What are the best ways to apply for jobs other than sending online applications?
The job market is competitive. You know this, and so do companies. They have to be careful about who they hire, and that means they need options. If you've never worked at a company before or don't have much experience in your field, it can be hard to get your foot in the door. Especially if you're looking for a job with a well-known company or one that has lots of candidates applying.
In this guide, we'll go over 6 great tips on what you can do except of applying online to increase your chances of getting an interview!
» FREE TRIAL: Get Started with LoopCV & Send Out 100s of Highly-Targeted Job Applications in <10 Minutes
1. Gather your materials
When you have the all-important interview, you don't want to be caught off guard and unprepared. You can't just rely on what you've written in your cover letter and resume alone.
The following are some key materials that will help to ensure that your next job comes with a paycheck:
- A portfolio or samples of previous work
- A resume
- A cover letter
If any of these are missing from your collection at home, now is the time to get them sorted out!
2. Find the companies you want to work for
There are several ways you can find the companies you want to work for. You could use job boards and social media, but you might also consider using your personal network or the online network.
Once you've found some companies, research their websites and learn about them more in depth. If a company has been around for a while, check out their history online. There are also plenty of sources online where you can learn more about certain companies' values, culture and mission statements (for example: Glassdoor).
3. Make lists
- Make a list of potential contacts.
Consider the following people:
- People you know who can connect you to someone at the company (e.g., friends, family members, etc.)
- People who currently work or have worked at that company in the past (and maybe even still have connections there)
4. Network and connect with people at those companies
There are many ways to find out about jobs other than sending online applications. One of the best is to network and connect with people at those companies.
- Find out who is hiring by searching job listings and by following your industry on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram.
- Find out who you know at the company by searching LinkedIn, or asking friends and family for advice.
- Use LinkedIn to search for people in your industry who work at the company where you hope to apply, then reach out via email or phone (or even in person) with a well-crafted message that explains why they should hire you instead of someone else!
- Attend to job fairs. Make sure that you stay updated on all the network, job, career events - forums - fairs in your area. These are the major events that connect people with businesses and vice versa. Participate in the most of those that you can. Physically or virtually!
5. Do informational interviews
Informational interviews are a great way to learn about jobs and companies, as well as the industry in general. These can be done over the phone or in person, though they’re most often done face-to-face, so that both parties have the chance to ask questions and exchange ideas.
Informational interviews are ideal for people who are just starting out in their career, but they can also be useful for experienced professionals if they want to branch out into new industries or explore new opportunities at their current place of employment.
It’s best not to limit yourself when seeking out informational interviews, you can talk with anyone who works at a company you're interested in learning more about!
6. Apply for jobs that are listed
If you're looking for a job, start by researching the companies that you're interested in working for. Look up the company's website and find out what types of positions they have available. Some companies post jobs on their own websites, while others hire recruiters to help with hiring new employees.
You can also find jobs by searching "jobs" or "career opportunities" on job search sites such as Loopcv, Monster, careerbuilder, and Indeed (to name just a few).
These sites provide a wide variety of opportunities from different companies as well as listings from temporary agencies that specialize in placing individuals into temporary assignments within various fields ranging from accounting to health care support services (or whatever industry you happen to be interested in).
» FREE TRIAL: Get Started with LoopCV & Send Out 100s of Highly-Targeted Job Applications in <10 Minutes
Conclusion
The job search can feel like a daunting task. It's easy to get discouraged and think you aren't qualified enough or don't have enough experience. But we hope this article has shown that there are lots of ways to apply for jobs other than sending online applications!
We encourage you not give up on finding work. There are so many opportunities out there if you're willing to put in the time and effort it takes to find them!
You can also read our article:
Zoi Kotsou
