6 Essential Tools Every Person Should Use When Seeking a Career Move

Are you thinking about switching careers or finding a new position? You are not alone.

According to Willis Tower Watson’s 2022 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey, 53% of employees are actively looking for new opportunities or are at risk of leaving their current employer. This phenomenon is being labeled as “The Great Resignation” and was kickstarted during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and is still going strong.

With an influx of people in the job market, it can make job seekers feel like there is a mass amount of great talent, and it is easy to feel discouraged.

With these tips, you can stand out from the crowd and land your next interview in no time.

Job Boards

To start a new job, first you need to identify the roles in which you are interested in. Job boards, both general and niche, will be a good start when looking for a new career.

Job boards allow companies to post all their open positions in one place, which makes it great for doing initial career research. Consider the different career moves you could make. What roles would be a step up? Are there lateral moves you could make to get you on your desired career path?

These boards also have features that make it easy for candidates to apply to multiple jobs in one place. Once you’ve identified roles at companies that you are interested in, you can utilize these boards to submit your application and get on recruiter’s radars.

Here are examples of great job boards:

STEMHUNTER: Job board made specifically for STEM professionals

LinkedIn: A social media platform and job board combined

Indeed: Job board that allows specific searching and easy applies

Staffing Firms 

Staffing firms are a great way for candidates to gain experience at organizations where it may be hard to get their foot in the door.

These firms work directly with companies that need positions filled. Working with these firms gives you access to jobs that you may otherwise not have been exposed to.

Additionally, recruiters can help guide you through the job search process and open doors of opportunity that you might not have imagined. You can think of a recruiter as your personal cheerleader to guide you through the hiring process.

For example, Hunter International works with a large variety of customers across the nation, allowing candidates to find the perfect match for their career goals.

Employee Review Sites

A company can look great on the outside, but it’s what on the inside that counts the most.

With transparency tools like Glassdoor, you can see reviews from real employees about what the organization’s company culture is like and get information on employee engagement.

These tools offer review scores on if employees would recommend the company to a friend, CEO approval, salary and more.

Demographics are also provided to give insights into the company’s workforce diversity.

If you find a company that seems like a great fit, you can apply directly on these sites or navigate to the company’s website. Overall, these tools can help you narrow down your job search to roles at organizations that you are interested in.

Resume Resources

Your resume will be one of the first impressions a hiring manager has of you. That’s why it is important to make sure that your contact information is correct, your education details are included and that you have updated career experience. You’ll also want to make sure that your resume is formatted correctly, and it is free of any spelling or grammatical errors.

Adding photos, including fancy graphics and having a specific color scheme is not necessary to include. Focusing on the details surrounding your education and career experience is more important to give the hiring manager the information they need.

Resumes do not have to be extravagant, but they should be accurate and comprehensive.

Check out our Anatomy of a Resume blog for more information on how make the most out of each section of your resume.

Cover Letters

A great resume is best paired with an outstanding cover letter.

Not every company will require a cover letter from their applicants, but having one ready and added to your application can help you stand out amongst other applicants.

In your cover letter, make sure to include educational background, career experience and why you would be the best fit for the position. This is your chance to explain directly to the hiring manager why you think you are a great fit for their role.

It is important to point out that if you are using the same cover letter template for multiple companies, double check each one before it is sent out to make sure you are addressing the correct company and have the right information. If a hiring manager receives a cover letter that is addressed to a different company, it’s easy to assume that your application will be eliminated from their consideration.

Editing and Grammar Software

Using a grammar and spelling checker, like Grammarly, can make your resume and cover letters more succinct and free of spelling and grammatical errors.

Programs such as these, will automatically scan and review your writing and point out if there are issues like readability and run on sentences.

While these software like these can be helpful, having a friend or professional connection review your resume is a great way to get a second set of eyes for improving readability and cohesiveness.

Having accurate grammar and proper spelling is extremely important when making a first impression with a potential employer.

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Job searching can be easier when you implement these tips into your career search.

Search our latest jobs or submit your resume today to kickstart your job search!