Job Search and How to Get a Job Fast!

With the national unemployment rate currently at 9.2 percent according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, nearly 1 in 10 Americans have found themselves without jobs, searching for the next job, with the key focus on getting a job as quickly as possibly and minimizing the down time between jobs. Other job searchers may be looking for new work, still currently working, but classified as underemployed because they are not working to their full potential. The main goal for most who are looking for a new job is to lessen the impact of potential rising debt during your period of unemployment and to begin employment and learning new skill sets as soon as possible.

There are a few key areas of importance to focus on when looking for a new career in order to get the job as quickly as possible. In my experience, the first step to getting a job fast is to be prepared for the next job:

1. Have your resume up-to-date. Include all employers, jobs, experience and dates to present.  

2. Tailor your resume to meet the current job requirements. Show your new employer that not only are you experienced through your previous work, but relate each skill set to the new job you are applying for.

Secondly, know what you are good at and get creative in your job search. Your passions and hobbies could lead to a job more satisfying than your previous employment.

3. Choose an Industry or Interest and brainstorm potential career ideas and employment positions relating to that interest. Record in a notebook your career ideas and companies you may be interested in to keep yourself on track in your job search.

4. Set daily goals for yourself. When applying for jobs, I set daily goals for myself which may include completing a specified number of applications per day or calling a number of potential employers to introduce myself and inquire about openings or interviews.

5. Get Personal with Job Search Engines. Search for potential jobs and employers though job search engines in find new results in your industry or community of job openings you may not have been aware of, but get personal in contacting these employers by finding their direct website or verifying that they are still hiring for the position posted on the search engine. Don't waste your time applying for jobs that have already been filled when their may be new jobs available with the company that you can apply for in person or on their company site. JobFox, Monster, and Careerbuilder are all reliable websites to begin job searches.

6. Know the Next Step. After constructing a professional resume, locating jobs of interest and employers who are hiring, and submitting your application, the next steps are to follow up with employers on the status of your application, meet with the managers to interview, and know the next educational requirments, whether that be on-site training or licensing that you will need to complete. If possible, be proactive in pursuing licensing courses by completely these courses prior to employment so that your potential employer knows you are serious about the job and industry that you are applying for. Also, volunteering can be a great tool used for getting your foot in the door of a particular industry and gaining experience when you have little or no previous work related. Volunteer work can also be added to your resume!