It’s often been said that searching for a job is job unto itself, and it’s easy to see why so many people feel this way. Job hunting can be a long, stressful, and even frustrating process fraught with emotional highs and lows. Job seekers often find themselves competing with other big fish in crowded talent pools, and going on interviews can feel like a cat and mouse game gone wrong.
Despite the hardships of job hunting, there are many ways to work smarter and not necessarily harder when it comes to finding the right opportunities for employment. Knowing where to look is half the battle, and being strategic about where you look can help you land your dream job sooner than later.
Here are three places where job hunters can find the most lucrative opportunities for employment.
Social networks
When it comes finding the job you’ve always wanted, it’s not always what you know but who you know. Maybe you have a professional connection or a friend of a friend that has an easy in with a great company. It’s worth letting both your social and professional network know that you’re job hunting. Similarly, you may want to consider attending professional networking events in hopes of meeting and mingling with potential employers in your field.
Employment agency
Also known as staffing agencies or temp agencies, employment agencies help to match job hunters with the employment needs of a variety of companies. Some employment agencies work within a specific niche or industry, while others cater to variety of companies. Working with an employment agency can help you find opportunities for employment that may have been otherwise unavailable to you. The employment agency will work on your behalf to match and place in you positions aligned with your skill set. Although positions are often temporary, many often lead to full time employment.
Online job boards
Online job boards may feel a bit like the Wild West, but if they can also be a great way to browse and compare multiple opportunities for employment at the same time. There are a variety of job boards for several different industries, and searching these can be especially helpful if you’re in a very specialized line of work. Many job boards allow you to create an account that allows employers to find you and you can even set up email alerts that notify you the moment a job is posted that might be a fit.
Searching for the best opportunities for employment can be discouraging, but take heart. Some of the most successful figures in business and entertainment have long through long seasons of unemployment and have experienced the pains of getting laid off, fired, or let go. Don’t let your job, or lack of one, determine your worth as an individual. Keep on searching, and you’re sure to find the right job at the right time.