6 Simplifying Job Search Tips

The job search can be a very overwhelming task if you allow it to be. There are so many tools at a job seeker's disposal that it can become very easy to lose focus.

It's easy to see how this can happen. I can speak from experience that the many things I had to accomplish in a given day made searching for a job an exhausting task. I later discovered that I was trying to accomplish too much in a given day. It got a lot easier when I discovered that, no, I didn't have to use as many job boards as I was using. If you are starting to sense that your job search activities have made your ultimate goal harder to achieve, it may be time to take a step back and simplify things. Here are six tips to help accomplish this:

• Organize: You need to lay out a plan before you even start looking for a job. Create a spreadsheet to keep track of the jobs for which you already applied, make a list of manageable goals you want to accomplish each week, etc.
• Join Social Networks: Social networking sites like LinkedIn can help ease your job search. Make sure to join them if you haven't already.
• Choose Your Job Boards: As I hinted at before, you don't have to use too many job boards to accomplish your goals. Make a list of three or four that you think are best suited for you.
• Use Job Search Engines: Having trouble finding job boards? Make use of job search engines like Indeed to guide you in the right direction.
• Connect With Employers: Follow nonprofits you are interested in on Facebook or Twitter. Interact with them often so they have a better idea of who you are when you decide to apply.
• Don't Forget About Networking: Set aside a day in the week to tap into your career network. If you don't have many contacts, try to make some through family friends or through sites like LinkedIn.