When Amy from Denver was laid off from her job in telecommunications two years ago, she decided it was time for her to make a change. Always interested in art, Amy thought a creative position would be the perfect fit.
Like many people who haven’t embarked on a job search in years, Amy was surprised to learn that the days of the one-size-fits-all resume were over. Furthermore, she found that applicant tracking systems made it difficult for a job seeker changing careers to compete with candidates whose resumes were loaded with industry-specific skills.
Her solution? A unique usage of Jobscan that found her a job in less than 30 days.
The Bottom of the Resume Pile
Amy did her research to find out more about the current job search climate. “One of the things that really stood out was that for all of these jobs online, knowing that about 500 people were applying to each of these roles,” she said.
She learned that without using the right resume keywords for each job she applied for, she would likely land at the bottom of that 500-person resume pile. Plus, she felt she was at a particular disadvantage since the skills she’d picked up in telecommunications were likely much different than the skills she would need for a job in the arts.
Amy turned her focus to resume keywords. Enter, Jobscan. “When I saw Jobscan, I thought, oh this is perfect. This is exactly what I want.”
A Job Search That Works for You
Amy knew she was interested in a more artistic job, but didn’t know how to narrow her search beyond that. So while most Jobscan users use the tool to make their resume a better fit for a job they want, Amy used the tool to help her figure out which jobs interested her most.
Here’s how she did it: Amy would run a scan, then scroll directly to the skills sections of the Match Report. If the keywords that were pulled out of the job description didn’t match up with skills she currently had or the types of skills she hoped to pick up in the future, she wouldn’t spend her time on that job.
“I just did the audit and said ‘this isn’t worth my thirty minutes to an hour to do’. Next!”
Throughout this process, Amy started getting a better idea of what she was looking for in a career. She said, “I was learning also who I was and what excited me.”
Another way Amy made her job search work for her was by setting a routine. She said that like many people, her self-esteem had taken a hit when she was laid off. A manageable routine was crucial to keeping her productive in her job search, but not overwhelming the rest of her life.
Her goal was to apply to just one job a day. “I could be done by 10 or 11 o’clock and then I had the day for myself. Just to build up me, “ she said.
Ever-Evolving Job Search
Her creative job search process worked for her. Amy landed a job within 30 days of using Jobscan, but she says she’s not done with the tool just yet.
While she feels the job she has now is on the right track toward a career in art, she has newfound confidence to keep searching for an even better fit in the future.
“Once I get settled in this new role I can say, ‘now I’m going to back to Jobscan and keep looking for those art jobs.’”
If you’re looking for a new job within your industry or hoping to make a career change, Jobscan can help. Give Jobscan a try today.
