Online Strategies that Work: How to Get the Desired Job or Internship

When you start looking for your first job or internship, you’re incredibly enthusiastic about it. You have a general idea of it: you want a fun, exciting job. You’ll be spending a huge chunk of your time at this job, so you would like to avoid the boring positions. You want to become part of a great organizational culture. Of course that’s how you start. 

When you realize that it’s not easy to get an interview for the job of your dreams, you lower your standards. Once you were all about “I’m gonna get the best job in the world,” but now you’re more like “Just give me something!”

Don’t get disappointed. You’re part of the Internet generation, after all. Did you know that 85% of all jobs nowadays were filled via networking? You have tons of opportunities to impress hiring managers and make important connections through your online activities. We’ll tell you how.

1. Start Attending Industry Events and Webinars

Industry events are not necessarily an online networking tactic, but they start that way. Start searching for industry-related shows and connect with that community online. Most of those events are promoted via Facebook, and the platform gives you an option to show your interest. You can also see who else will be attending the event. You can ask your questions and discuss related topics on the event’s page. That’s a nice way to make connections before you even get there.

Webinars are also important. Most of them feature chats, so you can become part of discussions and make some connections. Since you don’t have much experience to showcase in your resume, important webinars will look good there, too.

2. Use LinkedIn to Its Full Potential

If you thought you could read an article about online networking that didn’t mention LinkedIn, you were mistaking. This network is too important to neglect. Whether you’re looking for internship or job opportunities, the hiring managers will definitely look at your profile. In fact, if you’re successful at LinkedIn networking, maybe you won’t even need to send “real” resumes.

It’s time to get that profile working. First of all, you have to make it perfect. Pick a good photo, write and write an attractive bio. Then, activate yourself. LinkedIn is a networking platform, so you’ll need to do some networking. Join groups relevant to the industry of your interest. Be part of the discussions and the connections will start coming to you. There’s another thing you can do: write awesome blog posts and publish them on the platform. That shows you as someone who knows a lot about their field of interest and is ready for a nice job.

3. Be an Active Member of Meetup

Meetup is not getting a lot of attention from job seekers, mainly because of the relaxed vibe it has. However, the network is quite misunderstood. It’s not just for fun. If you’re a computer scientist, you’ll find a great community of likeminded people here. Find the meetup groups relevant to your industry and join! The Career & Business category is really interesting for job and internship hunters.

The networking here is much easier when compared to the effort you have to put into LinkedIn. Who knows; you might even meet your new employer there. The best part is that the network connects you with groups from all around the world, but it also helps you meet people in your area. You get targeted networking without even trying. 

4. Start Sending Out Some Resumes

Networking is a crucial aspect of the process of getting a job, but it’s not the only one. With proper networking, recruiters will start contacting you. You can’t wait for them, though. You’ll have to explore job boards and send out some resumes. Fortunately, you no longer have to buy newspapers and post resumes in print. We’re living in the era of technology.

Speaking of the resume, cover letter, CV, and follow-up emails, they have to be absolutely perfect. You can take an online course in writing or work with a writing service to get the documents you need. Since this is the first job you’re looking for and you don’t have much experience to brag with, the way you write the application documents matters more than you realize.

5. Develop Your Personal Brand

No, we’re not talking about starting your own business. We’re talking about branding yourself. When you’re trying to land a position, you’re practically selling yourself. Every employer will Google you before inviting you for an interview. When they do that, they have to like the results.

Personal branding involves your activity on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even Pinterest. Google yourself. What do you see? Is there anything you wouldn’t want a potential employer to see? Make that private and start posting content you would want them to see. 

Blogging is also important. Start your blog, make it look nice, and showcase your expertise and passion through it. If you’re in a creative industry, the blog will be your virtual portfolio.

It’s never easy to get that first job or internship. You’re making an important transition, so you’ll have to change your point of view. This process starts with proper online networking. Hopefully, you’ll be ready to start doing that when you implement the above-listed tips. Stay calm and persistent. Things won’t happen overnight, but your perfect opportunity will come.        

About our guest blogger: Lisa Wheatly works for Top Aussie Writers in her spare time, where she creates unbiased essay service reviews. Lisa believes analytical thinking and an enquiring mind are her strongest points, and she does her best to put them to good use. Lisa is a consultant of young entrepreneurs, and she feels that her knowledge of the human mind allows her to accurately assess the abilities of the young businessmen.