Your CV is perfect. It's word-optimized, industry-defined, packed with achievements, backed by data, and reviewed by an expert. If none of these things do, stop here and learn how to prepare your resume for a job search.
Then you are ready to find your next job. Now is as good a time as ever to start looking for it, says Vicki Salemi, career expert at Monster, who has spent more than 15 years in corporate recruiting. "Businesses hire all year round," she says. "You never know when the right position will open." A Monster poll showed that 90% of respondents are willing to re-search for jobs in September, while only 10% are willing to wait until the start of the new year.
But with over 5 million jobs on Monster, where do you start? Follow the tips and tricks below to help you find better, faster.
Get Your Resume Done Right
Your resume is the key to starting a solid job search. Not sure how you stack up? Let the experts at Monster create your resume. Our resume writers will conduct a thorough review of your experience and career goals to craft a resume that reflects your awesomeness.
Let the Perfect Job Find You
This one is a no-brainer: Signing up for a profile on Monster is the quickest way to turn that shiny new resume of yours into interviews.
When you sign up for a Monster account, you'll be able to upload your resume and make it accessible to recruiters who use our site to find candidates for hard-to-fill positions. (Insider tip: Setting your resume to 'Visible' will allow employers to see everything you've uploaded, including contact information; 'Limited' will allow employers to see you while keeping your contact information and current employer hidden - although it doesn't You can still be contacted through the site's message center); 'Private' will keep your entire resume to yourself for further editing or for easy job application.)
Other perks of having an account: You can save your job searches and review your application history. You will also be able to apply for jobs without having to upload a new resume every time. Additionally, if you click on your profile avatar while logged in, go to Account Settings and tap Notification Settings, you'll be able to select checkboxes for a variety of useful email alerts. These include Monster Updates, which will occasionally provide targeted career advice, Service announcements, and Site improvements; Targeted career opportunities, which are related jobs designed to fit your specific career orientation; Monster Partner Offers, which are exclusive offers for Monster members, and the Monster Industry Newsletter, which will provide tips on how to advance in your career.
Get Alerted as Soon as Your Dream Job Is Posted
Once recruiters post their jobs, Salmi says, they're ready to start reviewing incoming resumes—which means the earlier you apply, the better your chances.
"The best time to apply for a job is within the first 48 hours of posting," she says. "Being in that first batch of candidates is critical because you're not only the first, you set the standards for future candidates."
Be the first to know about jobs by setting up job alerts on Monster. There are two different ways to do this: First, if you are logged into your account, perform a job search and click the Email Jobs button to the right of the search. New and matching jobs will be automatically delivered as they are posted, and your search will be stored under the "Saved Searches" area of your profile.
If you'd prefer not to sign up for an account, you can click the same button on any job search results page and enter the email address to where you want to receive job alerts. It's that easy.
By having jobs curated according to your interests, you can spend less time searching through millions of jobs on Monster and more time applying for the jobs you really care about.
Stay On Top of Your Search
Here's the thing about the job market: it's constantly changing. New job opportunities open all the time, which is great for you because it means that your odds of finding a great job increase every minute. That's why it's so important to check in on a daily basis - otherwise you risk missing out on a golden opportunity. Need some help with that? Download the Monster app. It is easy to use, not to mention that it is 100% free and a highly functional app.
Do you see something you like? Swipe right. Simply. Use it on the bus, in the dentist's waiting room, or online at the supermarket, while making your morning coffee - you get the idea. Bonus: Since you'll look like you're scrolling through your phone, you can discreetly search for a job while at your current job without anyone suspecting it!
Bottom line: A few minutes of job hunting here and there each day is all you need to stay on top of things, but those minutes can make all the difference.
Get the Inside Scoop on Who's Hiring
Another way to find jobs is to use Monster 100, our weekly list of 100 employees who posted the most jobs on Monster in the past seven days. You can click on company names to see what they are hiring for and if the job is right for you.
The company you are hiring can be a good indicator of your financial health. Additionally, this list can give you an idea of which sectors are currently hiring the most, which can give you some clues as to where the demand for workers is outstripping the supply (read: where you'll have less competition).
You can set up job alerts not only on job titles but also on companies. Check out Salmi's article on how to use company ratings to improve your job search.
A Brief Recap
got it all? It may seem like we threw a lot at you, but the gist of the message is: Strategize and get there. Need some guidance on taking the first few steps? Join Monster today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your cover letter and resume - each designed for a different type of job that interests you. Recruiters search for Monster every day to fill top positions with qualified candidates just like you. Plus, you'll receive career advice and job search advice to help you every step of the way.
Now how do you impress a recruiter and land that perfect party? So you have to read the third part of our series.