🎸 365 Top Tips to Rock Your Job Search Every Day of 2022

Your job search crash course this year.

How to use this list

A job search tip a day keeps the recruiters away closer…

This isn't a calendar. You want your job search to be as short as possible, so don't even plan on turning this into some kind of “job seeker tips of the day” desktop calendar that you're still flipping through months from now.

This also isn’t a checklist.

Some of the tips only apply to job seekers of certain kinds, such as graduates, older job seekers and employed job seekers.

Put differently, no one should try to apply all the tips in one job search.

Instead, use it to create your own job search checklist:

• read through the list completely
• as you go, note the tips that inspire you most
• where necessary, click the links for in-depth explanations from some of the best job search bloggers and experts in the world

Free bonus: Download a categorized version of this list for easy reference, where I've highlighted effective tips that job seekers tend to not know.

All your job searching tips for 2022…

1. Don't put off your job search
2. Better to job search while you have an income
3. Don’t get distracted
4. Be a giver before a taker, you never know where it can lead
5. The best networks really are built before needed
6. Start by auditing your situation
7. First decide what you’re looking for
8. Focus on the right things
9. Leaving options open makes you lazy
10. Internal moves are smarter than job hopping
11. Review which job search websites can help
12. Find 10 people who have the job you want and model your job search on theirs
13. Get career path inspiration by researching people on LinkedIn with your credentials
14. Get career ideas by taking personality tests
15. Get career ideas by job shadowing
16. Get career ideas by interning
17. Showing your skills grows self-confidence
18. If you don't qualify, don't apply
19. Note one thing you’re grateful for happening today
20. Gather career materials before leaving a job
21. Only approach recruiters when it’s relevant
22. Don’t refer to yourself in the 3rd person online
23. Have a daily routine
24. Prepare stories for your job interview
25. Ask 5 people who trust and know you about career path
26. If you attract the wrong recruiters, your resume has the wrong content
27. Bad Facebook and Twitter comments can haunt you
28. Know how to correctly pronounce your interviewer's name in advance
29. Know when to talk salary first
30. Use fewer pronouns (I,my,me) in your cover letter
31. Make sure your resume is focused on your direction
32. Aim for companies who hire by audition, not resume
33. Don’t lie on your resume
34. It’s ok to omit resume information that doesn’t help you
35. React well to job rejection
36. Reject recruiters well too
37. Say the salary you’re seeking, not the one you’re making
38. Your resume should not be a PDF, unless it’s required to be
39. Before job interviews, practice walking into the room
40. List credentials (PhD, MBA, etc.) at resume top
41. Group barter hack to get a job with your friends
42. Know how to find a hiring manager’s contact info
43. Beware of suspicious companies
44. Use personal business cards
45. Relax more
46. Learn to negotiate
47. Older job seeker? Find a younger mentor
48. Don’t make yourself look older than you are
49. Pay attention to what you envy to discover work that you love
50. Have a job? Always be prepared to leave
51. Always be on time
52. Learn how to strike up a conversation
53. Use rejection-response letters
54. Don't spam hiring managers
55. Highlight job duties instead of job titles
56. Remember names, not just faces
57. Call your alma mater’s career services
58. Get attention with a personal job search website
59. Search for recruiters before jobs
60. Use a word cloud generator to focus your resume
61. Find leads via forum networking
62. Follow job listing instructions perfectly
63. Get a job search buddy
64. Follow-up with your own contacts
65. Know your competitive advantages
66. Learn to think like a recruiter
67. Aim for hidden jobs first
68. Job fairs aren’t a waste of time
69. Not every job fair is for you
70. Talk job search at parties
71. Avoid looking jobless
72. Research companies on LinkedIn
73. Leverage contacts’ contacts
74. Being flexible opens you to more jobs
75. Don’t print your resume at work
76. Online resumes are trusted more
77. Follow up post-rejection to learn from mistakes
78. Keep a plain-text version of your resume handy
79. Be a better listener
80. Learn how to be creative
81. Use guest posting to get exposure
82. Blog your expertise
83. Don’t look for a job, look for a company
84. Impress employers by demonstrating skills they need
85. Don't make employers download your CV
86. Be authentic
87. Make eye contact often
88. Don’t wait for job ads to appear
89. Avoid job postings that look too good
90. Use LinkedIn events to find networking opportunities
91. Stand during phone interviews
92. Use external recommendations in cover letters
93. Add video to your LinkedIn profile
94. Know the right way to email people for requests
95. Address being overqualified before they ask
96. Being first runner-up can mean being next in line
97. Follow up later on recently-closed job openings
98. Use a resume benefit statement if you have too much to list
99. Talk to insiders before taking a job
100. Stay in touch with ex-bosses
101. Never say you're perfect for the job
102. Interviews are for you to show you’re perfect for the job
103. If an interviewer tries to sell you on a job, let them
104. Use positive words when making salary objections
105. Prepare a cover story if you want to change careers
106. Avoid recruiters that won’t forward job descriptions
107. Prepare a “why hire me” story for interviews
108. Don't use your work email address
109. Help other people find jobs too
110. Look for ways to increase your perceived value
111. Prepare a references list in advance
112. Choose references who are ok to be contacted
113. Gather recommendation letters in advance
114. Arriving too early is as bad as arriving late for interviews
115. Use video to improve your interviewing
116. Always bring a good mood
117. Drive interviews to questions for which you have great answers
118. Scan your resume files for computer viruses
119. Show you have a proven success record
120. The older you are, the more you need to be up-to-date
121. In a recession, don't read the newspaper
122. At interview end, ask for the next steps
123. Roles may take months to fill, so apply to older ads too
124. Fully understand the contract before you sign
125. Summer job search doesn’t end when summer starts
126. Get your resume as close as possible to the hiring decision maker
127. Only send updated resumes
128. Bring resume copies to job interviews
129. Bring resumes to job fairs
130. Bring resumes to networking events
131. Never badmouth anyone in interviews
132. Less popular job boards mean fewer competitors
133. Check resume links aren’t broken
134. Use popular job boards to gauge demand
135. Schedule interviews for time of day when you’re best
136. Quantify your achievements as much as you can
137. Be prepared to back up your resume claims
138. Never say you’re “willing to do any job”
139. Failing interviews doesn’t mean you’re a failure
140. Job search doesn’t end with your interview
141. Job search doesn’t end when you get an offer
142. Always give companies the impression you’re interviewing elsewhere too
143. If you blog about work, include it in your resume
144. Move where there’s the most demand
145. Put your LinkedIn url on your resume
146. Job listings specify salary to filter out candidates
147. Dress for success with colors you look good in
148. Spend half your day looking, half your day improving your skills
149. Choose references who have great things to say about you
150. Aim to be referred internally
151. Be gracious
152. Know your compensation priorities besides salary
153. Let companies bring up salary numbers first
154. Tell friends about your job search
155. Tell ex-colleagues about your job search
156. Tell ex-clients about your job search
157. Tell family about your job search
158. Stay in touch with updates until you stop looking
159. Volunteer your work skills to get experience
160. Don’t flirt in interviews
161. Keep your job search secret if you’re employed
162. Use a dedicated job search email address
163. Don’t use your personal email address for job search
164. Respond to job ads with point-by-point cover letters
165. Know your market value before talking salary
166. Aim for multiple job offers
167. Don’t send out more resumes than you can track
168. Connect with targeted companies on social media
169. Spellcheck your resume
170. Get someone else to proofread your resume
171. Get someone else to proofread your LinkedIn profile
172. Only apply to companies you’ve researched
173. Only apply to companies where you have the recruiter’s contact information
174. Email recruiters with attention-getting subject lines
175. Keep work jargon to a minimum for HR
176. Remember names by using them out loud repeatedly
177. Freelance consult on the side while looking
178. Be ready to justify resume gaps
179. Ignore spam titled “I would like to offer you a job!”
180. Date your resume in the footer
181. Treat job interviews like company consults
182. Check if past bosses want you back
183. Say you’ll follow up and do it
184. Make a work portfolio
185. Resumes should include language proficiency
186. Mention having other offers when it’s true
187. Ask for interviews in cover letters
188. If you’re not a good fit, give the job lead to someone who is
189. Ask recruiters for resume feedback
190. Prepare interview questions in advance
191. Practice with questions they’re likely to ask
192. Follow online job search forums where experts hang out
193. Include relevant keywords in resumes
194. Answer one work-related question online per day
195. Know your weaknesses
196. Know your strengths
197. Follow forums where industry recruiters hang out
198. Don’t blast resumes
199. Don’t use resume distribution services
200. Use a job search organizer
201. Check that your email address isn't considered spammy
202. Ask people how they found the job you want
203. One page resumes are best
204. Exercise regularly
205. Sleep well
206. Chase stress with a good laugh everyday
207. A cover letter’s goal is to get your resumes read
208. A resume’s goal is to get interview invites
209. The more targeted a message, the more likely to be heard
210. Every time of year is job search time of year
211. Job listing language is the one to communicate in
212. Newly-funded startups tend to hire
213. Venture capitalists can recommend you for their portfolio companies
214. Don’t do free work as part of the interview process
215. Job interviews are about how you can help the employer, not vice-versa
216. Be careful when copying other people’s resume templates
217. Do what you need to stay positive
218. Only apply to companies you’re passionate about joining
219. Keep track of your successes with numbers
220. Include your best LinkedIn recommendation on your resume
221. Know the signs of job search depression to avoid it
222. Resumes should have no more than 3 font sizes
223. The biggest text on your resume should be your name
224. Google yourself before companies do
225. How your name appears on your resume is how companies will google it
226. Create social media profiles to improve Google results
227. Use LinkedIn as your online CV
228. Use Twitter to network and share advice
229. Use Facebook to reach out to people after-hours
230. Use Reddit to answer work-related questions
231. Use Pinterest to pin images of your best work-related tips
232. Use Instagram to show pictures of yourself in action
233. Use YouTube to show yourself in action
234. Use SlideShare to post presentations given in action
235. Always follow up after interviews
236. Always send thanks after interviews
237. Follow up again later, such as when you have an offer
238. Learn to recognize bad employers before applying
239. Never include ‘references available upon request’ in your resume
240. Sharing expertise online attracts jobs
241. Don’t only job search online
242. Don’t only job search offline
243. Your resume filename should be Firstname_Lastname_resume.docx
244. Store resumes online where they can be easily shared
245. Keep resume copies on your smartphone
246. Ask an ex-boss for a practice interview
247. Never assume it was discrimination
248. Use LinkedIn to prove if companies hire people like you
249. Only apply to companies that have hired people like you
250. Propose creation of a role by showing how much revenue you would generate
251. Propose creation of a role by showing how much money you would save employers
252. Be wary of signing anything that isn’t a contract
253. Get help if you’re depressed
254. Research companies by talking to ex-employees
255. Keep in mind industry resume standards
256. Talk with your partner before accepting anything
257. Unemployment is not a good time to start a company
258. Make your job search viral with a bounty
259. Get inspired by guerilla job search tactics
260. Free-to-post job boards are mostly worthless
261. Persistence does pay off
262. Don’t wait for recruiters to respond
263. Get recommendation letters before your last day of work
264. The best time to research companies is before applying
265. Track resume views with tools like Mailtrack.io
266. Interview dress should be one level above what employees wear in company photos online
267. The moment you feel comfortable in a job is the moment to start thinking about your next one
268. Mention your full-time availability in your email signature
269. Mention your full-time availability on your social media profiles
270. Never accept the first offer (really)
271. If a company rejects you, ask them if they can refer you to partners or clients
272. Resume testimonial > summary > objective
273. Check company news headlines before applying
274. Target no more than 5 companies at a time
275. Join a job search club
276. Your LinkedIn profile can include everything your resume couldn’t
277. Optimize your LinkedIn headline to get more views
278. Optimize your LinkedIn profile for referrals
279. Take advantage of free job search consults for second opinions
280. The more you target a company, the more likely you are to get their attention
281. Do as many information interviews as you can
282. Speak at industry meetups to gain exposure
283. Speak at startup conferences to position yourself as someone to hire
284. Treat recruiters as you’d like to be treated
285. Plan to be in a quiet place for phone interviews
286. Record phone interviews on your smartphone for analysis later
287. Test your computer setup before video interviews
288. Model your resume on a targeted company’s employees’
289. Learn at least one new work skill for which demand is growing
290. Improve your soft skills that recruiters want you to have
291. Volunteer your skills for organizations that might be able to hire you
292. Aim to apply to as few companies as possible
293. Use positive action verbs in resumes
294. Show promotions on resumes
295. Resumes should focus on achievements, not responsibilities
296. Use Facebook Ads to target people directly
297. Use Google AdWords to target people directly
298. Manage your job search like a marketing campaign
299. Look for ways to get around gatekeepers
300. Ask your alumni association for help
301. Ask chambers of commerce which companies are arriving and need to hire
302. Replacing employees on maternity or sick leave gets your foot in the door
303. Gauge skill trends with industry job boards
304. Be polite unless being rude will help more
305. Be someone people want to work with
306. A resume hobbies section makes you relatable
307. Prepare a 30-60 second elevator pitch
308. Fax machines are barely used anymore but still checked
309. Dumbing down your resume will make you bitter
310. Consider adjacent roles if they’re more in demand
311. Propose trial-by-freelance as an audition for both sides
312. Target employees at companies that reward them for referring candidates
313. Contribute content to a company blog or social profile
314. Keep in mind teleworking and remote jobs
315. Career changes are easier when employer-driven
316. Ask for leads in non-work settings
317. Ask recent hires what worked for them
318. Ask recent ex-employees why they left
319. Better to reschedule than be late
320. If you’re going to be late, call ahead asap
321. Keep video testimonials on your smartphone
322. Warn references when you think they’ll be contacted
323. Don’t answer when a recruiter calls unless prepared
324. Always give supporting examples in interviews
325. Only apply to companies you can legally work for
326. Rehearse your interview stories to make them as compelling as possible
327. Post videos of yourself in action
328. Volunteer online by joining an active open-source project
329. A good excuse to follow up is to confirm resume reception
330. A good excuse to call a company is to check if an ad is still open
331. Practice a winning handshake
332. Be polite when you can’t shake hands
333. Accept all interview invites so you can get practice
334. The more leads you have, the less nervous you’ll be
335. Quality of boss is most likely to determine quality of work life
336. It’s ok to walk into a company and ask point blank about openings
337. Look for ways to help a company before applying there directly
338. Attracting job offers leads to better results than searching for them
339. Do NOT vent online after a bad interview
340. Use a creative resume as a way to demonstrate relevant skills
341. Your personal website should showcase achievements while providing downloadable resumes and full contact information
342. Never pay to submit your resume
343. Managing an industry job board is a great way to hear of openings first
344. Use Google’s Advanced Search to find job listings that have been buried
345. Post a job wanted listing on Craigslist
346. LinkedIn job listings signal if you’re connected to anyone at the company
347. Stock screeners can tell which companies are growing
348. Reply asap to any inquiries about your resume and status
349. The interview starts when you arrive on site
350. Use social media to teach recruiters how to hire people like you
351. Network with industry recruiters online
352. Network with industry influencers online
353. Be someone that industry recruiters want to follow online
354. Get a smartphone with a data connection so you can react quickly
355. When asking for recommendations, provide a template to make responding easier
356. The more placeable a candidate, the more likely a placement agency will help you
357. Get a recruiter’s attention by helping them
358. Ask friends to bring along relevant contacts for coffee
359. Attend events to meet specific people
360. Always personalize messages when contacting strangers online
361. Send a recruiter a memorable gift
362. Know your industry’s biases
363. Ask random industry people out for drinks
364. When thanking, gift > phone call > handwritten letter > email > social media message
365. Learning to code is a hot skill in any industry
366. Don’t give up

Download this list so you can print it out to keep it handy.

• All job search tips listed above
• The tips have been categorized for easier reference
• In every category, I've highlighted effective tips that job seekers tend to not know

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WATCH: Job Search 2022 | 12 Secret Tactics to Find More Opportunities

Question of the article

Which tip have you never heard before? Tell us in the comments.

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