Introduction

A technique is a collection of specialized procedures and methods in a specific field. We can apply the methods we learned since the day we started working or the procedures we learned at work. This post aggregates the methods I applied while looking for new work after a layoff, intending to get back on track in 30 days. Within that period, while companies were laying off people, I received four job offers that exceeded my current employer’s pay.

Identify the skill gap.

Skill gaps are a common occurrence in one’s employment journey. They do not necessarily result from intentional mistakes or overlooked aspects of work. The skills required for one job may differ from those required for another job. Before filling a skill gap, it is important to identify the skills you need to learn. To do so, review job descriptions related to the roles you are interested in and identify the required skills. I used a simple highlight uncomfortable skills method as a starting step.

Take notes like crazy.

We tend to remember things better through muscle memory; everything else is just information. While searching for a job, I often take quick courses to address skill gaps to improve my understanding. I have found LinkedIn courses to be particularly helpful, as they are only 90 minutes long. To maximize my focus, I sometimes listen to courses at 1.25x speed. Since I have worked in the industry for over 20 years, I can easily pick up new skills with short courses. I recommend taking notes digitally or in a notebook during the course. Effective note-taking can help you remember key learning points.

Reflect on what you learned & how you will apply it.

Every experience teaches us something new if we choose to learn from it. There is no greater teacher than our own experience.

Tracking how I spend my time during the day is one activity that helped me collect data on my actions. At the end of the day, I take on a different role and become a judge of my actions. I review my actions and write down three things in a book:

1. What went well?
   • Example: Today, I took a 15-minute rest at noon, which helped me regain my energy.
2. What went wrong?
   • Example: I noticed that I was feeling drained around 4:00 PM.
3. What should I add to my next day?
   • Example: Try going to the gym at 4:30 PM or go out for a jog.

Read the job description clearly.

Humans have an intrinsic desire to hear their names, and we are no different. Similarly, interviewers are pleased when candidates mention the technologies, responsibilities, and related experiences outlined in the job description. As a candidate, referring to what the employer is looking for in just 10 minutes can greatly increase your chances of landing the job. By reading the job description, you can prepare for the interview’s technical and non-technical aspects and know what questions to ask to learn more about the employer. The job description is a blueprint for the ideal candidate the employer seeks to hire.

Highlight Skills You’re Not Comfortable With.

When applying for a job, it is common to encounter tools or technologies with which you may not be familiar from your current work experience. In such cases, it is typically best to highlight (digitally or on paper) these tools or technologies for two reasons:

1. To avoid discussing any areas where you may not be comfortable or experienced.
2. Include them in your skills growth plan and deliberately learn them.

Highlighting (digitally or on paper) the knowns and unknowns in a job description has been a helpful technique for identifying strengths and weaknesses and applying them consciously during the interview process. This technique goes hand in hand with reading the job description clearly.

There is a good reason why repetition is the mother of all skills.

Repetition is the mother of all skills because it allows us to engrain knowledge and abilities into our muscle memory. For example, it may have been a struggle when you first learned to ride a bike. But with practice, you develop the skill to ride without thinking about it. This same principle applies to learning a new language, playing an instrument, or any other skill. By repeating the same actions or information, we can train our brains and bodies to become more efficient and effective. So, if you want to improve in any area, embrace repetition as the key to mastering it.

Spill the seeds everywhere so grass can grow.

Most recruiters use job aggregators to find candidates, but depending on the size of the recruitment agency, they may subscribe to only a few job sites or use other methods to find candidates. Create a profile on popular job sites like LinkedIn, Dice, Monster, ZipRecruiter, ClearanceJobs, and Indeed. Posting your resume on popular job sites can increase your visibility and availability to many recruiters and hiring managers. This improves your chances of getting noticed quickly and landing a job sooner.

💡 A recruiter provided this tip, and it has proven successful.

Recruitment agencies help each other by sending resumes to other agencies(if they don’t have current openings). Therefore, having your resume visible to as many recruiters as possible will increase your chances of landing a job quickly.

You read more about this in my post, “How Can You Ask For Help? Ask the gatekeep.”

Apply to at least 10-25 jobs a day.

To land a job, you must apply for one. It’s that simple. Unfortunately, many job seekers overlook the importance of consistently applying for jobs. This is especially true after a layoff. While the prospect of applying for jobs may initially seem overwhelming, daily practice can help make it a normal routine.

Let’s do the math: If you spend 10 minutes reading each job description, you can easily apply to 5-6 jobs per day.

I set a target of 5-10 job applications per day. Applying to 5 jobs a day means that in one week, I applied for 35 jobs per week (7 days * 5 jobs per day. Yes, seven days a week – no weekends during this phase). Over four weeks that amounts to 140 applications (35 applications * 4 weeks).

The more jobs you apply for, the more your resume will be circulated, increasing your chances of landing interviews.

Conclusion.

Learning about tools and techniques can help you discover new ideas. However, the real magic comes from applying them consistently.

What do you think of the methods ?

Do you have any additional suggestions to be included that would help a job seeker?