Job Hunting is Hard!
Here are some resources to help in your job search!
We like to say that job-seeking and doing it well is a full-time job. Stacking this on top of your current roles and responsibilities, you might be feeling overwhelmed while navigating your job search journey.
At Sipley the Best we can help you one-on-one through our Career Coaching Program - send us an email if you’re interested in partnering with us!
And in the meantime, here's a guide of (mostly) free resources that will help in your job search.
🗓️Calendar Apps
A good calendar app is critical! Whether you use Google Calendar, Outlook calendar, Apple calendar, or a wall calendar full of cat meme pictures, you need to have some external place to store important dates, like interviews, job fairs, and networking events. Forgetting and no-showing an interview is highly unprofessional, yet we see it happen all the time.
Some great ways to use your calendar app or calendar:
👥Schedule time to follow up with connections from job fairs & networking events you attend.
🔎Schedule focused time to look for jobs. We recommend also using a spreadsheet such as the one on our website to track the many applications to send out into the universe.
❓Schedule a follow-up! If you have an interview, create an event a week later to remind yourself to follow back up with the employer if you haven’t heard from them by that time.
🌄Schedule some self-care time. Whether you enjoy kayaking, hiking, baking, or organizing the papers in your filing cabinets, block out time to do what you enjoy. Job seeking can be exhausting, and full with inevitable rejections along the way, so be sure to take time to recharge yourself.
Networking Sites
Don’t keep your job search a secret! Use job boards as well as regular social media platforms to look for opportunities.
💼Traditional Job Boards: Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Monster, State of FL Jobs.
💲Chambers of Commerce: Seminole County Chamber of Commerce, Central FL Christian Chamber of Commerce, and other chambers - see a list of chambers here.
📱Social Media: Facebook, niche Facebook groups (such as “Job Seekers of Lake Mary”), Instagram, Craigslist
👔Professional Networking Sites: LinkedIn, your school’s alumni page, Meet Up
Proofreading Software
Between applying for jobs, typing up resumes and cover letters, and sending messages to prospective employers, you’re going to want a second set of eyes (including AI-eyes) looking over your work.
📃Google Docs and Microsoft Word have built in grammar and syntax editors.
🍏Grammarly offers a free app that you can download. The free version checks for typos, unclear sentences, inconsistent subject-verb agreement, etc. And the paid version provides more nuanced feedback into style and tone.
🤖QuillBot offers a free proofreading through its online platform. It considers not only the mechanics of your writing, but the intent and clarity.
AI and Generative Text Software
Related to the above section - you’re going to have to write a lot, and while your writing should reflect who you are, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel each time you submit your resume.
🗣️ChatGPT is one of the most well-known generative AI program. You can ask ChatGPT to tailor your resume to specific positions, ask it to write a cover letter for a position, ask for a summary of professional networking groups in your city, etc. The sky’s the limit with ChatGPT - the more information you give the AI, the most powerful responses it can give.
💬Check out our Sipley the Best ChatGPT guide here!
💻Other websites are specifically designed for particular purposes. For example, Kick Resume integrates ChatGPT to build a great cover letter, pre-formatted, for you. The website is paid but you can try it for free.
We hope these resources assist you in keeping your peace of mind during what can be overwhelming! Happy job seeking!