How to Stay Informed and Current as a Job Seeker

Informed job seekers keep abreast of the latest happenings in their industry, as well as career news, in order to construct a more successful job search plan. The latest information prepares job seekers for interviews by keeping them up-to-date on industry trends, and it provides tips for a productive search. There are many ways to stay current while searching for employment. These are the best ways to stay informed and current as a job seeker.

Social networking websites provide a platform for receiving updates on industry news and helping informed job seekers find job postings through connections and friends. Career professionals note a shift from companies advertising in traditional venues to posting listings on their company and personal social network profile. Informed candidates often visit pages of individuals and companies in their field of interest. Job seekers take advantage of preference settings and social media lists to filter posts from relevant sources before reading posts regarding personal matters. On the same note, it is a good idea for job seekers looking to stay current to keep up-to-date, professional profiles.

Another way to be an informed job seeker is to work within an industry as a temporary worker while finding a long-term position. A temporary or part-time position also has the potential to lead to a permanent job within the same company. While working in a temporary position, the job seeker maintains a connection to the industry and industry leaders. According to career experts, a possible downside of working while job searching is the loss of time on the career search. Balance the approach by finding temporary positions with companies of interest to research career prospects while remaining an informed job seeker.

Professional career websites and expert blogs maintain industry information, career search skills and networking tips to create informed job seekers. Colleges, government agencies and professional services keep examples of the latest cover letter and resume formats and also often provide interview tips. Many include links to websites or blogs with business-centered news. Informed job seekers carefully choose which websites and blogs are reliable. Online journals, magazines and newspapers are also a key source of information.

Traditional networking creates informed job seekers and is a key component of job search success. Lunch or coffee with former employees, peers in the field or connections through friends gives job seekers ample time to ask questions and find leads for employment. Traditional networking serves as a way to make physical contact from members of your social network that you have only interacted with online.

With the constant business of job hunting (writing resumes and cover letters), it is easy to create an insular world and fall behind on industry and career information. A successful job search, however, relies on interpersonal connections, which occur when they can benefit all parties. Informed job seekers have the insight to show prospective employers that they are on the cutting edge of the industry while presenting a polished career package.

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