35 Smartest Ways to Snag a Job in This Digitized Era

The digital era and recession have drastically changed how recruiters hire and how job seekers search for jobs. Explore 35 smartest ways to snag a job in this highly digitized era.

By Catherine Adenle

When you think of the smartest ways to snag a job, you may want to forget your boring paper CV/Resume, tired hiring managers with a pile of CV on their desks,  persistent cold callers or a compulsory first face to face interviews – today, it’s all about electronic or 3D CVs, powerful screening and recruitment software, video and telephone interviews, branding, digital footprints, Social Networking,  job RSS feeds, job search engines etc.

See 20 Quickest Ways to Get a Job Now

Recently, I read a fascinating article written by Joshua Waldman for the Huffington Post on 10 Ways the Job Search Has Changed and it made me think of how the rules of job search have truly changed.

As there are more job seekers chasing fewer jobs, it is important to know the smartest ways to snag a job and what to do differently while looking for a job. Today’s job market is a highly competitive one and no job seeker should be contented with ‘business as usual’ while seeking work.

35 Smartest ways to snag a job now:

1. The first of the smartest ways to snag a job in this digitized era is to know how to demonstrate or showcase your skills online, on your CV and during a job interview.
2. Create and post an impressive YouTube CV if you are not camera-shy. Don’t rework the same old CV, change things up a little and create something more interesting and dynamic in 3D.                                                                         See Top 5 Tips for Creating Impressive Video Resumes
3. Craft your own personal elevator pitch. Let it roll off your tongue effortlessly at a drop of a hat when you meet people.
4. Learn how to make your value known to anyone quickly on the Internet as Google has replaced your CV. Trust me, all potential employers will Google you!
5. LinkedIn is your professional Social Networking playground. Create your full summary of skills and achievements on LinkedIn.
6. Use CareerSonar to locate your job through your online connections.
7. Network in person, via Social Media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ etc.) and via WOM (Word of Mouth). Opportunities to network are everywhere. Tell everyone who cares to listen that you are looking for a job. It’s more of who you know now more than what you know.
8. Get noticed on Twitter, use Twesumes – post a twesume. Twesumes are a condensed, 140-character resumes listing job qualifications and objectives. A twesume usually contains a #twesume hashtag that can be tweeted, messaged or e-mailed to a hiring agency.
                                                             See How 140-Character Twitter Resume Could Land Your Next Job
9. It’s more about what you can offer potential employers that counts, not what they can offer you. So, know what their needs are and capitalise on those, those needs are their soft spots.
10. Match your skills with the job and not the other way round. Make a list of all of your skills, determine which kinds of businesses or industries need them most and go for those.
11. Read job and career sections of online Newspapers for job tips and career advice.
12. Surf all the popular job boards for more than just open positions. Job boards can also be “goldmines” for career advice. Use job search engines to search all the top job sites, company sites, and online newspapers.
13. Place your electronic CV on job sites and set up job alerts or subscribe to jobs RSS feeds.
14. Have an effective cover letter and a winning CV that you tweak for every job in place ready to be tweaked for the next job.
15. Use details of job descriptions to tweak each cover letter and CV before you send them to potential employers.
16. Use the right keywords on your CV for the job that you are applying for, those are the words that the screening software used by most recruiters will look for
17. on your submitted CV. Highlight and use the pertinent keywords shown in the job description.
18. Job leads could be anywhere and everywhere. Be smart about it. Smart job seekers aren’t afraid to mention that they are looking for work.
19. Do your homework; know all about potential employers before you meet them. Search for the company’s information, its financial statements, their products and services. You need the info to enhance your cover letter, CV, any correspondence and for the job interview.
20. Attend Job Fairs, they are usually free.
21. Enrol with recruitment agencies and Head-hunters.
22. Have a job search plan.
23. Look and act like a professional. Wear appropriate clothing for your job interviews, arrive early. Talk politely and listen, display an aura of confidence and mind your manners.
24. Post smart comments on apt posts online, especially on articles that are related to your career.
25. Watch what you post on the internet or what you are tagged on. A picture of you doing what you should not be doing is not a good look.
26. Gain more skills while you are unemployed by volunteering or attending evening classes. Volunteer for an organization that focuses on something you are passionate about.
27. Attend free webinars on the internet.
28. Put adequate time and effort into your job search.
29. Include all desired material in job applications as requested.
30. Know how to show that you want the job but don’t act desperate. Everything that you write and say should translate to “This is how I can help your business succeed.”
31. Find a temporary position with a great company. It is a great way to get a foot in the door.
32. Be creative in order to stand out. Knowing how to carefully draw attention to yourself in this competitive job search market is important. Utilise YouTube to showcase your skills.                                                                                       See 6 Extreme Ways To Land Your Dream Job
33. Have a brand and a presence on the web. Maintain and protect your brand because you will be judged by your brand.
34. Change your attitude and mind-set. Only the ones that can cope with change will survive. Stay motivated, you will get a lot of knock backs, persist and stay positive.
35. Follow industry leaders, SMEs and have a Social Resume

Courtesy of: OnlineColleges.com

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Are there other smartest ways to snag a job in this highly digitized era? Let’s hear from you, leave a comment below.