Job Searching Strategy Tips
For the Determined Soul in a Rough Market
A couple of years ago I made a challenging career transition; from Graphic Designer to UX Designer. I was one of those Bootcamp grads everyone loves so much… I get asked about how I hustled and persevered at least once a week! Time to write it down yassss.
1. Use LinkedIn every day.
LinkedIn Premium is worth the money during your job search. Use LinkedIn to search and apply for jobs, comment on posts in your desired field, and keep your profile fresh. Be bold and reach out to people in your field; at companies you want to work in, or someone who looks interesting. Ask for coffee chats or advice; don’t be shy because the worst they can say is no.
2. Be unapologetically (but professionally) YOU.
Employers are looking for people they like! Don’t assume you know who is a fit for their team. I used to think I had to hide my quirky self to fit into the professional world. But in all honesty, my personality hands-down has given me an edge my entire career.
3. Learn every day.
Read books and articles about your industry. Search for podcasts, YouTube videos, and other content on social media. There is so much out there; don’t be lazy (I know you’re on social anyway). Set up a learning schedule and stick to it. Learn something really hard or cutting-edge if you feel ambitious!
4. Be the expert.
Share things you are learning! Post an article or video you found interesting on LinkedIn. I suggest adding 3 key takeaways or your thoughts about the content. Do this once or twice a week.
5. Reach out to “I’m Hiring” LinkedIn frame users.
Not every job is posted, or posted right away. It’s common to unlock an opportunity that hasn’t gone live yet. Fortune favors the bold.
6. Take good care of your health.
I’m not going to go all parental unit on you... But if you don’t take good care of your body, your mind and job search will suffer. Be nice to yourself. Take walks in the fresh air—Cook a nutritious meal.
7. Attend virtual events, in-person networking, and career fairs.
I was job searching in March 2020. I was sooooo determined to connect that I went to every networking and virtual event I could find. I used those as opportunities to post about my experiences on LinkedIn too! Learned a ton and made new friends, grew nerdier, what’s not to love?
8. Join Slack or Discord communities for your expertise.
There are online communities for ANYTHING these days. Google it and you shall find treasures. You might have to dig but it’s well worth it!
9. Keep a log of job applications and reach-outs.
I used Trello for mine! The last thing you need is to stress about organization. I recorded everywhere I applied and added sections to move the applications along in the process. I took note of important conversations and kept contact info; all in the same place. It was a total lifesaver!
10. Do sample projects.
Get creative and scrappy enough and you can create exercises and sample projects for any field! Collaborate with other job seekers or people in your network. Search for problems and solve them, then share what you did, and use it as talking pieces in your interviews and industry discussions. I’m sure you can find lots of complaints; people LOVE to vent online.
>> Alright loves! This is all I’ve got for now. I sincerely hope you find something that moves you forward in life and your career. We all deserve to have the job we most desire. LFG!
