Getting yourself a job is an important and sensitive topic, but, that said, remember that your job or rejections that you may receive definitely do not define you.

In part 2, let’s delve deeper into some aspects pertaining to your job search. Therefore, without further ado, here it goes:

  1. Job listings: A simple search on Google and you are overwhelmed. One does not know where to begin (especially when you are new to the country) – it’s absolutely impossible to track each and every web portal there is. To make your life easier, here are my top 3.
    • LinkedIn: Among other things, it’s an excellent source of finding the right opportunities. The topmost ribbon has the tab called “Job” which presents roles that are similar to your profile. If you have worked well on building your LinkedIn profile (this is key) and updating your career interests – I can bet on 100% job description matches. Use it, use it the most!
      Tip: Always apply to the “Easy Apply” job matches; you can track your application more closely for these roles. You can even reach out to the recruiter/hiring manager, and it’s just so much easier to apply.
    • YooTure: Have you heard of it? If not, then download the app, build a profile and expect straight job matches. You can apply to jobs from your phone itself and sometimes recruiters and hiring managers chat with you using the app. As a concept, I love it. Some of my friends have been successful with it, so it’s definitely worth the try.
    • Facebook groups: If you are not a native language job seeker, I advise the following groups: English Speaking Jobs In Zurich, English speaking jobs & opportunities in Switzerland, Jobs in Switzerland and similar ones. These groups are active, which gives you a chance to network with the job poster, there are meetups at times, and the postings are always more recent with the alerts set up.

Another very talked about concept is that of recruitment agencies (who usually support contract positions). While contract jobs are great – they are both, high on risk and money. Some agencies that you could reach out to directly are – Stamford, MBA, Hays etc. Nevertheless, don’t be too taken in or taken aback by the process of screening candidates. At some point you may believe that you are close to “making it”– but more often than not, you are not. The agencies tend to have the same quota limitations and uncertainties that an individual applicant has. But, it’s worth a shot!

Apart from the above, jobs.ch, indeed, experteer and monster are other portals that could come in handy wherein one can set up daily email digests and then proactively filter out roles every couple of days.

  1. Networking: Perhaps the most talked about and a little bit overrated – but what it seems to be doing is, making people extremely ungenuine. With this controversial statement, let me try to break this down – networking for the sake of it is hollow and is visibly so. So am I saying do not do it? No, I am not – network by all means, but do it with a purpose. For instance, I never attend general networking events. They bring me nothing. However, if there is a meetup on a specific topic, which I am an expert at, or am passionate about, something that naturally resonates with me, then I find the time to go for it. While “in-person” networking is difficult since you constantly need to put yourself out there or find the time to attend events or remain plain persistent; virtual networking is much breezier. It is like cold calling, one hit out of a large number of misses. If you plan to indulge in virtual networking, have handy templates prepared before the conversation begins. , Most importantly, have a proper introduction message (which is your pitch to anyone new) and maximise coverage in terms of numbers. Personally, I have indulged in both forms of networking – sometimes you get bogged down. But my experiences have made me more compassionate towards offering support (when possible). Stay human, stay genuine, it goes a long way.
  2. Social Media: A topic which is closest to my heart, this article that you are reading right now (yes, this) – is growing my social media presence and is building my social identity in some way. In this day and age, each of us is a brand, and if we don’t work on it – then who will? We all need to exist, we all need to market our strengths, and this requires work. Your professional profiles along with your twitter handles (if you have one), need to be worked upon. Pay attention to what you write – build your LinkedIn/Xing profile, work on your tweets and remain active on your professional accounts as well.

Tips for LinkedIn:Try to have an “All-Star” profile (this rating is private to you). Having over 500 connections broadens your possibilities since your 2nd and 3rd level connections matter most. Have the right keywords in your headline, maintain all sections of your profile (be descriptive) and whenever possible, post – post original content, status updates and share resources (and not for the sake of it). If you are struggling with finding a job or just have a specific question on the above topics, comment below and I will respond to my best ability.

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