Job searching can be difficult. It can be even more challenging when you have fewer employment opportunities. Oftentimes, jobs for the deaf and hard of hearing are so far and between. Being a job seeker, this may require you to relocate to secure a job that you are qualified for. In any case, when it's time to begin your job search, or you're looking to change careers, here are four tips.
Tailor Your Resume
If you, for example, are applying for a Teacher position at a deaf school, make sure your resume includes the objective of working as a teacher with a Deaf Education degree, not the resume you send for a job posting of Marketing Specialist even if you also have a background in marketing. Better yet, remove the objective statement all together. Too often your resume may be immediately disqualified because it’s clear to Human Resources that it’s being blasted out without a specific strategy or particular interest in the position. It’s extremely important that you take the time to update and tailor your resume for the particular position.
Tap your Network
Who do you know? Look deep in your circle and see if you could tap into their network. This could open up possibilities that you may not have thought about and expose you to potentially your next employer. LinkedIn and Facebook groups (or any other niche online groups) can also be essential for showcasing your expertise and making new connections.
When you're ready to begin looking for a new job, maybe it's time to try something different. Expand upon what you've done in the past with new strategies. It is good to be creative, but be strategic when it comes to your job search.
Build your Skills
Your skills do not end when you get your degrees or certifications. All jobs evolve over time; therefore you must keep up with the changes by gaining new skills. Building your skills definitely helps when you want to change jobs or apply for job promotions. Being versatile with different skills is likely to help you become more attractive to employers, even if your new skills are not strongly tied to your current job. Many employers like to keep employees with many different skills which are likely with the security of your job. You become invaluable to your employer when you have new skills.
Build Your Brand
Just about everyone has a profile on some form of social media. Whether it's Facebook or LinkedIn, it's likely you've at least visited one of those. Nonetheless, if you're ready to start your job search, start differentiating yourself from other candidates. Start showcasing your skills by building your digital footprint. Are you a talented deaf teacher who also is well versed in marketing? Why not showcase your skills with video on your own portfolio website, Facebook, LinkedIn; etc.? With the explosion of the Internet and social media sites, building your own brand is easy and very important in order to stay relevant in your chosen job field(s).
For new job opportunities, check out DeafJobWizard.com's job listings!