The 10 Best Ways to Get a Better Job

So your job sucks. You could resign yourself to a lifetime of boring (or even miserable) days at the office, or you could take some time and find a better job. Here are ten great tips to help you write a great application, master the interview, and ultimately work for a company you’ll love rather than hate.

10. Put together a resume that is actually compelling

While I’m not a fan of resumes – as they are often skimmed rather than read – they are still required by most job ads you come across. You don’t want to reinvent the wheel, but a little creativity can set you apart and help you stand out from the pool. Online tools can be a big help when it comes to creating something less ordinary. Visualize.me can create an attractive infographic. Sites like Re.vu and Zerply can help you create professional landing pages that can serve as digital resumes. About.me and Flavors.me can be customized to do the same. Use the tool that suits you best and make sure your page or resume stands out. Often it’s just as simple as choosing the right font and color. It doesn’t take much to make a resume look nice, so put a little extra effort into making sure your resume doesn’t end up in the general pile.

9. Make sure your resume isn’t filled with generic words and redundant phrases

When writing your resume, you don’t want to use the kind of language that makes you sound like everyone else. This means you should avoid overused terms (e.g., motivated, innovative, dynamic) and clichéd phrases (e.g., detail-oriented, team player, excellent communication skills). Also, terms like “references available upon request” are implied statements, waste space, and have no place in your resume. It’s helpful to read your resume from the bottom up to find mistakes, and when you’re done, you can run it through RezScore to see where you can improve.

8. Search for unconventional and job-specific vacancies
If you don’t know where you want to work yet, you’ll obviously need to look for some options, but you’ll be looking for a needle in a haystack if you go to popular sites like Monster.com and Craigslist. That’s not to say there won’t be a great job or two there, but you’ll have to dig through a lot of undesirable positions just to find the ones you want. Instead of going the traditional route, try an unconventional job site like OneDayOneJob.com, which emails you job listings every day. SimplyHired is a seemingly standard job search, but it aggregates listings directly from company websites and other places, so you’re not just drawing from one big pool. TweetMyJobs does the searching for you. Just tell the program what kind of job you’re looking for, and it’ll text, tweet, or email you options as they’re discovered. Even if you’ve been out of college for a few years, be sure to check out any job listings that are available for former students. Even if you are overqualified for the jobs offered, learn about companies that are friendly to graduates of your school. You can search and apply for more suitable jobs on the company’s website.

Alternatively, you can focus on websites that target the specific type of job you’re looking for. For example, Dice.com is a good option for tech jobs and Authentic Jobs is a good option for designers and developers. Do a web search for the type of job you’re looking for and the term “job search site” and you may find a tool that is more targeted to your specific needs.

7. Find a better job by searching for a great company rather than a position

To get a good job, you not only have to do something you enjoy, but you also have to work in a good environment. That means you should look for companies that have a reputation for treating their employees well. You don’t have to apply to Google or Zappos – companies known for their great benefits – just look for companies that interest you and do a little research. Just call them up and talk to pretty much everyone. Just tell them this, “I’m thinking about applying to your company, but I wanted to know what it’s like to work there. Would you please tell me how you like it?” Most people are happy to give their opinion, and if they are busy, you can always schedule a call later. If the company sounds good, you’ve probably just made a friend you can call when you’re ready to apply and get some extra help. That’s a double win. In case this doesn’t work out as planned, Glassdoor is an online resource that can help you learn about a particular company from people who are eager to share.

6. Learn to make even your irrelevant experience seem relevant

I never got a job because my past work experience was particularly relevant, but because I learned to spin my past experience to make it seem relevant. That doesn’t mean I lied, but instead focused on tasks in previous positions that were relevant to the job I wanted to get. If your current job is very different from the one you are aiming for, think about everything you did in your current job that is not commonplace. Often you’ll find examples of things that relate to the job you want because you were always excited to do that kind of work if it presented itself where you are now. If not, you can start gathering relevant experience now so you can use it when you interview. For example, if you work in a non-creative field but want to be a designer, you would have many options. If you create a lot of diagrams and flowcharts, find ways to make them more attractive. If your company is having a company outing, ask to design the flyer. When I worked in customer service, I used to create posters about inside jokes around the office or pictures based on funny things customers said. Sometimes I would show these off at job interviews when I needed to show off my Photoshop skills. As silly as that sounds, it not only demonstrated my skills but also showed how connected I was to my team. If you put yourself out there, you’ll find that your seemingly irrelevant experience can easily be tailored to most jobs you apply for. You may have to start further down than you’d like, but if you work hard, you’ll work your way up pretty quickly.

5. Dress well for the interview

Dressing for the interview doesn’t necessarily mean you have to put on crisp pressed formal wear. Depending on the company, you may be better off coming in your everyday clothes or just wearing something that shows you can look good without overdoing it. If you’re not sure what to wear to an interview, just call the company and ask to speak with the HR department. Tell them you are coming in for an interview and that you would like to know the expected dress code. In most cases, they will be happy to help you. However, if you must go in uninformed, business casual is generally a good choice. Although no one knows exactly what business casual actually is, you are generally safe in a nice pair of slacks and a button-down shirt or sweater. Your goal is to show that you are able to groom yourself and look presentable. If your clothes fit, are well pressed, and are not something you would wear at home, you are probably in good shape. The dress code guide can help you find the right clothes.

4. Learn to read body language to have a successful interview

Learning to read body language is helpful in many situations, but understanding the signals you are sending and reading the signals from others can help immensely in an interview. It is especially important to come across as personable and charming right off the bat, as many decisions are made based on first impressions. Most importantly, avoid negative body language. In particular, avoid nervous tics like slapping your face and restless leg. You also don’t want to slouch or sit too rigidly. Basically, your goal is to look comfortable but professional. If you can do that, you’ll be in good shape.

3. Know how to give good answers to common interview questions

What is your biggest weakness? It’s an awkward question, but you’ll hear it in most job interviews in your life, and there are many others where it comes from. (There are many debates about how to answer this question. It’s always been my experience that the best strategy is to choose a skill that you actually suck at, that sounds relevant to the job, but really isn’t. Then you come across as honest, but your weakness doesn’t hurt you). You need to answer the questions if you want to get the job, so there are two things you should do: understand the motivation behind the questions and prepare your answers in advance. Understanding the motivation is generally as simple as putting yourself in the company’s shoes. Why would they want to know your biggest weakness? Probably more to know how you will respond to a question that asks you to show yourself vulnerable than to actually find out where you can improve. They may also ask because they want to know if you can realistically get your skills right. If you consider the motivation behind these common questions, it will be easier to tailor the answers you want to give. You shouldn’t memorize them in advance, of course, but having a list of keywords can help you be prepared and still give natural answers.

2. Ask for a signing bonus
Congratulations, you got the job! But you could be throwing away an extra month’s salary if you don’t ask for a signing bonus before you accept the job. If you’re applying for a competitive position, chances are the company really wants to hire you if you’re selected, and they may be willing to pay you a little extra to get you on board. All you have to do is ask if they offer a bonus. They don’t ask for one, they just ask the question. Regardless of whether or not you are considering other options, this question will make it appear, and they will be more inclined to offer you that bonus if they really want you. If they don’t, you’ll be turned away and there’s probably no harm done. It’s one of those low-risk questions that can often yield a high reward.

1. Leave your current job without burning bridges

If you hate your current job, it can be tempting to let everyone know that when you leave. As cathartic as this may seem, it will cause you trouble down the road. You want to leave your current company on good terms. You never know when you’ll run into an employee again or if you’ll need to ask the company for information or a favor. It’s just not in your best interest to burn bridges. If you hate your job so much that you’re afraid to say the wrong thing, you can consult these sample resignation letters and read tips on how to quit gracefully. Before you actually quit, discuss your plan with a friend or two to gauge their reaction. It’s always helpful to get some outside opinions to make sure you don’t make a mistake you’ll regret later.

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