If you’ve recently been laid off, it can be an incredibly challenging time. Not only do you have potential financial worries that can keep you up at night, but for many people, there are also pressures from family members to find work again in a hurry, and personal stress around when you will find another job and whether you will be happy doing it.
While it can be tempting to just “soldier on” with a job hunt and do things by yourself to save money, it’s important to be aware that there are plenty of helpful services out there which can be well worth the spend.
Outplacement services (hired by firms when they’re downsizing, to help terminated workers transition) and other firms and contractors can help you keep your spirits up, make it easier to find a job nice and quickly, and aid you in landing your dream job, not just something that will do for now.
Keen to get some assistance? If so, read on for the lowdown on some of the job-search related services which you should consider outsourcing today.
Resume, Cover Letter, and Selection Criteria Writing
First up, while you might think that you can write your job application documents just fine, it’s important to think about using a specialist service, especially if you have been applying for lots of roles and not hearing back.
Oftentimes, while people are incredibly qualified for a position, they don’t present their information in the right way on paper, and as such are overlooked at the first step by recruiters and employers. Many people don’t have a way with words, and can struggle to express themselves professionally in writing, even though they may come across just fine in person.
It’s beneficial to take advantage of writing services that can ensure each sentence is perfect, and check that you’re saying all the important things which are required to get noticed and stand out from the crowd.
Professional writers also know the right way to lay out documents (e.g. making them scannable, using the right font, leaving plenty of white space, not adding in crazy colors or formatting etc.), and can put together an attention-grabbing template for you. They’re up-to-date on all the latest trends when it comes to job application documents too.
When you outsource writing to someone who specializes in the area, you also have the benefit of their expertise when it comes to tweaking documents for each individual job that you apply for. People who write these things day in and day out will probably have a better idea about what sort of nuances are needed for each role, and can edit your standard document to suit each job accordingly. This can make all the difference when it comes to results.
Another problem with writing your own documents is that, if you are like many people, you probably find it really hard to talk about all the wonderful skills and traits that you have. Unfortunately though, job application documents are the exact places where you need to be able to brag about yourself, and really sell your suitability for a role.
By outsourcing the writing to an expert, this can ensure that you don’t end up as your worst critic, and instead are really able to impress human resources workers and employers. Professional writers can look at your background with fresh and unbiased eyes, and glean all the most important information from you by asking insightful questions and examining your supplied information.
Interview Coaching
Interview coaching is another great service that it worthwhile paying for. After all, you might have the greatest resume ever, but if you don’t present yourself well and engage properly with interviewers when you’re face to face, you’ll keep missing out on jobs time and again.
By hiring someone to run through mock interviews with you, you will have the opportunity to test out your skills and to practice coming up with the best answers possible to even the curliest of questions. You can receive helpful, constructive feedback from coaches, and get ideas about the weaknesses you may have in interviews, and how to go about combating them (as well as how to play to your strengths).
Interview coaching will also help you to feel less stressed and anxious when you’re face to face with hiring managers and employers, which can in turn enable you to provide better responses, and to be more present in the moment, and likable.
Social Media Assistance
If you don’t know the first thing about social media networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and the like, it is time to consider hiring an expert to help you. Social media is an important part of landing a job these days, as more and more recruiters and employers are going online to find and connect with candidates, as well as evaluate them.
As such, you need to know how to present yourself professionally in the digital age, and how to engage with helpful contacts online to better your chances of attracting the right kind of attention.
Experts in the field of social media usage for career growth can set up profiles for you on the sites which are most relevant to your industry, sector and job growth. They can also help you find and connect with the right “influencers,” and give you tips on the type of content to post, and how and when to do it.
