Job Hunt for Today: Job Hunt Basics

Lesson 1: Job Hunt Basics

Mindset

We know you’ve heard this before, but you’ve got to stay positive while you’re hunting for a job. Otherwise the rejection and frustration will drive you bonkers.

Finding a new job is going to take a lot of time and effort. But if you keep up a confident attitude, the journey will be a little less painful.

Learn more in our Job Search Savvy tutorial.

Searching Online

More and more companies are only posting job openings online. If you’ve never job hunted online before, it may seem a little intimidating at first. But once you get the hang of it, the online job search can open you up to lots of new opportunities.

When you fill out online applications, you’ll probably need to sign in or create an account for every position you find. Doing that over and over again can be a giant pain. But remember that each application you submit represents the possibility of you finding the perfect job match.

Learn more in our Find Jobs Online tutorial.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Knowing how to do your job is important, but being able to interact with customers and co-workers is just as important. After all, no one wants to work with someone who is uncooperative, unreliable, and unpleasant.

Many employers like to use the terms hard skills and soft skills when evaluating a person’s abilities. Understanding what those terms mean can give you a better idea of how employers are going to ultimately evaluate you and your application.

Although they can be listed on a resume alongside hard skills, soft skills are best shown through your actions. That can be during the interview or your first few days on the job. Being confident, adaptable, and open to communication can help you make a strong impression.

Learn more in our Hard & Soft Skills tutorial.

Rejection

You’ve sent application after application, but you still have no interview or job offer. After a while, the constant rejection can fill you with all sorts of bad thoughts making your job search miserable.

Remember that even if your resume is top-notch, there are many people out there also fighting for that same job. That’s why you’ve got to be ready to overcome rejection and keep on rolling.

It’s okay to be irritated or frustrated by this whole process. We’ve all been there. But staying irritated won’t help you in an interview or land you a job. Hop back in there and turn those bad feelings into something you can feel good about.

Learn more in our Professional Rejection tutorial.

No Experience

Applying to a job with little or no experience can be tough, but trying to get an entry-level job that requires experience is crazy-tough. After all, how can you get experience if you can’t get a job to gain that experience?

Essentially, find other ways to prove you can do the job. Talk up your current skills and achievements in a cover letter, get referrals, and show your passion for the job any way you can.

Learn more in our Entry Level Catch-22 tutorial.