If you’re currently out of a job, you know exactly how hard it can be to find a new one. Although it can be tough, there are many things you can do to help speed up your job search. Using these tips and methods will help you stay on track to getting a new job as quickly as possible.

Make Use Of Your Personal And Professional Network
This is by far the most effective way to find new job opportunities. Using your personal and professional network is as easy as making a few phone calls and sending out a few emails to your friends, family members, and previous coworkers/supervisors. A lot of times you’ll get second hand referrals when someone you know knows someone else looking to hire someone like you. Whatever the case may be, it’s absolutely critical to make use of your personal and professional network.

Remember to also be a contributing part of your network. Try to help people you know when they ask for help with their careers. Networking is as much about giving as it is about receiving.

Market Yourself Intelligently
When searching for a job, it is absolutely essential to market yourself intelligently. Your first priority should be highlighting the value you can bring to each company you’re applying for. Imagine it from the company’s perspective. They have to spend their money wisely when hiring people and obviously want the most bang for their buck. They’ll only spend their money on employees that will produce tangible results that are worth the dollars they spend. If you don’t market yourself aggressively enough, they’ll have no reason to spend their money on you. So make sure each company you’re applying for knows exactly how great you are.

Part of marketing yourself intelligently is having a concise elevator pitch you can spit out without having to think twice. The more specific and direct your elevator pitch is, the better. This will help you get your message across in a quick and easy manner.

Be Flexible
Especially when the job market is rough, you might not get the highest salary or the best position. This is why it’s best to be flexible and prepare to make compromises. If your expectations are too high, you’ll easily get discouraged which will make it harder for you to trudge forward and continue your job search.

Don’t Put It Off
If you stay unemployed for too long, you’ll start to get lazy and unmotivated. This is because when you’re unemployed, you have eight extra hours every day to do whatever you want, which usually leads to more sleep, more internet use, and less productivity. If you do this for long enough, finding, applying, and interviewing for a job will seem far more daunting than it really is.

Another reason why you shouldn’t put off finding a job is that your skills will begin to slowly deteriorate after becoming unemployed. When you don’t go to work every day and practice and improve your skills, you’ll be rusty when you start again, so it’s best to find a new job as soon as possible if you lose your current one.

Visit Job Websites, Job Fairs, Social Networking Sites
Visiting job websites, job fairs, and social networking sites will help you find many new job opportunities. All of these resources are free to utilize and can be hugely beneficial to your job search. Job fairs are especially beneficial because they allow you to talk to people from each company in person. This will allow you to get your questions answered and to get a feel for the company culture.

Do Some Volunteer Work
When you’re unemployed and struggling to find a job, try to pick up some volunteer work. Doing so can help hone your communication and leadership skills, and keep you busy while you’re unemployed. It can also help expand your network which can lead to more job leads. You can also put volunteer work on your resume to show employers you don’t like to waste your time when you’re out of a job, which conveys a strong work ethic and drive. Of course the biggest benefit of doing volunteer work is the positive effect you make on the community you serve.

Maintain A Positive Attitude
If you were laid off from you previous job, you might have a hard time picking yourself back up and finding a new job. You might be upset and frustrated with your circumstances which makes it harder for you to use your energy productively. Instead of being upset, try to maintain a positive attitude. This will help keep you focused on the task of finding a new job instead of the negative feelings you may have inside.

Play The Numbers Game
The more jobs you apply for, the more jobs you’ll interview for. The more jobs you interview for, the more offers you get, so play the numbers game. Even if your chances of getting a job are low, the more applications you put in, the better your chances are. If the field or company you’re trying to get into is especially competitive, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to send as many as 20 applications out to potential employers. Plus, because you’re unemployed, you’ll have plenty of time to find, apply, and interview for many different jobs.