"Never Be The First To Give A Number": 30 People Are Sharing Their Most Valuable Job-Search Tips

We reached out to founder and CEO of the internationally recognized career website JobJenny, Jenny Foss, to get some job searching tips from an expert. Jenny is a job search strategist, long-time recruiter, and author of the soon-to-launch book, Do This, Not That: Career. First, we asked why Jenny thinks job hunting is so hard. “Most of us don't learn this when we're going to school. We go to school (particularly college) to study a vocation but, unless we get lucky or proactively pursue support on how to make the most out of job search, we tend to fumble our way through it,” she explained. 

“Complicating this further is the dearth of information and advice available to us -- and the fact that there is literally no barrier to entry to becoming a ‘career expert.’ Given this, you'll give a wide range of advice, some of which will directly conflict with other advice that you're uncovering.” 

“Last, job hunting is hard because, even under the best of circumstances, people tend to be overwhelmed, confused or quite stressed when they are job searching. It's not a fun experience for the vast majority of professionals.”

Next, we asked Jenny for her best job searching tips. “Don't be afraid to reach out to people, even strangers. Whether that's asking someone for an informational interview, reaching out to a friend of a friend, or talking with a professor, former colleague, or recruiter. People tend to be so worried about being a bother that they take few proactive steps to further their connections when job seeking and this is a huge mistake,” Jenny says.

“Certainly, you want to approach with genuine curiosity, and be thoughtful of what you're asking for and how much time you'd like, but never be afraid to ask curious questions to learn more about a company, a job or another person.”

We also asked Jenny if there are any red flags to look out for when job hunting. “Oh, gosh, yes. Definitely work to understand why the position is open,” she says. “Also, try and get a pulse on the culture of the company and the well-being of the people. This could be as simple as reviewing the job description -- If the demands seem to (far) outweigh the compensation for the job, that's a red flag. If the interviewers or hiring managers seem super scattered or unorganized, that's another red flag. If they try to hire you on the spot, that could be another red flag.... trust your gut as you work to find a role that aligns with YOUR career aspirations and compensation expectations.”

If you’d like to hear more from Jenny to help you in your career search, be sure to check out JobJenny right here.

We also got in touch with Mac Prichard, creator of the career searching site Mac’s List and host of the podcast “Find Your Dream Job”, to hear why he thinks job searching is so tough. “Looking for a job is like planning a trip. If you're unclear about your destination, your journey will be a lot harder and longer than it has to be,” Mac explained. “So before you send out your first application, know the job you want, be clear about the salary and benefits you need, and identify the companies where you want to work. When you do this, your job search gets easier and faster and you will have a more rewarding career.”

Next, we asked Mac to share some of his best job searching tips. “Be clear about the job you want, create a target list of employers, and network inside the companies where you want to work. Hiring managers place great importance on referrals. Make this principle work for you by asking people in your network for introductions at the organizations you've targeted.”

We also asked Mac if he knows of any red flags to look out for when job hunting. “Pay attention to your experience as a candidate. How employers treat applicants speaks volumes about a company's culture and what it's like to work there,” he said.

Lastly, Mac wanted to add, “To get the best job and enjoy the most rewarding career, you need to spend time up front in a job search getting clear about what you want and what you offer. When you do this work, you can be much more selective about where you apply and you will have a shorter and easier job search.”

For more wise words from Mac, be sure to check out his podcast right here. 

We also reached out to Jane Jackson for some more job searching advice from an expert. Jane Jackson, a career success coach and the founder of The Careers Academy Career Success Program, provides support and inspiration to all who feel stuck in their careers. She shares career advice, job search tips and guidance via her LinkedIn Live broadcasts, her YouTube Channel and Facebook accountability group. 

When asked why she thinks job hunting can be so hard, Jane told us, “Job hunting can seem daunting when you don’t know what you really want in your career and are unsure of the steps to take to land the job you’ll love.” 

She went on to explain that her book Navigating Career Crossroads breaks down some of the most typical mistakes with the acronym CAREERS: Clarity and confidence, Assess what makes you tick, Resumes and marketing materials, Express your personal brand, Explore job search strategies that work, Relate your value and impress at interviews, and Success strategies.

Jane also provided us with her top three job search tips. First, she says to, “Take the time to assess what is most important to you in your career.  Assess your VALUES, understand what MOTIVATES you and what de-motivates you, take stock of your skills - the ones you ENJOY using and the ones you excel at. The skills you are highly skilled in and that you enjoy are easier to talk about in interviews as you’ll feel passionate about them.”

Next, Jane says, “When you understand what you want then you must expand your professional network in the desired direction.  Leverage professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn to conduct research into the key people in the industries and companies where you would love to work. Use LinkedIn to reach out to them and develop a professional connection - it’s not just who you KNOW, it’s who know what you CAN DO.”

And third, Jane reminds job seekers to have patience. “Do not be disappointed if you are not successful right away. The job search process is a journey - with each application and the time you take to tailor your resume and cover letters for specific roles you will learn a lot about yourself. With each job interview you will learn a lot about how to communicate effectively,” she explains. “Every experience is a good learning experience and understand the positive take-aways from each one.”

As far as red flags to watch out for when job hunting, Jane says the biggest is “when you ‘feel’ that something is not right when you are in the interview process”. “Remember that you are not begging for a job.  You are looking for the right company with the right culture where you will grow and flourish.”  

She also added, “Be prepared to ask questions of the hiring manager as well as answering their questions.  If their responses make you feel uncomfortable, or they don’t like being asked polite questions, that’s an immediate red flag that this may not be the best environment for you.”

Lastly, Jane reminds job seekers to “take time to understand your SELF first”. “Do your research into the different industries and the direction each is going in.  There have been so many changes the past few years with technology and methodology - things are always changing,” she explains. “Make sure that you are open to change, be curious and keep learning.”

“If something doesn’t work, analyze why it didn’t work and use your creativity to find a way around it so you will be more successful next time.  And, if you need help, look for a professional who can support you.”

To gain even more wisdom from Jane, be sure to check out her website right here.

Unless it has been years since the last time you had to search for a new job, you probably remember the experience all too well. Whether you had the stress of potentially not being able to pay rent looming over your head or you just desperately wanted out of a position you could not stand, job searching is usually more stressful than exciting. Sure, if you are moving to a new city or just looking for something new, finding a different job can be the start of a new adventure. But for the vast majority of us, updating our resumes and sending countless emails into the void feels like a nightmare.

So to expedite the process, we’ve compiled this list for you. Every position is different, but I’m sure you will find something useful here that applies to your field. And to find out even more about job searching, we’ve consulted Zety’s 2022 HR Statistics Report. When it comes to what job seekers prioritize, 96% of them find it important to work for a company that embraces transparency. So if that’s important to you, know that you’re not alone. Finding a company that is up front with employees and consumers should not be a problem.      

Now you might have a few different ways of searching for open positions, but most people tend to use social media. In fact, 79% of job seekers say they’ll look for open positions on social media, with 86% of younger workers saying the same. LinkedIn and Indeed are among the most popular sites with job postings, but nowadays there are plenty of other location or field specific options as well. The competition is fierce though. For corporate jobs, the average posting receives 250 resumes. Only about 6 people will actually be offered an interview though, so you better make sure your CV stands out.

In fact, only 1 out of every 6 applicants for any position is called in for an interview. While this may sound disheartening, at least your time is not likely to be wasted by going on countless interviews. Once you’ve been called in to meet the hiring managers, you are already so much closer to the position than most applicants. With all of the resumes that recruiters receive, they are likely to take less than 10 seconds to scan your information. If it’s not abundantly clear that you are right for the job, they’re moving on. This is why it’s always important to tailor your CV to each place you apply. By making the recruiter’s job easier and putting the most relevant experience front and center, you’re less likely to be overlooked.

Now, you might be wondering what everyone else who is applying for similar jobs is looking for. According to Zety, the top 5 pieces of information job seekers want to find when they are researching positions are: details on compensation packages, details on benefits packages, basic company information, details on what makes the company a great place to work, and the company’s mission statement, visions and values. In fact, when it is difficult to find information about a company online, 37% of job seekers said they will skip applying there altogether. The theme of a desire for transparency continues. When a company is too elusive online, they are only hurting themselves. Potentially perfect job candidates are deterred by not being able to see if their values align with a business.

Many job seekers want to understand the values of a company because it can be hard to set aside personal views at work. Sure, employees need to be professional, but they should also be able to stand by their employers and be proud to work for them. In fact, 50% of job seekers said they would turn down an offer from a company with a poor reputation, even if it meant they would earn more money there. On the other hand, 92% of employees said they would be willing to jump ship and leave their current jobs if they had an opportunity to work for a company with an excellent reputation. While many companies are scared to show any personal views or political affiliations for fear of alienating customers, sometimes that is exactly what they need to do to gain a solid reputation.   

When it comes to the hiring process, there is a lot at stake for companies as well as potential employees. Candidates are in need of a job, but hiring managers also want to ensure that they choose the perfect person to fill the role and stay with the company for as long as possible. On average, companies spend $4,129 per employee that they hire, so it is in their best interest to keep turnover rates as low as possible. Yet somehow, 61% of employees report that “the realities of their new job differ from expectations set during the interview process”. Perhaps it is because interviewers are desperate to fill a role or they don’t have as thorough of an understanding of every position as they should, but understandably, this can lead to frustration for new hires.

Despite the collective disdain for the job searching process, most people end up experiencing it many times during their lives. In fact, the average number of jobs held throughout a person’s life is 12.5 for men and 12.1 for women. It makes sense, as most people go through various transitions such as acquiring education, changing their interests or moving to a different city, but plenty of people voluntarily enter the job market for other reasons as well. Apparently, the top reason why workers quit their jobs is because they felt underappreciated. Getting a better offer is another common reason to transition to a new job as well, as 81% of employees say they would be open to leaving their current jobs if an attractive offer presented itself.

One reason it can take so long to find a new job is because of how competitive the market is. Currently, in the United States, the unemployment rate is at 6.7%, meaning 10.7 million people are searching for new jobs. Over one third of those individuals fall in the “long-term unemployed category” as well, meaning they have been without work for at least 6 months. It can be very easy to find yourself in that category though, as it takes the average person 24 weeks, or about 5.5 months, to find a new position. Even if you have a lead, companies can move slowly. The average amount of time it took to hire a new employee in 2016 was 39 days, as reviewing resumes, scheduling interviews and going through intense vetting processes often takes time.