Dos and donts when searching for a new job

Dos and donts when searching for a new jobAttention millennials Are you gearing up for a job hunt?As someone whos young and relatively new to the world of work, you may just be starting to realize that the level of competition for available stttes out there is intensewhich means that youre going to have to be at the top of your game when searching for a new job and theres zero margin for error if you want to be taken seriously by potential employers, hiring managers, and HR professionals (AKA, the job gatekeepers). googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) The Balance recently published an article highlighting the uphill battle millennials currently face in the job market today, along with practical job searching tips they can employ as young workers in the constantly evolving professional landscape.According to the article, Even as the job market has recovered following the Great Recession, unemployment for millennials continues to remain high wh en compared to older, more experienced workers. Some classic job search advicelikeavoid job-hoppingisnt applicable to millennials, who are frequent targets of layoffs and victims of industry instability.Obviously, millennials need a specific and targeted set of job hunting dos and donts when searching for new jobs. Take advantage of the following list of guidelines to make your next hunt as successful as possible.Job Search DosDefine your goals.When you get started on your next job hunt, you should kick things off by envisioning a primary goal for yourself. This may be a challenging task if youre just getting started in the professional world and havent pinpointed what exactly you want to do, but you should try your best to focus your job hunt as precisely as possible.Why is this so crucial? Your goal will help you target your cover letters and resume, and focus your job search. Also, hiring personnel love a confident young potential hire who knows exactly what she or he wants to do with their life. If you have a goal for your next job hunt, then greatrun with it If bedrngnis, consider asking yourself the following questions to help you define your goals and purposeWhat am I passionate about?Why do I dowhatI do?Which values are driving my goals?Whats my purpose?What vision do I have for my career over the next 1, 3, 5, or 10 years?Target your audience.Now that you have some clearly defined goals for your job hunt, you can begin to target your audiencethis includes the industries, insiders, and companies that you want to connect with in an effort to help you achieve your stated goals. Some of you may already feel as if you know everything there is to know about the position or industry youre looking to break into. If so, then great. If not, then do some research and get to know as much as you can at the onset of your job hunt.Consider asking yourself the following questions when youre trying to figure things outAre there specific companies Im interested in?Am I aiming to secure a position in a specific industry?What advantage or benefit does this position bring to their business?What will the company be lacking or missing if theres no one in this position?Consider some of the struggles and obstacles facing the employer and the industry. Make a list of the fruchtwein critical ones, and reflect on times in the past when youve confronted similar challenges.Define your potential value.With a clearly defined goal and audience, you can begin crafting your targeted resumes and cover lettersand demonstrate your value as a potential hire. What can you potentially offer employees if you were hired? How can you help them meet their specific needs?If you need some guidance to help you define your potential value, including what makes you stand out from the job hunting crowd, ask yourself the following questionsWhat benefit or contribution do I add?What key accomplishments or successes have I delivered time and time again?What would I say is unique ab out myself and how I do what I do?What are my greatest strengths?What do others see as the value I add?How have I positively influenced others?What would others say is fascinating, compelling, or interesting about me?What benefit would an employer or company get from choosing me over another candidate?What benefit or value did I bring to my previous employers?You should also reach out to friends, family, and your network and ask them which words they would use to describe you.Know where to look.The job hunt landscape has changed drastically from what your parents might remember, so consider passing them by for advice. The article by The Balance has some excellent targeted advice for conducting an effective job search Millennials are the social media generation, and your network of friends and acquaintances on major social media platforms can do more than like statuses. Connections are valuablefrom sharing a job description that hasnt been posted to making an introduction, your conne ctions can help with your job search greatly.They suggest the following targeted tips for kickstarting thingsSign up for LinkedIn Make the fruchtwein of this targeted site, designed specifically for making career connections and job hunting. A basic account is free, so theres really no reason not to take advantage of it.Clean up your existing social media Make sure theres nothing embarrassing or offensive that might pop up on the social media sites you use, should potential employers check them out.Use your college career office Another great free resource, take advantage of the services your college career office provides to get a step up on the competition.Attend industry events Events designed for folks in your target industry to connect are excellent opportunities for you to meet key people and possibly network your way into your next great career opportunity.Job Search DontsDont ignore the basics.Many of the fundamentals of an effective job search have not changed over time, so overlook them at your own perilFollow instructions provided when applying to each job.Make sure your resume and cover letter are free of errors.Follow the rules of proper interview etiquettebe polite, dress appropriately, display good body language, and turn off your phoneDont get too cute with your resume and cover letter.Sure, you want to stand out from the competition, but do so through the impressive content of your documentsnot by using wacky designs, crazy fonts and colors, or any other overly creative flourishes. Chances are, you wont be taken seriously as a potentially candidate, and unless its asked for it isnt worth the risk.Dont let frustration get the better of you.Job searching today can be a long and protracted experience full of disappointment, especially for millennials, who are used to instant gratification. This can be frustrating for job seekers, but dont let that frustration defeat or derail you from your ultimate goalkeep things in perspective and find a way to maintain your composure, motivation, and drive during this process.If youre a millennial on the hunt for a new position, make the most of these dos and donts to jumpstart your job search and land your next big professional opportunity. Good luck