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Whether you’re actively looking for a job or are simply curious about a new career, you’re not alone. Millions of people nationwide are open to work, but it can be hard to know the most effective methods for finding the right job for you.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, almost half of all American job seekers are currently looking to transition careers, according to a new Morning Consult job-seeker insight survey commissioned by Amazon. Many of those job seekers (43%) identified better pay and benefits as the top reason they are looking for new work.
“Whether you’ve been out of the job market for a while or have been working and want a change, this is a fantastic time to be looking for a new opportunity,” says Luli Chaluleu, hiring expert at Amazon. “Many companies are hiring, and with the right search tactics you’ll find a job that you not only love but has ample benefits.”
Amazon is included in that list of companies eager to hire. Despite the pandemic, in 2020 they hired over 400,000 employees in the U.S., of which, more than 60% are now paid more than they were paid at their previous job. Competitive benefits include health insurance, up to 20 weeks of parental leave and company-funded career advancement opportunities.
“Amazon gave me a chance to branch into the IT field with no prior tech experience. The company really values us as employees, and it shows, from the pay to the benefits to the ability to learn and move into new careers,within Amazon or beyond,” said Erica Bozeman, data center technician at Amazon.
If you want to find a new job, knowing current job search strategies can help, including updating your resume and conducting virtual interviews. Research career events that allow you to learn, network and even apply for positions of interest. Career coaching can help as well.
For example, Amazon Career Day on September 15 wasa free event where attendees had the opportunity to participate in one of more than 20,000 personalized career-coaching sessions with an Amazon recruiter. The company also offered thousands of one-on-one career-coaching sessions for Amazon employees looking to grow their careers at the company or elsewhere. The event brought together world-leading experts — including best-selling authors David Epstein and Carla Harris — to provide candid advice on how job seekers can start, build, or transition their careers. Learn more at: www.AmazonCareerDay.com.
Tips for job seekers
To help supercharge your job search efforts, Luli shares these important tips:
Explore the company website: One of the best ways to learn more about an organization is through their digital presence. Look at the website, including careers pages, news sections and any applicable departmental information. If you know where you want to work or what role you’d like to pursue, have that information ready when you apply or speak with a recruiter.
Keep your resume short: Resumes should be compelling and concise. Think about skills you gained at previous jobs and how they apply to future positions. No matter how long you’ve been working or how many positions you’ve had, a resume should be no longer than two pages. Focus on the facts, communicate essential skills, and highlight career achievements. When you interview, you can go into more detail.
Customize with keywords: Many companies use technology to discover and track the best candidates for open positions. These applicant tracking systems look for important words and phrases within a resume to filter candidates, so be sure to use keywords in your copy. The job description is a good source for potential keywords. If you need more ideas, look at resumes and profiles for other people who have a similar position.
Apply even if you’re not 100% qualified: If you see a job post of interest but hesitate to apply because you don’t have all the qualifications, think again. Hiring managers know that oftentimes candidates may lack experience in a few areas. If you have the majority of the skills listed and a willingness to learn the ones you don’t, apply anyway and then convey your enthusiasm about the opportunity during the interview.
Stay positive: Job searches take time, and you may have to apply to many positions and interview numerous times before getting an offer. Don’t be discouraged, because if one role doesn’t pan out, there are plenty more opportunities to explore.
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