opportunities in the future.

8. Turn on job search alerts fitting your criteria. Another effective strategy for getting a job fast is by turning on alerts for postings matching your criteria.

   Most job boards allow you to set up these alerts to ensure that you have a chance to be one of the first applicants to submit their materials. This increases the possibility that you’ll find the best job openings first and land a position sooner.

9. Follow up with the jobs you’ve applied to. It’s been more than two weeks, and you’re beginning to fear that you’ll never hear back about your submitted job application. However, your actions aren’t finished after you’ve submitted an application for an open job.

   You need to be prepared to follow up with them professionally after an adequate amount of time if necessary. Competitive job openings receive hundreds of applications, and it’s common for some to get lost in the shuffle. Following up after submitting a job application demonstrates your commitment and desire to be hired for the position.

   When following up on a job application, maintain a courteous and friendly attitude. Remind the hiring manager who you are, briefly mention your qualifications, and include your contact information.

10. Be prepared for an interview. The interview portion of a company’s hiring process is largely when they make their decision about a candidate. It gives them a clearer picture of how an applicant could fit into their organization. Securing a job fast means being prepared to immediately take on an interview when it’s requested.

    When diving into a job search with the intention of finding a position fast, start getting prepared for an interview early on in the process. Not only does this improve your interviewing abilities to make the best impression, but it also allows you to schedule the meeting as soon as possible.

Author

Sky Ariella

Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.