According to Australia’s quarterly Job Vacancies Survey, in May 2024, there were a total of 352,600 job vacancies—highlighting a 2.7% drop from February 2024.
Even such a slight decrease in vacancies shows that the job market has fewer opportunities. So, you must embrace more effective job search strategies to get employed in your field.
Whether you have years of experience or are a fresh graduate, here are all the key strategies to find the best job opportunities.
1. Use job portals strategically
Upload your resume to as many job portals and boards as you can find. Before uploading your resume on them, ensure your resume and cover letter are always updated according to the role you’re seeking.
You can also check out some relevant job advertisements on portals to understand the skills and expertise they prefer. Tailor your application letter, cover letter, and resume accordingly. Mention all relevant accomplishments.
Add all the keywords for the specific position to enhance your visibility to recruiters.
2. Reach out to the right agency
Most people rely on online job portals and expect the best. However, you need to be more proactive. Seek a premier recruitment agency that empowers every job seeker to land the best opportunities.
Research your options and sign up with an agency with decades of experience in recruitment and amazing testimonies from job seekers. They must also have a range of job seeker tool kits, including CV templates, cover letter templates, and interview guides.
3. Attend job fairs
Several job fairs are hosted throughout the year in Australia. There, you can meet potential employers that hire directly.
To get news about job fairs, follow national career fair websites, government websites, recruitment agencies, job boards, and the social media pages of companies you’d like to work for. Some college and university websites also post about them.
Once you get news about the fair, identify the participating organisations and research companies you’re most interested in.
Prepare to speak to employers directly and leave a lasting impression. This can help you land an interview on the same day!
4. Monitor company websites
Based on your industry, shortlist 10 or more renowned companies where you would like to work. Add their websites to your “Favourites” in the browser or add a shortcut to those websites. Check out their “Careers,” “Jobs,” “Hiring,” or similar sections every day.
Many companies don’t post their job openings on job portals or seek recruitment agencies. Instead, they share updates on their own website and sometimes share them on social media.
If you monitor them regularly, you’ll have a higher chance of finding out about their openings early on. Being an early applicant, you’ll also have a higher chance of getting shortlisted!
5. Network like a pro
An all-time popular job-hunting strategy is networking. It lets you find more about openings easily without checking websites and portals all day long,
Connect with relevant people online and offline within the industry, especially from companies you’d like to work for. Stay connected and communicate to them that you’re looking for a job.
This boosts your chance of getting job opening news even before online updates. You might even get referrals.
During offline meetings, always carry plenty of business cards to exchange contacts and create a lasting impression.
6. Seek word-of-mouth recommendations
Leverage your personal and existing contacts as well. For instance, stay on good terms with relatives, neighbours, community members, and school/college teachers.
Seek their recommendations or tell them to inform you if they have any news of job openings or connections with hiring managers.
Another way to utilise word-of-mouth recommendations is to identify small and family-owned businesses that interest you. Send them cold emails about your desire to join them.
7. Upgrade your skills
Join a class or professional organisation to learn a skill relevant to your profession. New skills make your resume stand out more and boost your confidence. Companies will prefer you over other candidates with less skill set.
However, that’s not all because you’ll also meet other professionals within the industry in these institutions!
While enhancing your resume and skills, you will also get connected with industry professionals. Network and engage with them. Be mentally present, as they can further update you about openings and share the latest skills in demand within the industry.
Conclusion
As the job market gets more competitive, you must adopt these strategic approaches to land lucrative job opportunities. Further, stay ahead of trends, be persistent and prepared, and you’ll secure the appropriate job role soon!