Four Tools I’m Using In My Job Search
It is such a weird time.
I find myself saying that at least once a day. There is so much change right now. For me, looking for my next opportunity is a big change. I’ve never been unemployed before. But as with all times of change, this has allowed me to try some things differently, like creating a website to house my writing samples and a blog. It’s allowed me to play with new tools that I’ve previously never made time for. Outside of the traditional job search tools such as Indeed and Glassdoor, here are a few other tools that have been instrumental in my search.
Spelling and Grammar Browser Extension: I don’t know about you, but I thank my lucky stars for spell check in programs such as Word and Google Docs. What if you could have that peace of mind when you are filling out questions on a potential employer’s website? That’s why I love Grammarly. If you don’t have this browser extension, get it. Right now. I’ll wait. (If you are new to extensions, here’s a how-to for Chrome) If Grammarly is already a part of your life, you know the heartache and embarrassment it saves you on the regular. Even though I have a journalism degree and words are a part of my daily life, I screw up. A lot. And Grammarly gives me gentle reminders that I misspelled “relevant” again, or that I forgot a comma, or some other silly mistake I know better than to make. Note: Grammarly is a fan of the Oxford comma.
Website: People who are about to hire you want to know that you can actually do what they are hiring you to do. That’s where a personal website comes in. This pause in employment gave me the kick I needed to finally set up a website to showcase the work I’ve done and explain how all the pieces of my career work together. I used Squarespace to set up my website and while there are some quirks that I haven’t quite figured out, the templates were easy to use and I’m excited to have a place other than LinkedIn to send potential employers. Wix is another popular tool, and both Squarespace and Wix allow you to get started for free with a random domain name that will have nothing to do with your name. If you want a custom domain, you will need to pay for one of the packages. I got my domain and a year’s worth of hosting for about $125 with a discount from one of the podcasts I listen to.
Social Media Scheduler: Being seen is the name of the job search game. Your social media accounts are where you share what you know, reach out to people you want to know, and where people can learn more about you and what drives you. While you share links to articles, podcasts, and amazing memes as you find them, a scheduling tool like Buffer can make sure you have a cohesive sharing strategy when it comes to your content. This can include your blog posts, past projects that still live on the web, articles you’ve written that are still relevant, or just thoughts you have on trends in your industry. Buffer starts everyone off with a free trial of one of their paid plans (no credit card required), and after the two weeks, you can transition to the more limited free plan, which should still cover the basic needs of a job-searcher.
LinkedIn: I have been so heartened by the support I’ve seen on LinkedIn for people who are struggling. So many people are offering to review resumes, curating lists of open positions, and just being helpful in any way they can. I’ve taken a few people up on these offers, including two people I didn’t know directly, and both were incredibly generous with their time and advice. Normal LinkedIn best practices still apply, and can still set you apart: when you connect, send a note to let the person know why you want to connect and always think about how you can be helpful to the other person. If they do connect with you, do not immediately turn around and ask for something -- a job, an introduction. Figure out how you can be helpful first.
Chocolate Chip Cookies: Sometimes you just need chewy, soft, and chocolatey goodness to help the world make sense. These are my favorite.
There are a lot of tools out there for job searchers. Regardless of the site you use to find open positions, having an updated website, cohesive social media strategy, strong network, and clear communication will support your job search and help a potential employer see more than just the bullets on your resume.