Out of the hundreds, employers will select only a handful of candidates to move on to the next level.

If your job search is not moving on to the next level, there are a few things you can evaluate.

Your cover letter is the first an employer looks at, even before a resume. It’s your best chance at making a good impression. If you aren’t receiving any calls, it’s time to revise the cover letter. Even if you don’t have a lot of experience, this is your opportunity to shine.

The cover letter should be no longer than two to three paragraphs and should outline why you want the job, why you’d be great at the job, and a summary of your years of experience. It may be that your cover letter isn’t long enough or doesn’t divulge enough information. After revising your cover letter, do a Google search for resume templates and upload some new ones, free of formatting. It’s always a good idea to change up your resume if you haven’t received any responses during your job search. Make sure all the appropriate key words related to your job are found in your resume. After revising both the cover letter and resume, take a second look at your job search approach. Are your applying to several different jobs a day? Are you looking at other industries? Are you willing to change your salary requirements or possibly look at relocation?

It’s important to remain flexible during your job search. You may need to consider things you previously would not have thought possible. For example if you are applying for nursing jobs in Raleigh, North Carolina, but you haven’t gotten any interviews, it may be time to look at other cities. If your job search is discouraging you, it may be time to give yourself a break. Take a couple days off to think about why this is the career you chose and remind yourself that you’ll get there soon.

Volunteering is a great way to keep your resume updated and yourself motivated. There are usually dozens of non-profit organizations that could use a helping hand. Whether you like working with animals or you enjoy assisting the elderly, there is something available for you. Employers think highly of volunteer experience. If after several weeks you still are not receiving any phone calls, it may be time to think about furthering your education. Are there any classes you can take or certifications that will improve your appeal to employers? Check your local employment office or university for details. The town community center or library are other places that may offer job search assistance.

Friends and former colleagues are two more resources that can be useful during your job search. Ask your former colleagues for job search recommendations, advice, and direction. At one point in their life they were in your shoes. Many people are willing to help. Social media and the Internet can be useful for job search support. There are many online forums that will help you with interview tips, dress code suggestions, and application tips. Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter all offer great job search tools to guide you along the way. The Internet provides a wealth of information to keep you on track.

Online Job Search Websites

There are a number of different kinds of job search websites that you will find online, from those that let you list your resume for free, to those that charge you for having them shop your resume around. The type of website you use to get a job will likely depend on the field you are working in, how high up the corporate ladder you expect to be, and whether or not the career or job you are seeking is industry driven.

How Are People Finding Jobs?

It is currently estimated that one in 10 people will find their next job online. That could be because they are looking through job search websites such as Monster.com or Craigslist.com, or because they find an opening on a company’s website. Although that is a remarkably high percentage, it is even more important to understand that nine in 10 people don’t find their job online, so you can’t avoid increasing your network.

Most people who are looking for mid-range (approximately $50,000 per year) jobs tend to spend more than half their time looking for jobs and applying for them. While this is something that is relatively easy to do, job search websites are often out of date and the jobs you are applying for may have been filled a long time ago. There are indeed better ways to utilize your time if you are willing to put a little more work into your job search.

How Else Can You Find a Job?

In addition to using job search websites, you should also spend more of your time networking with people who could find you a job. You can do this by using a service such as Facebook, LinkedIn, or some of the other social media networks. This often requires a little more work, but the quality of job leads that you will get from contacts is almost always much better than applying for a simple listing for a job that you see online.

Improve Your Chances?

Did you know that four out of five employers will do a search for you online when they are going through the application process? Employers find this to be an easy way to weed out people who have clear issues, so it is a good time to look through your own Google results. Feel free to Google your own name and see what comes up. If it is a lot of negative or suspect information, then you might want to spend some time cleaning up your online reputation before you hit the job search websites.