Sometimes we can take our time with a job search. We’re happy with where we currently are but know we want to try something new or level up in our career. But let’s be real—this type of leisurely job search is a luxury.

More frequently, a job search feels like a three-alarm fire filled with desperation to get out of the current situation and somewhere—anywhere—else. This could be due to a toxic work environment. Or maybe you unexpectedly found yourself unemployed or in a different life stage.

Whatever the reason may be, when you feel as if you need a job, like, yesterday, the search can be stressful, to say the least. Who has time to read a bunch of long, fluffy articles or spend weeks networking when the walls are closing in on you?

That’s why we wanted to write an article without any long-term job search strategies. Those are for another time. This article cuts right to the core of the job search. In it, we’ll highlight the quick hacks you can use to snag that next position and get out of your current situation.

We’ll discuss the following hacks:

Let’s get started. 

Only apply to the jobs that are within your current skill set

You know all that advice constantly blaring at you like a megaphone on LinkedIn? The posts telling you to take your time while job searching? Or even the posts telling you to “reach for the stars” and “Go ahead, apply for that job, even if you only have like two out of ten of the qualifications.”

Do these posts make you want to scream? You can take a second and make that internal scream external. We’ll wait.

Welcome back! Feel better? 

Don’t get us wrong—there is a time and place for this type of advice. In fact, it’s not bad advice at all. It’s just not for you right now. 

You aren’t trying to “level up” your career. You just want your life back on track and to be able to take a breath from all the stress of the job search. That’s why you need to focus on applying to jobs within your current skill set. 

You’re much more likely to secure a job if you already know exactly what to do. It’s also easier to navigate the interview process when you can say that you already know how to do everything the job requires of you.

Now, this doesn’t mean you won’t have opportunities to level up in your career—even at the organization where you start working using this advice. This just isn’t the priority at the moment.

Tailor your resume to the job description to save time

We know, we know—this sounds counterintuitive because it can take time to tailor your resume to a job description. A good bit of time. But before you point that frustration our way, know that there is a method to our madness here.

This advice asks you to spend a bit more time doing something that has the potential to save you time in the long run. Let’s just be honest here. You are simply more likely to pummel past the ATS and capture the attention of recruiters and hiring managers if they can plainly see that you match up with what they are seeking.

Remember, the less mental gymnastics you make recruiters and hiring managers go through to match you to the job description, the more likely you are to secure that gold medal (the job). We can help! 

Our resume optimization tool does a bit of the heavy lifting for you. Upload your resume and paste in the job description. You’ll then see a detailed report that provides a match score—how well your current resume matches the job description—as well as advice on how to improve that match score. We recommend aiming for a match score of between 60 percent and 80 percent. 

streamlining your job search

Use “Easy Apply” while job searching on LinkedIn

LinkedIn’s “Easy Apply” feature is also an option if you are rushing through the job search. This feature shows when you search for jobs on LinkedIn. If you hit “Easy Apply,” you can fill out a few fields, upload your resume, and move on to the next job. 

However, a few things to keep in mind if you go this route:

  • You’re going to want to optimize your LinkedIn profile for the jobs where you apply
  • Recruiters can sort applicants based off of Match Score, so again, optimize your profile
  • Make sure you have a professional profile photo on LinkedIn—the recruiters will see this
  • Use the 220 characters available to write a strong LinkedIn headline

This process can be used in addition to tailoring your resume and applying the old-fashioned way, to speed up the process. To learn more about LinkedIn’s “Easy Apply” tool, check out our article LinkedIn Easy Apply: What Employers See When You Apply on LinkedIn.

The job search is stressful enough, and if you add in a time crunch, it can feel debilitating. Now is the time to strategize your job search around speed and efficiency. 

Check back to learn even more hacks on streamlining and speeding up your job search!

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