Finding permanent work isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. But don’t let that intimidate you! Start with familiarizing yourself with career websites and job boards. This gives you insight into who’s hiring and what type of candidates they’re looking to hire.

Once you locate positions that you’re interested in, create a strategy for how you’ll start the application process. That strategy could begin with making sure your resume is relevant and that you’re seeking to make digital connections with industry leaders.

Here are a few tips that may help you impress and connect with influential people working in your industry during the job hunt.

Three Ways to Find Permanent Work

Customize Your Resume

The first step in finding a permanent work is applying for jobs. Tailoring your resume for each job you’re applying for can help you to stand out from the competition. That means highlighting on your resume the experience and skills that you have which are specific to the position. As well, adding keywords that are used in the job posting is a great way to increase your chance of getting noticed.

When applying for jobs, you can also look to see if the hiring manager is listed in the job posting. Often, jobs posted on LinkedIn show the person who either made the posting or is the hiring manager. Contacting this person directly is another way to make yourself more visible as a candidate.

Connect on Social Media

Often getting a job isn’t only about what you know, but it’s also about who you know. Professional networking can give you an advantage when trying to land that dream job. LinkedIn is a super tool to use when networking with individuals in your target industry.

To start, follow the LinkedIn profiles of companies that you’re interested in working for, then identify people working at those companies. You can search employee profiles for insight into which industry-related groups they’re a part of and connect with those groups.

Make sure to follow the companies on all the social media platforms they’re using, including Facebook and Twitter. Like their posts and even leave comments from time to time. The whole point of social media is for businesses to engage the public — so let those businesses know you’re engaged.

Connect with Recruiters

And lastly, because many companies use recruiting agencies to find job applicants, building relationships with head hunters and hiring agencies can also increase your odds of getting noticed by hiring managers.