For most job seekers, getting started is the most challenging part of a job search. Some are overwhelmed by the number of relevant job openings; others struggle with updating their resumes. The key to ensuring that your job search goes smoothly and ends successfully is mobilizing all career resources available. Job boards are only a tiny part of them.
Finding Job Openings Isn’t the Key Step in a Job Search
Some job seekers think that finding a few job openings and sending out their resumes is all the job search is about. That’s a mistake, though. If you want to land a truly fantastic job at the company of your dreams, there are many more steps you’ll need to take first. Finding listings is the easiest of them.
Sure, it’s essential to begin with some brainstorming, and job boards are helpful for that. Even if you’re looking for a job similar to your previous one and do not intend to switch the industry, you’ll need to know what has changed since the last time you looked for a job. Job expectations are constantly evolving, and so are the things employers look for in potential employees.
But once you’ve done some industry research and browsed through a few job openings, you’ll need to work on your resume, LinkedIn profile, and a cover letter template (among other things). You can either do that yourself or visit SkillHub’s resume service and hire a professional writer– https://skillhub.com/resume-writing-services-los-angeles but the latter is better. An expert knows about the newest resume-writing trends and formatting expectations. They’ll help you present your skills and work experience in the most favorable light.
Services Beyond Job Boards That Every Job Seeker Needs
To write a winning resume, learn about the best employers, and prepare for an interview, job seekers need much more than a typical job board with many job listings. Here are a few services that you should consider using to make sure that your job search is successful:
- Career advice experts. Not all job seekers know what they’re looking for and might need help. A career advice expert will help you understand what you want and what you can expect from your industry and career line. And they can also help you change those if you feel like it’s time to try something new.
- Resume and cover letter writing services. You may think you’re great at writing resumes, but are you? Just like any other field, resume writing keeps changing. Your three-year-old resume might be totally obsolete regarding formatting and the information you put on it. That’s why a resume writing service akin to Skillhub is always helpful, even more so if you’d like to write cover letters.
- Platforms with helpful job search advice. A professionally written resume is guaranteed to land you a few job interviews. But that’s just the first step. You’ll also need to know how to answer common interview questions, what to ask the recruiter to learn more about the company you’re applying for, and other things that matter in a job search. Free advice is available online; just make sure to use your critical thinking skills and filter the information you find.
The Best Job-Searching Platforms
Still, traditional job boards are a massive part of job search, so every candidate needs to know enough about them. Using just one job-searching website is bad because some companies don’t post job openings on all of them. If you stick to just one, you might miss out on the job opportunity of your dreams simply because it’s posted elsewhere.
So, here are some of the most popular job boards:
- Indeed. Indeed is employers’ preferred job board across all industries. It is free, convenient to navigate, and tends to have the most job listings. It also features company reviews so a job seeker can rule out unreliable and abusive employers.
- Glassdoor. There are job listings on Glassdoor. But what it is mainly known for is employer research. Job seekers can find tons of unbiased information about the companies they’re considering, including past employees’ reviews, salaries, nuances of the corporate culture, and more.
- Monster. Monster may not be job seekers’ favorite job board, but it has many job listings and a few great perks. For example, it makes it possible to hide one’s resume from one’s current employer. So if you don’t want your boss to know that you’re looking for a new job, they won’t.
- LinkedIn Job Search. LinkedIn Job Search is very convenient, but it works better for some industries. An SMM manager will easily find thousands of job openings there, but a logistics professional is better off looking elsewhere. This will soon change, though, as LinkedIn is steadily increasing in popularity even among the most conservative employers.
Use one or two job boards and LinkedIn for the best results.
Why Every Job Seeker Needs a LinkedIn Profile
Finally, no matter how much you hate social media, you need a LinkedIn profile. Surprisingly, many older job seekers still think it’s optional. It’s not. Recruiter surveys reveal that the first thing they do when they receive a promising-looking resume is check the candidate’s LinkedIn profile. If they don’t have one, it may decrease their chances of getting an interview.
Besides, LinkedIn is great for networking. You can keep in touch with fellow college alumni and former colleagues, text employers you’re interested in even when they don’t have relevant job openings, and more. If the idea of creating a profile intimidates you, you can always hire a professional service to write you one along with your resume.
Final Thoughts
To find job listings that match your skills and expectations, use popular job boards like Indeed or TopResume, as well as LinkedIn. But that’s the smallest part of the efforts that go into a successful job search. Hiring professional resume and Linkedin profile services, consulting career advice experts, and researching helpful interview tips is essential too.
