How to Find a Job for Your Skills and Experience

When it comes to applying for jobs, think quality over quantity. Sure, it's tempting to send out dozens of job applications in hopes of getting one or two interviews, but generic resumes and cover letters won't help you get the job you'll love. The tips below will help you conduct a focused, strategic job search so you can concentrate your efforts on the jobs that are a good fit for you.

Identify your likes and dislikes: There are jobs where you'll be eager to jump out of bed every morning, and there are other jobs where you'll simply be watching the clock and collecting a paycheck. Identify the career experiences you've been most excited about: Which were the most fulfilling projects' What do your career successes tell you about your work passions?

Also think about the areas in which you want to grow. For example, if you have strong Excel skills but want to learn more about financial modeling, look into jobs where you'll have the chance to take on such projects. Or, if you felt your past roles didn't involve as much creativity as you'd like, look for companies with a culture of creativity.

Determine your strengths: While it's important to identify what you want in your next job it's even more important to think about what you have to offer a potential employer. What are the skills that you've mastered so well you could teach them to others? What are the most unique career experiences you've had and how have they made you a more valuable hire?

This strengths analysis is especially important if you're planning on making a career change because you'll need to identify transferable strengths. If you're not sure what skills are most valued for the job, industry, or company you're pursuing, join relevant LinkedIn groups and ask other members for advice.

Create a strong LinkedIn profile and resume: Once you have a short list of the jobs or companies that you'd most like to pursue, edit your LinkedIn profile to highlight the skills and experience that match your ideal job. For example, if you've determined that event planning is what you really enjoy and do well, rewrite your LinkedIn profile summary to reflect these skills.

Also make sure your LinkedIn profile is 100% complete and includes all the information listed on your resume and more. This will increase the accuracy of the jobs recommended to you via the “Jobs You May Be Interested In” feature, and recruiters can easily assess your capabilities and fit for open roles.

Create a job search keyword list: Based on what you've figured out about the jobs you want, make a list of search keywords that relate to your goals. For instance, keywords “event planning”, “travel”, and “healthcare” will help you hone in on jobs related to event planning in the medical field, with a lot of business travel.

You can then use these keywords when searching LinkedIn Jobs, and then narrow your results with provided filters like region and experience level. You can also search for jobs by title, if you know the exact role you want.

Remember to check out the “ You May Be Interested In” feature (you'll find it on the right-hand side of your LinkedIn homepage after you sign in). These are recently posted jobs that may be appropriate for you based on experience listed in your profile. You can also opt to have these recommended jobs emailed to you on a daily or weekly basis.

Build your job search around companies: You've probably come across a few “ companies” that offer the right combination of career challenges and ideal workplace environment. Follow them on LinkedIn, and join company-related groups so you don?t miss out on news about hiring efforts.