Four steps to simplifying your job search

Four steps to simplifying your job searchFour steps to simplifying your job searchWhen youre looking for work, you have enough to worry about. Dont make your job hunt more complicated than it needs to be- follow these four steps to start simplifying your job search.1. Customize, but use a templateOne of the cardinal sins of job hunting is using the exact same cover letter and application materials for every position rather than tailoring your language and messaging to each company or gig. That said, you dont need to completely reinvent the wheel every time you apply for an opportunity. A best practice is to use atemplated cover letter- meaning one that youve written with key phrases that will be applicable to fruchtwein applications- but then customize it as needed for each specific employer.As an example, you might write a cover letter with boilerplate material about some of your past positions, since those will generally stay the same regardless of which type of job you apply to. W hile keeping this info static, youd then be free to modify information as needed for theintroductory paragraphthat explains why youre interested in the specific company and position. You might also end up changing your boilerplate material as needed, such as when you need to emphasize certain duties you had in the past that are especially relevant for a particular industry or role.2. Routinize your search processIf you begin each day of your job search with a blank slate on how youll approach your online search, you can waste a lot of time just figuring out how to get started and where to look. Instead, at the start of your search, carve out an hour or two to identify the most useful job sites for the types of roles or freelance jobs that youd like to land.FlexJobsis excellent for daily visits if youre prioritizing finding flexible work, or you might put industry-specific sites on your daily troll list- like MediaBistro.com or JournalismJobs.com if youre looking for writing, editing , or PR work.3. Make your materials consistentHaving your various job search materials (resume, LinkedIn profile, online bios, etc.) containing different information can be confusing to befhigung employers. For example, if your LinkedIn profile shows you working at additional companies that arent listed on your resume, or gives different percentages than you have on an application that you just emailed to a recruiter, it can be confusing and off-putting to those reviewing your credentials.Dont assume that if you send someone your resume, thats all they will look at- its standard practice for hiring managers and employers to verify facts andresearch candidates online. So it pays to take time to standardize the information in all of the materials that youll be using as part of your job hunt, even if it takes a little more time and money to do this.4. Keep your filesAnother way to avoid reinventing the wheel is to keep accurate records of your various job applications - even the ones that dont net you a job. It may be tempting to delete your files when you find out that someone else was given the position, but you can save yourself some legwork by revisiting your previous materials, cutting and pasting language from them as needed for similar applications.Its a full-time job looking for work, but the process doesnt have to give you extra headaches and hassles that can be avoided with some smart simplification steps. Be diligent and intentional about your job search materials and process, and you can save time that you can use to make yourjob hunt much more effective.Robin Madellhas spent over two decades as a corporate writer, journalist, and communications consultant on business, leadership, career, health, finance, technology, and public-interest issues.This column was originally published on FlexJobs.com.