For people who are new in the job market, one of the questions they may have in mind is, “how long does it take to get a job?” To answer this question, there are many things to consider, which we’ll discuss in this article. The typical length of the hiring process varies per employer and the role you’re applying for. Thus, it’s hard to say when you’ll get the job unless the employer gives you a timeline.
How long does it take to get a job?
The length of your job search varies depending on your experience and job demand. People who have relevant skills in a highly in-demand job could land the role in a matter of days—some in less than 48 hours. For instance, if you learn digital marketing or find a job in the restaurant industry and apply for a relevant position, you could get hired almost immediately.
On the other hand, those with minimal experience, especially in competitive roles, may stay unemployed for a while. This might even last for months—depending, of course, on how persistent the applicants are in their job search. If they are continuously looking for opportunities, chances are, they might land a job sooner than those who don’t search as seriously.
The average amount of time to land a job is nine weeks. This seems pretty long because you also have to bear in mind the hiring process. This includes job prospecting, sending out applications, waiting time, interviews, follow-ups, pre-employment screenings, background checks, and more.
Factors that affect the length of a job search
If you are wondering how long it would take for your job search to end, there are essential factors you need to consider. These things highly influence the timeline of your job search to land a role:
1. Experience
Your experience is one of the playing factors in how long you’re going to land a job. If you have the relevant skills for a role, you can have a shorter job search.
For executive roles, the hiring process is highly competitive, which means that only those with the required skills and experience could get the job. And the position may hold a lengthy hiring process as it is a key role in an organization.
On the other hand, entry-level roles are much easier to fill. This implies that you can have a shorter job search when looking for entry-level jobs. But you also have to keep in mind that this can be competitive since there is more competition in roles like this.
2. Length of unemployment.
The gap year in your resume matters for most employers. They will question your qualifications if you have significantly long unemployment gaps. Those who are unemployed for 27weeks or more are considered to be in long-term unemployment. This gap affects how employers will perceive you, which may make your search last longer.
Employers always prefer someone who’s got a minimal gap in their employment. If you have a long employment gap, you’ll need to justify this. But some initiatives that will help you reason out your gap include volunteer work, continuous education, and personal projects.
3. Economic condition
The current economic condition also impacts a job search’s length. If there is a recession, you can expect that there’ll be fewer job openings which make the job market highly competitive. Contrary to when the economy is booming, where there are more jobs, you can land jobs faster and more easily.
4. Location
Big cities have more job opportunities, implying that you have a better chance of landing a job there. If you are looking for a job in rural areas or smaller towns, you may have difficulty finding a job quickly.
However, in this time where remote work is the new normal, your location may not be a big deal anymore. This is especially applicable if the employer entirely operates remotely and doesn’t need you on-site for meetings.
5. Your job materials
Your resume and cover letter may influence your job search timeline. The better-looking your resume and cover letter are, the more chances you have in booking an interview and landing a role. Though not a common request, some employers are requesting for video resumes. A video resume shares detailed information about a candidate’s skills and experience in a video format. Thus, it counts to prepare these documents with so much care and effort. For powerful tips in crafting a polished resume and cover letter, here are some great online courses to check out:
6. Job search approach
Lastly, your luck in job search highly relies on your job search methods. If you have powerful practices and continuously strive to nail your interviews, your job search may take a little shorter than others.
You may apply several techniques in your job search, and doing the right ones will take you closer to your dream job. Some of these include using your professional network, reaching out to recruiters, etc. You may find out more of these secrets to easier job search in this online course: Job Search Techniques: Improve Your Job Search Now.
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Ways to speed up your job search process
To stop your worries about how long your job search will take, you could do things to speed it up. Here are some of those things you can do:
1. Continuously upskill yourself.
The better skilled you are, the higher chance you have of impressing recruiters. These skills come in handy when pointing out which qualifications suit the job description. So, the more in-depth your abilities are, the more likely you are to get the recruiters’ attention. Also, by upskilling, you demonstrate taking the initiative, which employers love about their workers.
2. Write a better resume and cover letter.
As mentioned earlier, these two are crucial in getting the recruiters’ attention. After all, these are the first things that recruiters see which dictate whether you’ll get an interview or not. So, always ensure you have a polished resume and cover letter. Proofread them and provide factual statements.
3. Lookup jobs often.
More is more when applying for a job. If you want to land a job faster, the best practice is to send out applications often—it could be every day. The more applications you send out, the more chances you have of finding a job for yourself. However, in doing so, always remember to carefully pick jobs that align with your career objectives to minimize settling for jobs you don’t like.
4. Reach out to recruiters directly.
One of the effective ways to get hired is by connecting with the recruiters directly. You can find them on LinkedIn, where most of them share job availability. When you build connections with them, you prove your networking capabilities and interest in joining the company.
5. Seek feedback.
If you think your job search takes a little longer than expected, you could use some feedback to know how you’re doing. You can ask a mentor, friend, or professional network who can help you evaluate your job search methods. Seeking feedback will help you spot the areas to improve in speeding up your job search.
In your job search, remember these tips to speed up your job search. It’s normal to take some time to land your dream job. What matters is knowing the right strategies and approaches to ensuring you secure the right job for you.
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