How to get a job in 2022
2022 is the year of rebounding for many people and businesses. Thousands of jobs will be available ready for the picking. But in a country where entry level positions require 5+ years of experience, what are the best tactics to landing these jobs?
The job hunt. A gritty, long, difficult process that most people will have to battle through at many points in their lives. Reading job description after job description, how would I fit in here? Could I do this job? What’s the day-to-day look like? All valuable questions that are essential to answer before signing that dotted line that puts your time in the hands of someone else.
Step 1: Research
When I first started job hunting, armed with my resumé and my cover letter, I would send them out dozens of times a day to any job or company that sounded remotely interesting. My template would remain the same, and I would plug in the respective company info and send it along; a whole job application taking less than 10 minutes. After months of this, I was confused. I must’ve sent out my documents over 1000 times to different companies and positions, why didn’t I get even a single hit?
I had no idea what these companies wanted.
Regardless of if you’re applying within the same types of positions or fields, each company has its own unique values and goals. Hiring managers want to see alignment: not only can you do the job, but can you live their mission? Learn everything you can about the company. Where are they located? What are their goals? What attributes define their employees? What projects are they working on? Who are their competitors?
Find the keywords in job descriptions, the soft skills that don’t always exist on your resumé. Communication skills, adaptability, go-getter, determined son-of-a-gun. Use this research to tailor your resumé, cover letter, CV, whatever you have, into a document that aligns with that particular company.
LinkedIn is another key element to researching a company. What are they posting? What is the latest event they have going on? Find the employees: hiring managers, CEOs, people who are in the position you want to be in. Add them to your network to start a conversation. “Hey I’m really interested in the work you’re doing here, could you tell me a little more about what you do?” or “Hey, I’m applying for this position, is there anything I can do to help put me in a better light?” Be honest. People generally like to help, and putting yourself out there can make a big difference.
Research is your ultimate partner-in-crime in the job hunt, and can push you from another cog in the wheel to a shining star in the applicant pool.
Step 2: The Resumé
Ah the resumé. The most important document that you’ll ever write that no one will ever read. On one to two pieces of standard 8.5"x11" paper you must convince an employer of your worth. This document is absolutely essential for starting any job hunt on the right note.
Now, I’m sorry but no one is going to read this thing. Depending on the competition, employers can receive dozens to hundreds of resumes, and 99% of them are going to look exactly the same. Name on top, bulleted list of experience, maybe some volunteer work and a Dean’s List award. Employers scan these through a program that picks out key words and experience that hit the target they’re looking for, and filter out the remaining “good” candidates. So how do you show you’re a good candidate?
Hit the target they’re looking for.
Use the research you completed so diligently before this stage to extrude a beautiful document that hits every mark on those position requirements. They want to you respond to change well? A broad mention of your summer work and tasks you accomplished may not hit the mark. But specific instances within that job where you had a change and needed to react? Lay that out in plain sight, and cut out all the fluff. Writing out a specific circumstance may feel like you’re opting out elements of the project that you didn’t want to omit, but you’ll have time to tell them later during the interview.
You’re trying to tell a story about your vacation, but they just want to see the picture.
YOU NEED TO SELL YOURSELF.
Now, this is a tall order. No one likes to talk about themselves (well, most people). But no one else is going to sell you for you, unless you hire someone to job hunt on your behalf…which is not covered here. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to go at it on your own. Utilize your resources. Not the best writer? Use resume writing services like Topresume.com. Know a friend who writes professional documents for a living? Be at their front door yesterday with a smile on your face and a pizza for their services.
Step 3: Other Documents
Most job applications require documentation beyond the resumé. Whether that is a cover letter, a CV, or specific write-in answers, GIVE THEM EVERYTHING. Even if its not required.
Especially if it’s not required.
This can give you an edge over your lazier hunting counterparts who will submit the bare minimum to get that application in. But, more importantly, it gives you more opportunities to talk about yourself. These recruiters have no idea who you are. They don’t know that you kick ass in everything you do. Additional documentation is perfect for bringing mention to those soft-skills that you have honed-in all your life.
Now, just some brief tips on each of the additional documents you may need:
Cover Letter
- Keep it short, 1–1.5 pages maximum.
- Mention key experience points, along with soft-skills intertwined in there.
- Keep alignment: let them know that your skills and drives align with them.
- BE SPECIFIC.
- Leave all your contact info.
CV
- Full disclosure document.
- Can be longer (~3 pages), so be very detailed in your explanations.
- Include experience, awards, accomplishments, anything of significance to you.
Website Fill-in Questions
- Answer the question fully and completely.
- Be genuine. Recruiters can smell bullshit.
- Always tie-in skills that go back to the job description.
If there are specific examples you would like to see for elaboration, leave a comment and I’ll send some your way.
Step 4: Next Steps
You’ve done it. Congratulations. Armed with your deadly arsenal of razor sharp documentation, you have submitted a job application. Save the champagne though, you’re not done yet. This is a job hunt, and you need to treat it like nothing less. Slowing down or stopping isn’t going to put food on the table. You need to keep at it: make sure that when the hiring manager is thinking about filling the position, you are on their mind.
How do you do that?
Persistence.
If you don’t hear anything in 3–5 days, reach out to the hiring department. Ask about the status of the application. Even if nothing has moved along, it’s better to know than to be questioning. Asking gives you peace of mind, and it serves as a reminder that you are genuinely interested and want to be there.
Step 5: Interview
Suit up, baby. It’s showtime. All the prep, all the writing, all the editing, bugging the hell out of people, all led up to this moment. But, relax! They like you! They really want to give you a shot here, and you just need to show them that it’s a shot worth taking.
Now, here’s some pointers to nail that interview.
Rock the fancy pants:
Whether you’re doing an in-person, video, or phone interview, dressing up will really help your case. Obviously, this is more important in the in-person interview. But even if you’re interview is occurring digitally, dressing up boosts your confidence. When you look good, you feel good. Simple as that. Having on that classy garb will have your interviewer smiling, and it will put you in a better position to relax and talk about yourself with confidence and charm.
Smile:
Yeah, you! Smiling is another trick that will help boost your mood, as well as the mood of your interviewer. Smiling will naturally make you feel more excited to talk about yourself and the things you like to work on.
Take notes:
The interviewer will mention some golden tidbits about the position and company during your interview. Write these down. This will give you an edge for any future interviews/follow-up emails. Not only that, it shows the interviewer that you are striving to hit the marks they want to see.
Etiquette:
Simple, but important points to mention.
- Ask beforehand if it’s alright to take notes.
- Maintain eye contact with your interviewer. Be attentive to what they’re saying.
- Thank them for their time: they are busy people taking time out of their day to speak with you.
- Ask for a good point of contact for them/confirm the email address you do have. You need to make sure you have your foot in the door once the conversation ends.
- Send a thank you email. This only needs to be a few sentences at most. Here’s an example:
“Dear ___,
I enjoyed speaking with you today about the ______ position with _______. The job seems to be an excellent match for my skills and interests.
I appreciate the time you took to interview me. I am very interested in working for you and look forward to hearing from you and your team regarding next steps for this position.
Sincerely,
____”
Be yourself
You’ve already proven yourself as a top candidate, they just want to get to know you in person. You know your resume inside and out. You know this company, this role, and what they’re looking for. Just relax and be yourself. You got this.
Step 6: Get Hired
As a last thing I want to leave you with: you are awesome! Don’t give up hope. This is a long, grueling process that can take months. You will be rejected, you will be ignored. Keep pushing forward, it will be worth it in the long run. Take time to appreciate yourself for learning more about job hunting by reading articles like this. YOU GOT THIS.
