Technology changes rapidly. Phones and computers become outdated in less than three years.
Advertisements constantly tout the latest gadgets. Self-driving cars, delivery drones, and other automations are frequently in the news.
Many jobs are now remote, relying completely on the internet and computer technology.
How you should apply for a job is changing just as rapidly. Have you ever asked yourself any of the following questions?
- What is a CV or resume, and which one should I use?
- How long should my resume be?
- Is it safe to apply for jobs online?
- What if a recruiter contacts me on LinkedIn?
- And what in the world is a virtual job fair?
We’ll examine these questions and more, below.
Make Sure Your Resume Is Not Outdated
If it has been a while since you last updated your resume, you may find that some expectations have changed.
For example, you will need to keep your resume to one page, not two or three pages.
Do this by omitting the references section and limiting your work experience to your past three jobs or the past ten years.
Also, remove any obsolete education entries, as well as optional sections not directly relevant to the position to which you are applying.
What about CVs? In the U.S., you will typically need only a resume. Some academic positions, grants, or awards may require a longer, more detailed CV, but this will be clearly stated.
Next, you want to save your resume in the correct format. As we will discuss below, you will probably be submitting your resume online rather than printing it on fancy business paper.
As such, you need to save the document in a PDF file format. This format can be opened and read on any device.
Your information will not disappear or your layout will become rearranged as is possible with some other file formats.
Now, let’s get into the reasons why you will be submitting online.
Apply For Jobs Online
In times past, you may have responded to a “help wanted” ad in a newspaper, on a community bulletin board, or even in a business’s window.
Today, however, most companies bypass these methods in favor of online job search sites.
These websites allow you to search for jobs by position title, location, skills needed, work format, and more.
You can post your resume and fill out an application from the comfort of your personal computer.
You can also program alerts for new job listings that match your skills and needs.
If you’ve never applied online before, you may wonder, is it safe? After all, you will be entrusting your personal information to people you have not met in person.
The crowdsourced software reviewer G2 lists LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and Monster among the best job search sites on the internet.
Speaking of LinkedIn, in the next section you will learn why maintaining a LinkedIn profile is so important.
Maintain An Active LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn is a “professional social media site“. Unlike other time-grabbing platforms, LinkedIn users average only 17 minutes per month on the platform.
Your LinkedIn profile is basically a resume, and you can use your resume to fill it out. You can also mark whether you are looking for work, and what type. Then, recruiters may reach out to you to schedule an interview.
Guidance Talent reports that 77 percent of recruiters “regularly use LinkedIn.” Additionally, some 35.5 million people have been hired through a LinkedIn connection – that’s about 8 people per minute since the company’s inception.
Some caution is in order, as fraudulent offers are sometimes made. Check out a company’s credentials elsewhere before divulging sensitive information or accepting an offer.
LinkedIn strives to filter out fraudulent content before it is posted, and users can also report suspicious activity.
Visit A Virtual Job Fair
If job websites and LinkedIn are beginning to seem a bit old school to you, consider checking out a virtual job fair.
Some virtual fairs arose out of necessity during the pandemic. The simplest of these fairs consists of web streaming or Zoom meetings, along with video chat or phone interviews.
Some software companies, however, are taking virtual job fairs to a whole new level.
Large companies or industries may hold online fairs that resemble in-person job fairs in every respect – a virtual lobby with a sign-in table and branded decorations, and an auditorium lined with manned booths that you can visit.
You may even be able to create an avatar that looks like you and interact with other avatars in real time.
Key Takeaways
Technology is constantly changing, and the job market with it. In order to keep up with it, you should make sure your resume is up-to-date, brief, and saved in the proper format for online submission – after all, a lot of hiring takes place through job search websites, LinkedIn, or virtual job fairs.
