Do you believe that the majority of opportunities can be found by searching on only a few job boards? If yes, then think again!
This search strategy seems to yield incomplete results and you might be missing relevant jobs or roles.
I researched some interesting info recently, that I think is useful for job seekers and I want to share it with you.
I’m talking company websites, job boards and headhunters.
1. Company career pages
Create a list of target companies: your preferred companies and also companies relevant in your domain/field.
Many companies need to pay to publish positions on job boards, so they might prefer to advertise them on their own career page instead. If you only use job boards, you will see a portion of all opportunities available.
Once you have your target companies, it’s important to frequently visit every career page, since roles disappear quickly because of the high number of applications.
I’ve heard, read and seen this throughout the years: the chances of getting an interview are significantly higher the earlier you apply.
Tip: Set a recurring reminder in your calendar and work through your list at least once a week.
2. Job boards
It’s a good idea to have saved searches on about 10-15 job boards to see the most opportunities.
When searching on job boards, you need to search using relevant keywords.
Your search list needs to include job titles, hierarchy terms (i.e. manager), and functional keywords (i.e. controlling).
To make the most of your keyword list, create several targeted searches on all relevant job boards.
Tip: Use Boolean search. It can help you reduce the number of saved searches you need to create. It allows you to use operators such as AND, OR, and NOT to get more search results.
Here are some examples:
- Using OR means you will get results that include any of the words. Example: Product Manager OR Product Owner. These search parameters will show results for both search items.
- Using AND means all words must be present in the results. Example: Account Manager AND Software AND Remote. These search parameters will show jobs containing all the search terms.
- Using NOT means results are shown for all terms preceding the operator NOT. No results are provided for the term(s) after NOT. Example: Learning and Development Manager OR L&D Lead NOT L&D Administrator. These search parameters will exclude administrator positions.
3. External recruiters
External recruiters find candidates for roles. They post the position on their website and ask their network for referrals. They try to place candidates they already know. They search for candidates on LinkedIn.
Tip: Research 10 of the most important recruiters in your industry/field.
Monitor job postings on their websites you’ve put on your target list. Set a reminder in your calendar and work through your target list at least every two weeks.
I mentioned they search for candidates on LinkedIn. That means it’s important to have a good and updated profile.
So, what determines if a recruiter finds you? These three things can make a difference for you:
- Your headline.
- The usage of keywords.
- The content you post.
Keywords decide if your profile stands out or not. When a recruiter searches for candidates, LinkedIn tries to match the search to the keywords in the profile.
If the keyword appears multiple times in your headline section and profile, you will rank high in the search results.
Your profile represents your experience, your brand as a candidate, and its objective is to convince the reader you’re the right one.
And there you have it. These tips and insight can make a positive difference in your search!
Were you aware of these important elements?
Let me know in the comments.
