
40 Ideas To Boost Your Job Search
Feeling stuck in your job search?
There’s no single path to landing a job. Sometimes, a small change can make a big difference. Pick a few of these 40 proactive ideas to give your job search a boost!
Professional associations have free resources on their websites to take advantage of. Check association websites for Job Boards, Career Guides, Industry Trends, etc.
Don’t forget to let those you are closest to know what you are interested in. You never know who is in someone else’s network!
Reaching out to professionals in careers or companies you are targeting is a productive job search strategy. Not only will you uncover tips to stand out, you might build a connection that leads to a referral.
Dream big! You might not get a response, but what if you do? Message them on LinkedIn or try using Hunter.io to source email addresses.
LinkedIn’s Alumni Database for CSU is a great place to start. Check the College of Business Student Outcomes page for ideas of companies or job titles to search for.
Find your professor’s office location in the College of Business Directory or by checking your syllabus.
If you’re unsure what to ask, here are a few ideas:
- Do you have insight into industries or sectors that are growing for this field?
- Are there any professional associations you’ve seen prominently in this field?
- Do you have any advice on how to effectively approach and communicate with professionals in this field?
- What resources do you suggest I check regularly to stay up to date on trends in this field?
- Are there any particular companies or alumni that you suggest I try connecting with?
The Chamber of Commerce in your target city can be ideal sources to find these. A simple Google search will likely yield results.
Asking specific questions (that aren’t too in-depth) could open the door to a conversation. Message them on LinkedIn or try using Hunter.io to source email addresses.
MeetUp.com has groups for countless interests in cities nationwide. Building connections in a casual setting could be fruitful for your search.
Not sure what to post on LinkedIn? Simply commenting on the posts of others could lead to conversations and help you stand out. Connect to professionals and recruiters in your target companies to increase the relevance of posts you see in your feed.
Professional associations may have free (or cheap) student memberships to take advantage of in order to attend industry conferences and networking events.
Tell them why you admire their company, how you would like to contribute, and that you hope to earn a job there someday.
Instructions to send a customized connection request:
- Log onto LinkedIn on a computer (not mobile app)
- Search for the desired connection by name (use additional filters if needed)
- Click Connect
- Click Add a note (limited to 200 characters)
NOTE: LinkedIn limits free customized connection requests to 8 per month. Use them wisely!
Look for a Member Directory (like this one).
Handshake’s Employer Directory is another great resource for this!
Getting someone else’s perspective on what your search process has entailed could get you unstuck.
This might seem indirect (How will this get me a job?), but staying motivated and positive is critical in a job search. It’s easy to get discouraged when we’re stuck. Keep your eye on the prize with this activity.
There are countless lists online of exciting companies to work for. You might uncover a few you have never heard of.
Example Lists:
Denver Post’s Top Workplaces 2023: The best large companies to work for in Colorado
BuiltIn.com Best Places to Work 2024
Use LinkedIn Advanced Search Filters to hone in on relevant and exciting careers. Some filters you can use include:
- Locations
- Current Company
- Past Company
- Industry
- Profile Language
- Title
Here’s a few you might like:
Don’t forget to let those you are closest to know what you are interested in. You never know who is in someone else’s network!
Are there any particular companies or alumni that you suggest I try connecting with?
Try these websites:
What do you purchase regularly?
What companies do you admire?
What companies have you heard about in class?
What companies have you seen visiting campus?
Here’s a few we like in the Career Management Center:
LinkedIn Groups can help you:
- Engage with industry discussions
- Get free access to direct message fellow group members
- Uncover job opportunities
Make sure you are a member of these CSU affiliated groups.
Search all LinkedIn Groups
- What did you enjoy about working for the company?
- What did you notice as important qualities or skills of employees at the company?
- I’m interested in [insert job function] roles in this field. Is there someone you met at the company you could introduce me to for an informational discussion about their career?
- What was the hiring process at the company?
- What would you do if you were in my shoes with an interest in working for this company?
- Could you introduce me to the recruiter you spoke with when you were hired?
Connecting with like-minded people could lead to an opportunity!
You worked hard to build your network throughout your college career. Think back on those you met at career fairs, information tables, class speakers, former co-workers and supervisors, instructors, etc. Build a list. Have you followed up lately to let them know what you are interested in doing after graduation? Ask if they have ideas!
Feeling like you’ve tried everything? Open your favorite A/I (ex. ChatGPT) and tell it all the things you’ve been doing in your job search process. Tell it what your target role is. Ask for 5-10 ideas of strategies you haven’t tried that could be fruitful in landing your next position.
LinkedIn and Instagram are often active platforms to engage with.
Sometimes managers and recruiters who are actively hiring post on LinkedIn. Enter an advanced search for keywords like “We’re hiring” or “I’m hiring”. Try adding locations or industry to hone in.
Did you find someone? Send a message to let them know you are interested and ask for a time to chat.
You can Follow LinkedIn members without needing to send a Connection Request. You won’t need to wait for them to accept (or deny) in order to see their posts in your feed.
Not seeing the Follow button on their profile? Click More to expand the menu of options.
Use the Job Market Data Tool on our website to identify roles for your field. After doing a Keyword Search and making a selection, click Job Titles for an expanded list.
Here’s another great resource for this step: What Can I Do With This Major?
Here are some ideas of the types of articles you could share (or write!) to generate discussion:
- Industry Trends and Insights
- Career Success Stories
- Professional Development Tips
- Experiences as an Early Career Professional
- New Knowledge From Your Internship
- Career Exploration Articles
- Industry Events
- CSU News and Articles
Identify the top five criteria a job needs to meet for you (for example: intellectual stimulation, earning potential, collaborative culture, growth potential, etc.). Do a Google search for companies known for those qualities.