In 2021, over 38 million people quit their jobs. In November alone, the number of people who left their jobs in the U.S. was 4.5 million, the highest ever recorded. Due to what many media outlets and experts are calling “The Great Resignation”, more people than ever are deciding to leave their jobs in an effort to find something that is a better fit.
But, as with many things, that’s easier said than done.
Times have changed since the days when slipping resumes under doors or “pounding the pavement” were the primary ways to find a new job. Even before a global pandemic sent everyone behind their computer screens, we had been careening toward a more digital job search since the beginning of the internet era. Now the internet is an integral part of almost every person’s job search.
Over the last two decades, the internet has made it easier and easier to find openings for whatever job you could imagine. Job seekers have the ability to search for hyper-specific job titles with specific salaries down to the cent in any location in the world. And as of 2020, one of those location options could include your very own living room.
However, having so many options at your fingertips comes with its own set of obstacles. Now you’re not just looking at 3 options, you’re looking at 3 million. Not to mention that with online applications can come longer response times from employers. So, while knocking on doors might not be the most productive job-search option in 2022, skimming through every job opening imaginable online can be just as daunting.
If there is one thing the last two years have taught us, there is no one right way to do anything. The best way to find your next job might depend on job specifications or personal preferences. So here are 3 ways to find your next job in 2022, for the internet surfers and door-knockers alike.
1. Online job boards
One major change in the job-search process in the past few years has been the rise of online job boards. Most job aggregator sites work like search engines: you can put in your preferred job field, the city you’d like to work (including a mileage radius to find jobs close to your preferred area), and ideal pay.
If you’re looking to work with a specific company, you can search by that feature as well. You might even get to see some of that employer’s ratings to see how people feel about working for them. Many of these sites even have tools like resume builders or assessments to make finding a job even easier.
These online job boards are useful because they weed out jobs that don’t meet your criteria so you don’t have to. Want a job with a certain pay? Only willing to work within 10 miles of your home? Online job boards might be the perfect place to start your job search.
There are two primary categories of job search websites, general job aggregation and those specified by industry or specialty.
General Job Boards
Here’s a sampling of the most popular job search sites:
1. Indeed
2. ZipRecruiter
3. Glassdoor
4. SimplyHired
5. Monster
These sites are popular because their user-friendly platforms make it easy to search for jobs that meet your criteria. Most sites require you to fill out a profile when signing up with job history, education, and other things one might find on a resume. When applying to a job on their site they then automatically let you know what qualifications you meet from your profile, and sometimes fill out the applications for you.
Specialty Job Boards
Another great thing about online job search sites? There are sites geared toward almost every industry specifically. HigherEdJobs, for example, aggregates all sorts of jobs in higher education, meaning those who work for universities and colleges don’t have to go through every individual institution’s job postings to find an open position for them. They can see all available positions at a variety of institutions all at once.
There are also job search sights such as InHerSight, which is geared towards women finding jobs at workplaces that offer abundant opportunities for women. They offer job listings by companies that have been verified as great workplaces for women, whether in equal pay or advancement opportunities.
2. Social media
Social media is more than filters and hashtags – it’s also a job search tool!
LinkedIn is a social networking platform that’s purpose is to advertise and connect people with businesses and jobs they might be interested in. Create a profile and fill out your work history and you have an interactive resume that higher-ups in a myriad of industries can view. And because LinkedIn is a form of social media, you also get personalized information and options just for you.
If you’ve been on Facebook, you’ve probably encountered a Facebook Group. Facebook Groups are pages dedicated to a specific topic where people can share ideas, information, or news on a topic with people also interested in that topic. There are over 600 million Facebook Groups on the platform - including hundreds of groups dedicated to job postings!
There are groups for every major city where employers are posting jobs for people in their community. Some groups even take it a step further, created to showcase specific industry jobs in whatever city you have in mind. When employers post to Facebook, they often add all the important information you could need: pay, shift, and job requirements.
Another great tool through Facebook is the Facebook Jobs function, allowing you to apply without ever leaving the platform.
You’re already spending a lot of time on Facebook. Why not find your next job there?
3. Staffing agencies
Finally, if you’re looking for a job in 2022, try out a staffing agency.
Staffing agencies, like online job boards, can be specified by industry and job type. Whatever industry you work in, there’s a staffing agency that can connect you to great employers.
One of the biggest advantages of using a staffing agency to find your next job is that your recruiter has tons of resources to help you find the right job for you. You also get a more personalized job search experience, because the recruiter is on your side. You’re not going to get hit with a hiring manager who isn’t invested in your journey or with applying on a website where you might never get a response.
After the circumstances of the past two years, more businesses are turning to staffing agencies than ever before. That means staffing agencies have an even deeper well of positions to pull from, one of which might be the right one for you.
And here’s the cool thing about staffing agencies - you just might find them through the first two options as well. Because staffing agencies have teams of dedicated recruiters looking to fill specific positions, they utilize all sorts of avenues to reach potential candidates. So next time you’re on Indeed or scrolling through Facebook Jobs, check and see if it’s a staffing agency that’s posting. It might make your life even easier to go straight to the job source.
Conclusión
The art of the job search has changed a lot in the past few years, and even more so since 2020. In this job seekers market, it can be surprisingly difficult to dig through the vast number of job openings to find the right positions for you.
With the help of online job boards, social media, and staffing agencies, looking for work doesn’t have to be a full-time job.