How to Get a Job: Your Ultimate Guide

Finding a job can be nerve-wracking, exciting, frustrating, exhausting, and even anxiety-inducing. Unfortunately, we’re not here to tell you it’s an easy feat to land a job you love. However, there are ways to make the job search easier (and less exhausting, anxiety-inducing, and all of the above). Here’s your step-by-step guide for how to get a job.

Decide What Kind of Job You Want

To know how to get a job, you first need to decide what kind of job you’d like. For example, are you interested in a technical field like software engineering or do you want to flex your writing skills? Is there a specific company you want to work for? Half of how to get a job is knowing what job you want to do — you’ll be more targeted in how you approach your search and applications.

1. Investigate Your Interests

Start by asking yourself questions about what work you might be interested in. Go beyond your dream daily responsibilities and investigate who you want to work with, your values, and your career ideas. Consider:

• What subjects am I naturally drawn to? 
• What subjects am I good at?
• What are my passions?
• What are my values? Are there specific missions I genuinely care about?
• Who do I want to work for? Who do I want to work with?
• Where do I want to be in the next two years?

If those questions feel overwhelming, a career quiz can be a good place to start. Check out our career quizzes that ask light (dare we say fun?) questions about your interests, strengths, and goals that point you in potential career directions.

>>MORE: Explore what a day in the life is like working in different career paths with Forage’s virtual experience programs — and build the skills you need to be job-ready along the way.

2. Consider the Logistics

Now that you understand what kind of responsibilities or type of work you want to do, consider the logistics of the role you want.

Matthew Warzel, certified professional resume writer and former Fortune 500 recruiter, says, says important logistics include:

• Time
• Money
• Benefits 
• Location
• Product offerings
• Company culture
• Image
• Values
• Progressive versus traditional setting
• Remote versus on-location
• Passion project opportunities

>>MORE: The Best Cities for High-Paying Entry-Level Jobs

Considering these logistics will help you narrow down your search. For example, you can filter in specific locations if you know you’d be willing to relocate or filter out companies that don’t offer certain benefits. Or, if you are aiming for a particular salary (that matches industry standards and your experience), you can filter job boards for that salary band.

3. Conduct Informational interviews

One of the best ways to learn about potential job options and career paths is to talk to people who do work that interests you. 

“Don’t be shy about asking family, friends, acquaintances or LinkedIn connections for career advice,” Annalise Pike, senior product manager at Forage, says. “People who have been in their careers for a few years are often keen to share both their advice and their networks.”

To set up and succeed in these interviews, Pike recommends:

• Asking for a few 25-minute Zoom calls or coffee chats with people in the role or industry you’re interested in
• Preparing for every conversation as if it’s an interview
• Thinking of at least eight varied questions in advance, such as what their experience in their role has been like or if they would have done anything differently in their career
• Ending the conversation by asking if they know anyone else you should connect with 

>>MORE: Learn more about informational interviews and how to prepare and make the most of them.

Find Opportunities

Now you know what kind of jobs you might want to apply for — congratulations! That’s a hard first step. Now, it’s time to find opportunities that align with your interests.

“Cast a wide net,” Jamie Levin, communications consultant, says. “In addition to identifying companies you would love to work for, expand your search by setting up alerts for your focus areas.”

Yet Levin warns that while you explore many opportunities, you shouldn’t overextend your reach. “It’s important to be extremely mindful when setting up alerts as too many can become overwhelming,” she says. “Be realistic when setting up your profile and outlining your experience.”

4. Get Savvy With Your Searching

It’s not just LinkedIn — multiple websites share job openings:

• General job board sites: Sites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, Monster, ZipRecruiter, and even Google pull in opportunities from thousands of companies. 
• Niche job boards: These are sites for certain identity groups, career paths, and even types of jobs, like flexible jobs or internship opportunities. (Check out The 85 Best Job Search Sites and Apps.)
• Company websites: Many companies have “careers” pages to share their open roles. Sometimes, you can create an account with the company to enter its talent pool and get notified about positions that match your skill set.
• Professional networking organizations: Some career-specific networking organizations will highlight jobs in the field, like 100 Women in Finance or Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

5. Network, Network, Network

Again? Yes — networking comes in handy during multiple stages of the job search process.

“Today, more people are securing positions based on who they know versus the traditional applicant tracking system and/or submission of a resume,” Daphne Ursu, SHRM-CP PHR, and senior director of human resources for Good Karma Brands says. “Work your network and ask others that you have a relationship with to introduce you to hiring managers and company representatives. Networking is key when you are seeking a new role. Get on LinkedIn and connect with others that work either in your dream role or at your dream company.”

A few top tips to keep in mind while networking:

• Be curious, not demanding: Although networking is a good way to land a job, you shouldn’t necessarily outright ask for one. Instead, focus on getting more information about the person, the role, and company. 
• Be intentional: Networking is important, but you don’t need to network for the sake of networking. It’s better to have a few quality connections than a bunch of not-so-great ones.
• Attend events: Events are a great hack to make networking a bit easier and less awkward. Keep an eye out for on-campus recruiting events or industry-specific events in your area. These are a great way to get conversations started without having to send cold invitations.

>>MORE: What Is Virtual Networking?

Let Opportunities Find You

When the job search feels tough, it may feel hard to believe that people might search you out. But it’s true!  Recruiters often use platforms like LinkedIn to find candidates with the right experience. For example, adding skills to your LinkedIn profile is a great way to attract attention from recruiters looking for candidates with those skills. So make sure you’re searchable and attractive to recruiters by updating your LinkedIn. 

Prepare Your Application

Now you know what type of job you’re looking for and have sourced some opportunities you want to apply for. Here’s how to make the most of your application.

6. Create a Thoughtful Resume

Resumes are a way for employers to learn what skills and experience you have and how it’s relevant to what they’re looking for. 

“Never lie on your resume, but also don’t undersell yourself,” Elisa Pineda, talent acquisition and workforce development specialist says. “Talk about relatable projects, internships, and experiences you did. Write professionally but also do not lose your voice. A lot of employers are trying to figure out your writing skills and style, and trying to determine your voice from a resume — because often that is all they have — so don’t lose yourself.”

Generally, you’ll need to customize your resume to each job application, as every company is looking for different skills, values, and experiences. One way to make this easier is to create one “master resume” that includes all of your experiences, skills, certifications, etc. That way when you’re applying, you can select the most relevant qualifications and put it into a new, customized resume.

>>MORE: Everything you need to know about writing a resume, from resume type to formatting and what to include.

7. Write a Professional Cover Letter

Not every application requires a cover letter, but if there’s a space to submit one, the general advice is to write one.

While writing cover letters can be a pain (and you may be tempted to have ChatGPT write it for you), consider this an extra opportunity to expand on what you’ve done to show why you’re right for the role.

>>MORE: How to Write an Entry-Level Cover Letter (Example)

8. Reach Out to the Recruiter or Hiring Manager

Contacting the recruiter while applying can further demonstrate your interest in the role. You can use LinkedIn to find and reach out to the recruiter to introduce yourself, share why you’re qualified, and ask to speak with them. Even if you don’t land that specific role, the connection may prove helpful in your job search down the line.

Nail the Interview

You’ve submitted your application and scored an interview. Nice! Here’s how to make sure you give it your best.

9. Do Your Research

“I always tell my early career clients to gain confidence by researching the role, and investigating the industry, major players, products, offering, and services, and news,” Warzel says. “Learn the terminology and respective process impact in this new role. Understand the function your new role would play in the entire operations. Why is there an opening? What pain points do the hiring managers have because of the opening?”

This information can help you shape your interview answers. For example, if you know they’re hiring for this role because they need someone with unique writing skills, you can talk about your writing experience and how that will impact their organization.

Your research doesn’t have to be limited to the company — you can also look into who you’ll meet with. 

“Check out their LinkedIn profile: where did they go to university? What kinds of posts do they write or comment on? What and who are they following that you might have in common?” Pike, says. “This is a great way to show interest in your interviewer, and show you have thought about something to connect with them on. Especially if you don’t have a lot of professional experience to speak to, your ability to show you can hold a conversation will go a long way.”

10. Practice Your Answers

Practice might not always make for a perfect interview, but it can help you feel more confident and prepared. 

“Get your stories down,” Warzel advises. “Your narratives are vital and not only for the job but for your pay rate! Pay attention to the industry, competitors, the company’s news, and the open role within the industry. The more knowledge and understanding of the value you present, stories to share of your accomplishments, and understanding of the role and company, the more confidence.”

>>MORE: Need help figuring out where to start? Look through our interview prep articles to read everything from common behavioral interview questions to the STAR method and career-specific interview advice.

Once you know what you want to say, practice saying it out loud as you would in the interview.

“Record yourself answering practice questions using Google Meet or Zoom,” Pike says. “This will mean your responses will come across as polished by the time you need to submit your HireVue recording or attend a live virtual or in-person 1:1 interview with a hiring manager. You definitely don’t want that initial interview to be the first time you’ve rehearsed your written responses out loud. When you’ve practiced sufficiently, in advance, you’ll naturally come across as more confident and relaxed.”

Brush Up on Your Technical Skills

Practicing your answers goes for technical roles, too. For example, if you’re applying for a software engineering role, you’ll want to practice both your programming skills and your knowledge of common software engineering technical concepts. 

11. Ask the Right Questions

The cliché is true: interviews really are a two-way street. What questions you ask during an interview don’t just reflect on you but also can give you a better understanding of the company and whether you’ll actually want the job, if you get it. Recruiters can be especially helpful with more logistical questions about benefits and company culture.

“Keep in mind that the recruiter is there to help you, guide you, and advocate for you!” Daniela Herrera, director of recruitment operations and ED&I at R/GA, says. “Feel free to ask them about the rest of the process, the interviewers you’ll meet with, the company culture, and your potential new team and manager. Recruiters will also be there to guide you through the offer process and will be able to answer your questions about company benefits, perks, and policies.”

Navigate Rejection

Unless you’re lucky, it’s unfortunately likely that your job search process will come with some rejection. That’s okay, and it’s important to remember it’s not a reflection of who you are.

After a rejection, you should try to do three things:

• Don’t blame yourself. There are so many reasons why a company might send you a job rejection. It may not be the right time, the hiring manager found someone with a different skill set, or maybe the company filled the role internally. Don’t assume it’s all on you.
• Learn from the experience. What’s in your control that could have gone differently? Could you have done more research or coding practice? Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer for feedback.
• Move on: Rejection happens, and while you should acknowledge any painful feelings, try not to sit on them for too long. More opportunities are coming your way!

Accept Your Offer

You did it! You found a job you’re excited about, applied, nailed the interview, and have landed an offer. Congratulations — this is a huge accomplishment, and you should be proud.

First, take the time to review the offer. You might get a verbal offer first, which is when the recruiter or hiring manager tells you you got the job. Express your enthusiasm and gratitude, then ask when you can expect the written offer. The written offer should include all the essential details about the job, including salary, benefits, work location, and start date.

Once you’re sure all the details align with what you’re looking for, you can accept the offer!

>>MORE: Learn how to accept a job offer, including how long you should take to accept, how to negotiate, and an email template to send.

What happens if you have an offer but realize it’s not the job you want? That’s fine, too. It’s okay to decline a job offer if it’s not what you want. First, decline quickly and gracefully. Then, return to the drawing board to get an offer you really love the next time around. (Learn how to decline a job offer.)

How to Get a Job: The Bottom Line

There’s no sugarcoating it: getting your first job isn’t easy, and the process can be long, exhausting, and even scary. But by practicing diligence with each step of the process, you can put yourself in the best position to get hired — and accept an offer you’re genuinely excited about.

Ready to jumpstart your job search? Check out Forage’s job simulations, which help you build skills and experience you can add to your applications — making you stand out and 3.3x more likely to land the role.

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