Supporting Contributor Post by Jenna
If you’re performing every job search the same way, you’re probably missing out on the best jobs for your desired position. Every job search needs to be approached differently, and to get the best results and get hired, you need to find the best way to search for the jobs you want.
Here is a list of the three primary methods you can use to find jobs, and how these methods correlate to specific jobs.
Job Ads: Entry-level jobs, established job roles
Job ads, whether on an individual company website or on aggregator sites like Monster and Indeed, are great ways to fill entry-level positions. After all, these sites are where the majority of entry-level job candidates look for work, so companies deliberately put their ads in the right places to attract the best candidates.
Job ads are also good for a company’s established job roles: positions like receptionist or finance assistant, where the duties have long been solidified and companies can use the same ad every time they need to re-fill the position.
If you’re looking for an entry-level job or for a standardized job role like “HR Director,” start combing the online want ads.
Referrals: High-level positions, creative positions, positions where fit is key
Not every job search requires a posted job listing. For many jobs, companies often prefer to look for candidates via referral.
Referral jobs are great for positions that are highly creative or positions that might still be somewhat undefined. This is where businesses turn to their trusted staff and say “I need someone who can help us achieve this result. Who do you know who might be a good fit?” It’s also where businesses hire headhunters to provide names of high-level candidates who are looking to make a career change.
Referrals are also great for jobs where fit is essential. These types of roles need candidates who already value what the company values. Although companies can find the right person through a traditional job ad, they’ll find that person much more quickly if they simply ask around.
If you’re looking for a creative job, or for a job where fit and value are essential qualities, you need to start networking. Who do you know who is working where you want to work? These types of jobs are often fulfilled by referrals, so make sure you’re the person that people are referring.
Temp Agencies: Short-term positions, quick ramp-up situations, skills-based performance
Temp agencies require you to pass a series of tests before they submit you for short-term or “temp to hire” jobs. These agencies are great ways to get certain types of entry- or mid-level administrative or skills-based positions; by the time the candidate is sent to a company for a final interview, the temp agency representative has already vetted the candidate and tested his or her skills.
Temp agencies are also great when you need short-term work between other obligations. Temp agencies take care of the back-end involved in a short-term job, and help companies quickly fill a short-term slot with a qualified employee. Often, you can take a temp agency’s skills tests on Monday and start a short-term job on Tuesday or Wednesday.
If you have specific, measurable, job-based skills, work with temp agencies. After all, their job is to give employers qualified candidates who can adapt to new work environments quickly. Many engineering jobs, for example, are skills-based projects that require rapid turn-around. If you’re looking for your next temp job or maybe something more permanent in this industry, temp agencies could be your best source of info on careers in engineering.
These aren’t the only methods of finding good jobs; some employers like to search LinkedIn, for example, or hold a call for portfolios. However, these three methods take care of the bulk of job searching and, when applied to the right positions, help you find the best jobs available for your needs.
Photo Kate Hiscock | Flickr
