I Just Want a Job, Why Can't I Find One?
Are you in the market for work? If you have been searching for weeks, you might stop and say in frustration "I just want a job, why can't I find one?" There are various components of a successful job search. One important component is the actual job search. If you have been saying to yourself "I just want a job, why can't I find one" see if you are making these common mistakes.

Not Looking in the Right Places

It is a well-known fact that it is easiest to find job listings online. Perform a simple search and within minutes you are connected with hundreds of jobs that meet your search criteria. Online searching isn't the only method you should try. Companies still post listings in newspaper employment sections, companies still place now hiring signs in windows, and some companies prefer to post job listings directly on their website (as opposed to a search site).

It is also important to note that there are thousands of career search sites online. We tend to think of Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com first, but more are out there. You need to search as many career sites as possible. Say Company 1 uses Monster.com; great because you search this site. But, say Company 2 uses Dice.com; you don't see the job listing if you don't examine the site.

Since it is time consuming to search hundreds of career search sites, it is advised that you use an application that enables you to search them all at once!

Not Job Searching Often Enough

There are some job seekers who spend a week job searching, don't have any luck and automatically admit defeat. Job searching isn't easy. Actually it is easy to find jobs to apply for. The hard part involves landing a job interview.

Job search sites and boards are filled with information that changes daily. For example, Monster.com regularly has new job listings posted hourly throughout the day! Searching the best job sites two to three times a day until you find a job is recommended. You cannot search once, apply for a couple of positions, and then be done.

Applying with Companies that Aren't Hiring

Let's say that you have always wanted to work at your local insurance office. So you apply for a job by submitting your resume. Are you applying for any job in particular? Are you responding to a job listing online? Or, are you just submitting your resume just because you want to?

Most companies have a policy that states they will always accept job applications and resumes even if they aren't actively hiring. The goal is to have a stack of resumes ready for when they do need to hire. However, that can be in one month, six months, or one year.

If you just want a job now and don't want to wait one month to one year for a phone call, you should focus your job search on companies that are actively hiring right now. That means finding job listings online, searching your local help wanted ads, and responding to now hiring signs in business windows.



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