Technology is moving rapidly and every day new apps, software and gadgets are popping up. Are you using technology to help your job search?
When you think about the many tasks you’re executing every day in job search, are you wondering if there is a better or easier way?
I don’t believe any one tool or piece of technology will put a job in your lap.
I do believe that by better utilizing your time and focusing on the high impact activities, you can speed up your job search.
They are designed to make our life easier by solving some problem. Now, you can say your abacus is working just fine, and who needs these hocus-pocus gadgets anyway; Or you can say, “Sure, I’ll give it a try.”
Which type of person are you? And by the way, which type of person do you think a company wants to hire?
If you do decide to experiment with new technology of any kind, give it a chance. As you may have heard before, it takes 21 days to break a habit (and form a new one).
I’m pretty sure you have most, if not all, of these systems in place:
- Calendars
- Social Networks
- Contact Management Systems
- Reputation Management Tools
- Resumes
Set up your email correctly and use gmail.
And use the email signature block.
When you consider the hundreds of emails you send out, most sent to people who do not know you, what impression do you want to leave? What information is vital for the recipients to know about you? What opportunity are you missing by not communicating your name, job title, contact information, and even a link to your LinkedIn profile?
For a slick looking format, check out WiseStamp.com. And don’t forget to set up a similar signature on your mobile device.
Calendars
You most likely lived by your calendar in your previous job. It served as a guide to keep you on track.
Are you using it as diligently in your job search?
There is nothing worse than missing a scheduled appointment, networking meeting, or interview.
Use your calendaring system to keep track of your follow-up activities too. Again, for the mobile job seeker, having this calendar accessible on your smartphone is absolutely critical.
Be sure to include phone numbers and email addresses to your calendar in case of an emergency and to have easy access.
Social Networks
You know about LinkedIn, but what other social networks are being used by employers?
Snapchat
YouTube
Contact Management System or CRM (customer relationship management)
As you meet new people, how are you keeping track of their contact information? Do you have a stack of business cards with notes scribbled on the back? You should be adding them to your contacts.
And how are you keeping track of what you talked about and who referred you? Sales professionals understand how important this information can be to lead generation and nurturing relationships. You need to do this too.
Tracking Applications
You can use JibberJobber or Huntr.io.
Reputation Management
What do you see when you search for your name through a search engine like Google? Are the results on the first page the best links referencing you? If not, you’ll want to manage this. There are tools like BrandYourself.com
Resumes
Evaluate your resume to make sure it is a close match for the jobs you apply to online. Use Jobscan.io
You can also evaluate the strength/impact of your bullets by using CultivatedCulture’s tool, Resume Bullet Analyzer.
This originally appeared on US News & World Report On Careers
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
