7 Tips for Those Just Starting to Job Hunt in 2023

When applying for jobs, we have a desperate need to do anything we can to stand out. There are several different elements that will make you a considerable candidate to an employer, like your work experience, certifications, credentials, educational background, etc.,  but how do you put all of these together and get from your couch to the interviewing chair?

As you are diving into the job search process, you might be curious as to what you can do to boost your resume to the top, up your employability, and ultimately secure the job you want. Here are six tips that will help you launch your 2023 job hunt and make you a worthwhile candidate to hire.

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1. Start Building a Network:  Networking helps give you meaningful connections that can introduce you to important figures/people in your field, lead you to a job you otherwise wouldn’t know of, and give you plenty of resources to boost your resume. In addition, building a network can give you insight into what employers are seeking from potential applicants within your career field of interest. You can start building a network by creating professional social media pages that will highlight your skills and most importantly, the type of job you want. Then, search for your ideal job with keywords and even look for people with similar interests in your job field. Doing so can give you extra knowledge on how to best prepare for upcoming job applications and even expose you to new job opportunities!

2. Take Steps to Boost Your Confidence: This world is tough and to make it in this world, you have to have confidence- confidence in yourself, in your ability to do a job, in your skills, etc. We all have points where our self-esteem is low and we don’t believe in ourselves, so you’re not the only one.  To help make your desired job a reality, take some steps to boost your confidence! In an article on Entrepreneur.com, guest writer and CEO Chris W. Dunn recommends a few ways to build your confidence, such as visualizing yourself as you want to be, affirming yourself, doing something that scares you every day, helping someone else, caring for yourself, and shifting to an equality mentality, among some.

3. Don’t Overlook Freelance Opportunities: In terms of work, a lot of people either don’t know much about freelance opportunities or just have a wrong impression of freelancing. When job hunting is difficult, freelancing is a great way to get experience and build your resume at the same time! With freelance job opportunities, you can expect to take on individual projects or tasks, and get compensated for your work. Tiffany Waddell Tate of the Muse notes, “It can help you build a portfolio of work examples, which may be more like what you’d need to produce in a job than school projects. Not only is this the perfect opportunity to flex your skills in addition to doing the actual work, but it’s also paid and usually doesn’t rely on a set time commitment.” Ultimately, freelancing is a great way to make money, build an online profile, and show employers the types of work you can do which otherwise would be difficult to highlight on a resume.

4. Grow Your Strong and Soft Skills: Within the category of employability skills, there are soft skills and hard skills. Soft skills are what many tend to think of as “people” skills, or skills that revolve around your character and ability to work with others/communicate. Hard skills, in contrast, are skills that can be taught, such as something you learned in school, in previous work experience, etc., according to Paige Liwanag of Jobscan. Having a combination of both soft and hard skills will definitely come in handy on a resume and look great in the eyes of an employer.

5. Prepare Yourself for Dreaded Interviews:  When you research the ins and outs of the company you’re applying to, it makes all the difference, as it shows your interviewer that you are not only serious about the position you are seeking but also that you have an interest in more than just the person sitting across from you.  Find the company website and note down all the important information that you can draw from it, such as the company mission statement, its intended target audience, its history, employee reviews, etc. Additionally, prepare yourself to answer the tough questions. For difficult questions centered on you, try to recall a trait of yours that could need improvement that isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker. Allison Doyle of the Balance writes, “The best way to answer questions about weaknesses is to be honest, positive, and focused on solutions.”

6. Gently Follow Up After Your Interview: When following up with your interviewer or employer, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, whether you’re writing an email or making a phone call, make sure to either write out or go over your message first. You do not want the mistake of contacting your potential employer angrily or annoyingly; instead, be sure to thank them for their time in reviewing your application and express your understanding of their timing in getting back to you. Regardless if you hear back after this, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you did everything in your power to put yourself out there!

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As you put yourself out into the job market, don’t forget the importance of the little things, such as boosting your confidence or growing your skills, as well as the big things like preparing for interviews or networking online. Doing so will undoubtedly make you stand out to your future employer and secure the job of your dreams this year!