Career paths were once decided much earlier in life, as people were often expected to immediately join the labor market after school. Nowadays, you have much more freedom, and some of the best ways to find a job are at the tip of your fingers.

Today, job hunting has become one of the most pivotal processes in people’s lives, and one that can be very tricky if you don’t know where to start. There are countless ways to explore the job market, and the number of websites in this niche has become overwhelming.

To help you save time and find the opportunity that fits your needs, we’ve created this extensive guide on how and where to find the best jobs in 2023.

Key Takeaways

  • Finding a job that is the best fit for you has become much easier than it was just a few decades ago, as you can get important information from multiple sources (friends and family, social media, referrals, websites, etc.).
  • The best way to find a job is to follow these steps: decide on your career, create a great CV, sift through and apply to job listings, network with people and lastly prepare for the interview.
  • There are many job boards available online where you can find many job listings, such as Monster.com, Hired.com, Indeed and even CareerBuilder.

Step 1: Decide on Your Careera girl smiling while hugging a book and gazing at the ocean

The first step to getting a job is zeroing in on what you really want to do. Deciding on your career path can seem challenging; however, there are a few crucial things to consider.

Those include:

  • Your skills. Make a list of soft and hard skills that you possess and what companies are looking for said skills.
  • Your experience. Consider what you’ve previously done well, or the aspects of your work you really enjoyed and excelled at. If you don’t have prior working experience, use your education instead to narrow your search.
  • What is currently wanted. Check online for what positions are currently popular, what companies are looking for and what is paying well.

 

The process of looking for a job will look different depending on these answers.

Here’s how to find a job if you are:

College Graduate

If you’re wondering how to find a job with no experience (or limited experience), don’t get discouraged! It takes college graduates at least two to three months to find a suitable job listing, so don’t rush it, be patient and take your time to prepare

To get your job-hunting process started, try to:

  • Gather some experiences while you’re still in college. You can try joining clubs or non-profit organizations to further enhance your skill set.
  • Use networking to your advantage. Networking is one of the best tools for finding a job after college. Ask people with your major what they did after graduating and who you can contact for a possible job offer.
  • Do some research on the labor market. Scour the internet for jobs and internship opportunities you’d like to do based on your interests and skills and find out what the requirements are.

Young Professional

Even if you’ve already managed to accumulate a few years of experience under your belt, that doesn’t mean that you can’t switch career paths.

If you’re having trouble figuring out what’s next in store for you, consider the following:

  • What is the one skill that differentiates you from others?
  • Do you have short-term and long-term goals laid out?
  • Are you good at accepting and implementing feedback?
  • Will you be able to maintain a good work-life balance?

 

These questions will help you decide what things you’d like to prioritize in your next job hunt and how you’d like your career to advance.

Career Change

It’s completely okay to want to switch to a different career path if you already have a lot of experience in something completely different. This just means that you’ve figured out what you’re more passionate about and what would work better for you.

To ensure an easy and smooth ride into your next career, try to:

  • List what things you liked and disliked about your previous career
  • Make a list of your skills and interests and how you can utilize them in your next career
  • Check out what are the common requirements in job descriptions of your new career
  • Use a resume objective instead of a summary to highlight and discuss your career change

Step 2: Create a Compelling ResumeA girl sitting with her laptop in front of her, holding a cup and petting her dog by her side

The next step is to create a great resume so you can stand out.

To do that, all you need to keep in mind is the following:

  • Keep a simple and concise resume structure. Add a header, your personal and contact information, skills section as well as education and work experience section.
  • Your resume should be a one-page document. Anything over two pages is not recommended as the recruiters might not have the time to fully go through every page and might miss important information about you.
  • Add an intriguing resume summary or objective. If you’ve had prior working experience use a resume summary, or the objective to highlight your career goals.
  • Make it ATS friendly. ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is a software that will automatically scan your resume, to check for certain keywords throughout your resume, so it’s crucial to have those relevant for your position, so you don’t get tossed aside.
  • Choose the right resume format. Depending on what you want to highlight in your resume (skills or achievements), you can choose either the reverse-chronological, functional or combination format.
  • Add skills that match the job description. Always try to tailor your resume contents to the job description so that recruiters can see whether you have the right skills and experience to start working for them. This also circles back to making it ATS friendly, as the keywords the system filters by are often skills and experiences.

Cover Letter

When applying for a job, it’s important to attach a cover letter as well. A cover letter is a one-page document that includes your personal information and the reasons for applying for the job.

Including it in your job application is helpful because you can:

  • Show professionalism as employers expect to see them even if the job description doesn’t mention it.
  • Mention additional information that couldn’t fit on your resume.
  • Explain an employment gap (if applicable).

 

To write a compelling cover letter, you need to:

  • Tailor it to the job description
  • Make it short and concise
  • Double check for any mistakes

Step 3: Job Boards

The next step is to decide where you’d like to work. If you’ve ever wondered how to find a job online, just hop on the internet and research some companies that usually hire people for the positions you’re interested in.

Then, head over to their job boards and create a profile. Once you do that, you can easily apply for any positions you’re interested in.

Here are some of the best job boards in 2023:

Monster.com

Monster.com is an employment website that posts listings for any and every type of job position. It is free and fairly easy to use.

All you need to do is:

  1. Create a profile on their website
  2. Hover over the “MyCandidates” tab and click on “SearchMonster”
  3. Enter a job title in the search bar
  4. Enter a related keyword to the job position
  5. Enter your location

 

After that, you’ll be met with a list of available job listings based on your input. Click on any that pique your interest, and you’re all set!

Hired.com

Hired.com is a perfect fit for jobseekers in the tech world. It is free and easy to maneuver.

To get started, you need to:

  1. Create a profile on their website
  2. Mention your skills and accomplishments while creating your profile
  3. Receive matches based on your input

 

The best part about using Hired.com is that once you get approved, companies themselves will start to contact you. You don’t need to submit any additional applications or cover letters. Once the companies give you an offer, you’re the one who gets to choose which one to accept.

Indeed

Indeed is a job-search platform with over 250 million users and one of the oldest employment websites out there (18 years as of 2023).

Indeed is completely free, and all you need to do to start your hiring process is to:

  1. Create an account
  2. Attach your resume
  3. Add your contact information, skills, and experience
  4. Search for job titles through the “Find jobs” tab
  5. Check what matches Indeed has found for you

CareerBuilder

CareerBuilder is an employment platform that was launched around 2005. Although employers need to pay for job listings, job seekers are not required to buy any packages.

To get started, you need to:

  1. Create a CareerBuilder account
  2. Upload (or create) a resume
  3. Head to the “Find a Job” page
  4. Enter the “Job Title”, “Skills”, or “Military Code”
  5. Choose your location
  6. Input whether you’d like to work remotely or not

 

Then, you should be served with plenty of job listings that are tailored to your criteria

LinkedIn Job Search

LinkedIn is a social media platform made exclusively for professionals to showcase their skills, find partners, and offer or find jobs.

LinkedIn Job Search is a function within the platform that lets its users find jobs quickly based on their location. It also gives job seekers automatic recommendations based on their recent job searches. This platform is essentially free, but the LinkedIn Premium option offers some great benefits for job seekers, but it also comes with a price point of $19.95 per month.

To begin your job search, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the “Jobs” icon on LinkedIn
  2. Click the “Search bar” and search a job by keywords, titles or skills
  3. Use the “Filters” option to narrow the results
  4. Click on your preferred job listing and apply

Step 4: Networkingbest ways to find a job

In simple terms, networking means expanding the network of your contacts. Networking is an intentional effort to build connections with professionals, and it’s also a great way to kickstart your career.

Networking can occur during many events, like conferences, lectures, and banquets, many of which are open to everyone. Businessmen, company executives, supervisors, managers, and even recruiters usually attend these events to talk to potential job seekers. For these events, it’s best to come equipped with a good elevator pitch ready in case you need to use it.

Besides these events, here are some other ways to network to find a job:

Referrals

Since you’re currently seeking a new job, tell all your contacts about it, as someone might be able to give you a referral. Most employers and recruiters prefer to receive an application from a person who found out about the listing from the company’s staff.

Not only that, but many jobs are already taken through referrals before they’re even listed anywhere, so it’s important to reach out to as many people as possible.

Make a list of people that you know, and set aside those who might know about job listings that you’re interested in. Reach out to them and offer something symbolic in return for their time and consideration.

Ask Friends & Family

Another great option is to ask your friends or family members whether they know someone who is offering a job position in the industry you’re interested in.

Identify which of your friends and family members might know something or someone, and feel free to reach out, as it should be easier to ask them for a favor since they are close and you would do the same for them.

Job Fairs

A job fair (also referred to as a “career fair”) is one of the best opportunities for networking and, naturally, finding a job. It’s a special event made specifically for employers and job seekers to get to know each other.

A lot of big companies will take part in these types of fairs, so it’s crucial to show up prepared. That’s also a great opportunity for you to share your resume with potential company owners.

However, before attending any job fairs, make sure to always:

  • Research the fair and find out what companies will be attending
  • Take multiple copies of your resume and business card
  • Take a portfolio with you (if you want to apply for a creative job)

LinkedIn Network

Networking is basically what LinkedIn was made for. As previously mentioned, the platform can help you find a specific job, and creating a profile for employers to see can passively send some opportunities your way.

All you need to do is:

  • Create a LinkedIn profile
  • Optimize it
  • Engage with personal connections
  • Join industry specific groups
  • Write content regularly

 

Your presence on this platform will ensure that you are much more visible to potential employers.

Social Media

Since many people are utilizing popular social media networks to make themselves known, it’s also a great tool you can use for job hunting. You can use most social media platforms to search for the companies you’re interested in and stay up-to-date on any job postings or announcements.

Besides that, a company’s social media account is also a great way for you to see what tone they use and what their working style is. It’s also a great opportunity for you to comment and engage with their posts to start building a relationship with them.

Before doing so, make sure that your own social media profile is professional as well!

Cold Calling

If you’re unable to find a job listing that you’re interested in, you can also make a cold call. “Cold calling” in this context refers to the process of directly contacting the company and asking them whether they have an open position that they haven’t advertised.

You can find most of the contact information you need by heading to the company’s website. This is not the best option, but keep it in mind as a last resort.

Step 5: Explore Other Ways to Get a Job

If none of the above-mentioned options work out for you, there are some other ways to try and get a job, such as:

  • Contacting a recruitment/staffing agency. One of the easiest ways to get a job is to directly contact an agency or a recruiter. Head over to the agency’s website and you’ll find contact information of the recruiters. You can then send them an email or give them a call to ask them about any job opportunities.
  • Finding internships first. Internships are a great way to get you started with the labor market. They give you an opportunity to gain some experience and you can also find out whether this career choice is a good fit for you or not.
  • Trying temping work. Temping is considered a short-term work experience which can be helpful if you’d like to learn more about the industry or a specific position you’re interested in. It’s also a great way to enhance your skills and boost your resume.
  • Volunteering. Volunteering is not only a great way to help people in need, but it’s also a great opportunity for you to acquire knowledge and get a better grasp of new skills that you can use for your next job search.
  • Trying freelance work. Give freelancing a try if you value flexibility in terms of working when you want and where you want, which is especially suitable for those that are not a nine-to-five type of person.

Step 6: Prepare For The Interviewsbest ways to find a job

Lastly, it’s crucial that you prepare for the interviews once you’re past the initial hiring phases, so that you’re ready to answer anything that comes your way.

To prepare, you can:

  • Research the company. This is a crucial step before attending any interview. Look up the company’s website and read about their mission and values to check whether they fit with your own.
  • Research the position. Do some research on your desired position to find out what salary you can expect and what are the usual requirements.
  • Practice behavioral interview questions and answers. Employers are likely to ask behavioral interview questions as they serve as a way for them to find out how you behave in critical and stressful situations. It’s best to use the STAR Method for answering these questions.
  • Be mindful of body language. Try not to overuse your hand gestures while talking. Rehearse what you’re going to say so you don’t stutter during the interview. Always maintain good eye contact and nood when the other person is speaking.
  • Be ready to talk about yourself. It’s a good idea to make a list of things you’d like to mention about yourself during an interview. Employers will also usually ask you to describe yourself in three words so it’s important to prepare.
  • Ask the interviewer questions. To show that you’re genuinely interested in the position, try to ask the interviewer some questions. This can be something like: “What does a typical day look like in your establishment?” or “What does the company expect to achieve in around five years?”.
  • Send a follow-up email. To show that you’re thankful for their time and effort, make sure to send a follow-up email after the interview, and let them know that you’re looking forward to hearing from them again.

Final Thoughts

Whether this is your first time applying for a job or you’re looking for a career change, finding a job is much easier nowadays.

Head over to the company’s website to check out what they’re looking for or browse job-hunting platforms. Ask your friends or family members whether they know someone who is currently hiring, or attend job fairs to network and find opportunities.

Whatever you decide to do, we wish you good luck and hope we have helped you on your journey!