8 interesting facts you didn't know about your job search

8 interesting facts you didn't know about your job search

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Searching for a job can be a full-time gig, and even after putting in many hours, you may find yourself back at square one—again. Even if you are the most qualified, recruiters have hundreds of resumes to sift through. While all of this can be frustrating and discouraging, being aware of a few things can help.

Here are eight interesting facts you didn't know about your job search:

1. Recruiters spend an average of six seconds looking at your resume. So if you were hoping they'd see you're an expert recorder player, you can pretty much forget about it — even though we all know playing the recorder is way underrated.

2. Only 20 percent of applicants get an interview, according to Interview Success Formula, which means making your resume stand out is crucial. Business Insider says recruiters will look at your name, education, current position and start and end dates, as well as your previous position and start and end dates, but not much else. Make sure you focus on these key components of your resume and not on the fact that you worked at a panda sanctuary for a year — unless, of course, that is one of the job requirements.

3. You have about 40 minutes to make a good impression during your interview. If this terrifies you, try practicing the interview process with someone (other than your mom) or read a few tips on how to up your game and make every minute count.

4. Ninety-three percent of managers will view a job candidate's social media profile and 55 percent will negatively reconsider after, according to Time. So clean up your social media profiles and delete any status updates, tweets, pictures, Facebook notes, etc., that could be, for lack of better words, incriminating.

8 interesting facts you didn't know about your job search

5. Sixty-six percent of job recruiters hold bad spelling and grammar against you. So at the very least, make sure to always proofread your resume and cover letter. Maybe even get a second set of eyes on it to make sure you're not missing anything. Another good idea is to edit out all your "BFF 4 lyfe" and "lolz i luv catz" Facebook posts. And if you were still talking like that in the last few years or so, maybe it's a little too soon to be applying for a "grown-up" job anyway.

6. If you don't negotiate your salary, it could cost you up to $500,000 by the time you're 60 years old. You could buy a boat with that much money, and a car and a trip to Tahiti for your whole family. You could also buy a house or, you know, donate it to charity. If you are unsure of how to best approach the negotiating process, do a little research beforehand or ask a trusted mentor for advice.

7. Eighty percent of jobs are never posted online but are instead found through networking. The job postings you look through each day represent a fraction of what's actually out there. Clinical psychologist Dr. Meg Jay says that some of life's best opportunities come from our "weak ties" and those contacts that lie beyond our comfort zone. Go ahead and contact your uncle's friend's brother who has that one job you've always dreamed of. It could land you the opportunity of a lifetime.

8 interesting facts you didn't know about your job search

8. Ninety-four percent of recruiters use LinkedIn to sift through candidates. If you don't have a profile or if it's been years since you've updated it, you could be hurting your chances at getting a job. Present your most marketable skill at the top, pushing down high school experience (or even removing that altogether if it's entirely irrelevant). Optimize your LinkedIn to attract recruiters from relevant industries.

You may apply for jobs and be rejected several times. However, by being aware of the facts and becoming a little more strategic in how you go about your search, you can increase your chances and, hopefully, get one step closer to achieving your career goals. Start looking for jobs today and apply these lessons learned.

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