Whether you are without a job, or stuck in a job you don’t like – looking for a job can feel overwhelming and you might not know where to start.

Your job search should be strategic, thought-out and very targeted towards what you are looking for. For a guide on how to find the career for you, read our blog post here.

Having a good resume is only the start – you need to know where to look and how to get the attention of your target audience. For that, we have put together 5 tips on how to find a job – that you actually want.

1.       Research

The first step to any good strategy is research. Here are a few questions you should consider when doing your initial search:

• What is the niche you are looking for a job in?

• What are the job requirements?

• What are the salary expectations?

• Which sites do recruiters in this field post job applications on?

• Are there certain cities where your job type is more prevalent?

• Are there certain qualifications necessary?

When I started looking for jobs in Budapest after I moved here, I did a lot of research on the type of writing gigs I could get, how much they paid, and what companies were the best places to work. That way I had a tactical approach, rather than just applying to random jobs I found all over the internet.

2.       Job sites

This is probably the most obvious, but there are many job sites where you can find thousands of job postings daily. Some of the most popular ones include:

• Monster

• Glassdoor

• Careerbuilder

• Linkup

• LinkedIn

• Job.com

There are obviously many others, and depending on your niche, there are specific sites that better suit what you are looking for. For example, Dice is great for those in the tech industry, while Upwork is great for freelancers. This is why research (point 1) is so important because first you want to find the sites where you will have the most chance of finding jobs in your niche.

I started looking on freelance sites, since I wanted a writing job. For me, anything related to tech, or the service industry or finance was irrelevant, so I saved a lot of time and energy by specifying my search.

3.       LinkedIn

LinkedIn, at least in Europe, is very underrated, yet it is one of the best ways to find jobs and connect directly with recruiters at any given company. LinkedIn allows you to follow pages, businesses, and connect with people you are interested in. Also, many job posts are added to LinkedIn, and it has an Easy Apply feature which makes it simple to apply for jobs.

LinkedIn also allows you to set your preferences when searching – so you can add the types of jobs you want, key words, the city, and it will send you notifications whenever there is a new posting. If you spend some time setting up your LinkedIn job search profile, then all you have to do is just sit back and let the job postings come into your email inbox or LinkedIn notifications.

If there is a specific company you are looking to work for, then follow the top managers, as well as recruiters and reach out the them directly. They will be able to see your LinkedIn profile and know right away if you might be a good match. And for goodness sake make sure your LinkedIn page is updated!

4.       Facebook

Facebook is another underrated job search site. Although this is less professional, there are thousands of groups specific to your niche or city which can help you connect with like-minded people and recruiters in your field.

When I moved to Budapest, I joined many different groups with titles like “Budapest jobs” or “English speaking jobs in Budapest”. There were many posts a day and it was an easy way to connect with people. This is actually how I got my corporate job here in Budapest. There was a post from a head-hunter for a writing job and I wrote to her directly. She asked me to send her my resume, I did, and then she called me for a phone interview. The rest is history!

Also consider posting on your Facebook and social media pages about looking for a specific job – you never know which high school friend you haven’t talked to in 10 years has an opportunity for you. The more you put yourself out there, the better chance you will have.

5.       Classroom trainings

This point is slightly different than the others, as it’s not a search engine. You actually have to go out into the wild and meet people! Whether you are training to a be a graphic designer, getting your full stack certificate, or taking additional courses on engineering – there are trainings for every field of work. If you sign up and go to a classroom training, not only do you have the opportunity to meet like-minded people in your class, but you can also become close with the instructor. Often times instructors work for a company with positions exactly like the ones they are training you for. That means they will know about the open positions, and you have the chance to actually show your skills directly. Networking has always been a great way to meet people within your industry, and making these connections can be very promising for your career. Make sure you add your classmates and instructor on LinkedIn, follow what they do, and give your best during the training. You never know who they might know, and where the relationship can take you.

Hope you found this post helpful! For 1-1 career coaching, please email us here or at doubletake.lifestyle@yahoo.com.