The Ultimate Job Search Guide

for MARKETING, CREATIVE & DIGITAL Talent

Table of Contents

  • 1. Creating a Strategy for Hiring

  • 2. Writing Job Descriptions

  • 3. How to Find a Job's Salary

  • 4. Attracting Top Talent

  • 5. Interviewing Candidates

  • 6. Choosing the Right Candidate

  • 7. Closing the Offer

  • 8. Retaining Your Talent

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • 1. Passive Job Searching

  • 2. Job Hunting

  • 3. Working with a Staffing or Recruiting Agency

  • 4. Interviewing

  • 5. Accepting Job Offers & Handling Rejection

Let's dive in!

1

Passive Job Searching

Beautiful woman working on desktop pc at desk

Be Found by Hiring Managers

In today’s world, you can find anyone on the internet - even yourself! Hiring managers and recruiters are actively trying to find people for their teams. So, you need to make sure you are being found. And, after you are found, you want to ensure you leave a great impression.

Here are a few tips to help you develop a professional online presence:

Be sure that unprofessional content is secure and restricted in search results and on social networks.

Optimize your visibility by making sure your profile on any social platform is up-to-date, the picture is of good quality & professional, and that all of your online profiles have matching information.

Include many keywords in your profile like the software you have worked with, coding languages, or deliverables you’ve worked on. Hiring managers use these search terms to find you.

Ask for at least 2-3 references on sites like Linkedin from previous managers or colleagues.

Want more information on passive job searching? Check out these posts:

  • How to Take Control of Your Personal Brand

  • Managing Your Online Presence as a Job Seeker

  • Dos and Don’ts of Social Media

  • How Social Media Can Get You Hired

  • Finding a Job Through Social Media

  • How to Be Found by Recruiters on LinkedIn

2

Job Hunting

Chinese woman working at a computer in an office, side view

First Steps

Job searching can sometimes be a daunting task But, there are ways to help make it easier.

Here are a few tips to help you build your job hunting game plan:

Create your resume, cover letter, and ensure references are in order.

Brainstorm to form a general idea of the location, size of the company, and the industry you would like to pursue in your job search.

Set up "Job Alerts" on major job search sites (indeed, Linkedin, Glassdoor, etc) based on your plan.

Search your network for any connections you know that are your target company list and ask them for intros or advice on getting hired there.

Be sure your social media presence is professional and updated (see more posts about this under the section, "Passive Job Searching").

Remember not to lose focus on important events happening in your life.

More posts about job hunting:

  • The Do’s and Don’ts of Job Searching While Employed

  • The 5 Biggest Mistakes Job Seekers Make

  • Resume Tips That Will Land You An Interview

  • Do You Really Need a Cover Letter?

  • 5 Tips for Writing a Winning Cover Letter

  • What Hiring Managers Think About Your Resume

  • 8 Ways to Combat Ageism While Searching for a Job

  • Decoding Common Job Description Buzzwords

  • How to Break Into the Industry When You Don’t Have the Previous Experience

3

Working with a Staffing or Recruiting Agency

Job searching can be stressful and having a second pair of eyes not only will help speed up the process but ensures that you are in good hands when an interview and offer comes your way!

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Also, agencies have access to jobs that the public do not because the role may be confidential, niche-focused, or the internal team doesn’t have the capacity. Also, recruiters have excellent knowledge of the market and can best match your skills to a specific role. They can also help prep you for interviews and guide the conversation with the employer regarding salary expectations.

There are a few things to remember when deciding to work with a staffing agency. Here are our top 6 recommendations:

Understand that Recruiters work for their clients & speak with multiple candidates weekly.

Remember it’s important to work with a recruiter whom you trust and can speak honestly with.

Do your homework when working with a staffing agency or multiple agencies - check out online reviews on Glassdoor or Indeed.

Be sure to be open with your communications: recruiters want to know exactly what you think of roles and salary upfront.

Follow up appropriately with your recruiter to ensure that the process is keeping a steady pace.

Keep a clean record of all the jobs you have been submitted to in order to prevent duplicate submittals, which could have you removed from consideration for that specific job.

Read more about working with a staffing or recruting agency:

  • How to Work With a Recruiter

  • Is Working With Multiple Staffing Agencies a Good Idea?

  • Pros and Cons of Working With Multiple Staffing Organizations

  • What Do Recruiters Look For?

  • 3 Useful Tips For Working With a Recruiter

  • The recruiter hasn’t called – even though you think you’re a good fit. What’s going on?

4

Interviewing

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A key component to receiving a job offer relies on the interview. There are different aspects of the interview process to be aware of such as researching the company, prepping interview questions, first impression, the actual interview itself, and the art of a great follow-up.

Tips for Success

The key is to make a positive first impression in a short amount of time while showcasing your skills and experiences. Remember you are also interviewing the hiring manager to figure out if the company is a good fit for you. Here are some of our top points for nailing your interview:

Take time to investigate the company & reference that information in the interview.

Plan on receiving questions about yourself and your resume.

Come prepared with interview materials such as resume, cover letter and etc.

Consider a balance between dressing professionally and comfortably.

Demonstrate your confidence while remaining humble and genuine.

Be transparent with salary expectations.

Send a follow-up email to ensure that your first impression still lingers.

Need more? Check out these blog posts about interviewing!

  • Preparing for an Interview: Tips from the Professionals at The BrandLab

  • How to Nail a Phone Interview

  • How to Ace a Behavioral Interview

  • 5 Good First Impression Tips and Tricks You Should Be Following

  • Does this company fit my values? 4 Tips to Help You Find Out

  • 5 Ways to Maximize Your References

  • A Guide to Selecting Your Job References

  • The Art of the Follow-Up: Your How-To Guide

  • How to Address Your Salary Expectations

  • Thank You Note Tips That Will Help You Land the Job

  • Overcoming Interview Jitters

  • 4 Tips for Answering Interview Questions About Being Fired

5

Accepting Job Offers & Handling Rejection

Now that you’ve finished interviewing, you’re probably waiting to hear back from the employer. A few things to prepare for while you wait include: how you’ll give notice if you receive an offer, what you’ll do if you receive a counteroffer from your current employer, or even, how to handle a job rejection.

Cheerful male applicant happily shaking employer hand.

Preparing for What's Next

During this stage, you may be feeling pressured and uncertain about what’s coming next. In the meantime, remember to focus on what's important to you. Here are 6 questions you should ask yourself:

Does this meet your salary requirements?

Is this a good fit with your values?

Is the position located in a comfortable location?

Is there career development opportunities?

Do you need a schedule that is more flexible?

How much PTO is available?

Additional resources on accepting offers and handling rejection:

  • How to Handle Job Rejection

  • Bouncing Back from Failure

  • Tough Love: 5 Reasons Why Managers Present You with Counteroffers

  • How to Put in Your Two Weeks

  • Negotiation Tactics: A Twist on the Tried & True Approach

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