How to Find and Get a Job Fast? 8 Tips From an HR Expert

"How to find a new job fast?"

First, I'll let you in on a secret: Most people at Kickresume got their jobs thanks to their friends (aka referral).

So, if you're asking what's the easiest way to find a job, it's definitely through your contacts. Chances are you already know someone who knows someone who's looking for a new colleague.

But of course, there are also other efficient ways that can help you speed up your job search.

Our in-house HR expert and former recruiter Christy Morgan shared her 8 best tips on how to find a job quickly (and we've included a few more hints for each step).

Best ways to find a job fast

There are many different ways to find a job, from approaching companies directly with a personalized messages to leveraging LinkedIn job search features. Let's have a closer look at each one of them!

#1 Get in touch with people in your network

“Potential employers value recommendations from people they trust. If you’re on LinkedIn, go through your connections and identify people who work at a company you’d be interested in. Friends, family, former colleagues, and acquaintances may also be able to connect you. Rather than blanket-approach everyone with a generic message, go through your contacts list and narrow it down. Then, compose a personalized message to each to explain that you’re currently seeking new opportunities and that you’re very interested in Company X. Does the company have an HR department or internal referral scheme that your contact would be willing to submit your resume to? While you'll understand if they're unable to assist you, you'd be delighted with any support.”

You can also simply tell everyone you know that you're in the job market (no reason to be embarrassed to do that). Just put out a post letting your network know that you're looking for a job and they might be able to steer you in the direction of some jobs. This is probably the fastest way to find a job.

#2 Approach companies directly

“It’s a little-known fact that many jobs aren’t advertised. For that reason, it’s always worth applying directly to a company if you're particularly interested in working for them. Firstly, identify the HR Manager or relevant department head (check out their website, LinkedIn, or call Reception to find out). Then, write a personalized message to explain what type of work you’re looking for and why you’re interested in that company specifically (e.g. do you enjoy using their products? Do they work in a field or with clients that really excite you?). If you don’t hear back within 7 days, follow up with a polite phone call.”

Ideally, make a list of 5–10 companies that you'd like to work for and find out how you can contact them. When approaching them, apart from sending a personalized message, don't forget to attach a tailored resume and cover letter.

#3 Take advantage of your University Career Center

“If you’re a recent graduate (or even if you graduated in the past few years), your university career center may be able to assist you. From connecting you with industry contacts to connecting you with internships, job fairs, career coaching, resume services, or job opportunities, career centers can be a fantastic resource. Similar to the personal connection point above, potential employers value pre-vetted applicants who are familiar to institutions they trust.”

You can also look for a mentor or someone with experience in the given field and approach them. Most of them should be willing to spare some time and offer you guidance. And if you have this option, search for an internship first. Having interned at a company enhances your application and if you do well at the company during your internship, it can open various doors for you.

#4 Register with a recruitment consultancy or staffing agency

“There are zillions of consultancies and agencies out there, many specializing in specific industries or job types. Consultancies typically deal with permanent jobs or long-term contracts, while staffing agencies tend to focus on high-volume temporary or contract opportunities (many offer both). Search online for consultancies/agencies in your area. If possible, identify the specific recruiter by checking out the company’s website or LinkedIn page (or call Reception). Their website will often indicate the preferred way to submit an application (e.g. web, email). These companies also list current opportunities in the ‘Jobs’ section of their website.”

Plus, a good agency will give you feedback on your resume, help you prepare for your job interview and guide you through the whole job search process. Moreover, it shouldn't cost you a dime (employers usually pay fees to the agency which means that they shouldn't charge you directly). But make sure to check their reviews and fees in advance.

#5 Consider remote work

“Thanks in a large part to the recent global pandemic, remote opportunities have become hugely popular. Not only that, but these types of roles enable you to work for companies all over the country, or even the world, all without leaving home. Companies love remote employees because this arrangement cuts down on the costs associated with having employees in the office, while enabling them to tap into a much broader talent pool.”

And in case you need a job ASAP, you can also consider taking on a temporary gig, remote work, or flexible schedules. Being open to other types of flexibility can lead to job openings you might not be able to find otherwise.

Related: How to Find Remote Jobs Online

#6 Use LinkedIn job search features

“If you’re on LinkedIn, there are several features you can take advantage of to find work:

‘Open to Work’ — This feature places an ‘open to work’ banner around your profile pic, making it immediately clear to potential employers that you’re available.
Job Alerts — Set up daily or weekly alerts via SMS or email to let you know when specific job titles are posted in locations you’re interested in.
Career Interests dashboard — This enables you to list up to 5 ideal job titles and 5 ideal locations, as well as specify job types (e.g. full-time, remote). This helps to ensure that you’re contacted by recruiters for roles that you’d likely be interested in.
Contacts — See #1 regarding getting in touch with connections.
Easy Apply — A huge number of companies post their jobs on LinkedIn, enabling you to easily apply using only your LinkedIn profile (or a LinkedIn-generated version of your resume).”

Of course, make sure your LinkedIn profile is top-notch so you're able to impress. The basics include having a professional photo, great summary, detailed career history, relevant hard skills and other things like certifications, volunteer jobs, recommendations, projects, or samples of your work. Make sure it’s up to date, relevant, and rich with keywords.

#7 Search job boards

“Many companies post on job websites, ranging from global sites such as Indeed and Monster through to country-specific (e.g. Profesia.sk) to local (e.g. Craiglist or a local classifieds site). These can be filtered by location, job title, job type (e.g. full-time). Many also enable you to upload your resume, which means that potential employers can get in touch with you when they’re searching for people with your skill set.”

Some job boards even allow you to filter job search ads by places that hire quickly, for instance Indeed or Snagajob. Also, don't forget to set up job alerts for your filtered search queues so you receive relevant opportunities right in your inbox. This can save you a lot of time that you'd otherwise spend scrolling through the same bunch of listings each day.

“Many communities use Facebook groups to post ads, particularly smaller companies which may not have a large advertising budget. Type in your location and ‘jobs’ in Facebook and see what comes up. Some of these groups are private, which means you have to join first, while others are open to the public. For example, typing ‘Melbourne’ and ‘Jobs’ results in dozens of jobs pages.”

The same applies to Instagram. You can look for open jobs using hashtags like #remotejobs #jobs #marketingjob and so on. This is a great way to discover companies and jobs you weren’t aware of before. However, if you decide to approach companies directly via social media, make sure your profile looks professional and doesn't contain any content that could harm your chances of getting a job.

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Table of Contents

Easiest places to get hired

Easiest places to get hired

If you find yourself in a situation where you really need to get a job ASAP, you may also consider finding an easy temporary job to supplement your income.

Fast-hiring jobs are mostly located in the food business, retail and hospitality fields:

Fast food restaurants: McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Taco Bell, all Pizza places
Coffee shops: Starbucks, Costa, Greggs, Caffé Nero
Retail stores: Target, Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, Costco
Gas stations: Shell, Speedway, Maverik, Rutter's
Seasonal jobs: fruit/vegetable picking, lawn care, gift wrapper

All of these are mostly easier to get into because of the lower pay. But it can still help you manage your expenses and fill an employment gap while searching for a permanent position.

Key takeaways: How to find and get a job fast

There's no single best way to find a job. But following tips can help you get hired fast:

Get in touch with people in your network and don't be ashamed to ask for help.
Approach companies directly with a personalised message and tailored resume and cover letter.
As a student or recent graduate, ask your University Career Centre for assistance.
Register with a recruitment consultancy or staffing agency.
Consider remote work and other flexible options.
Use LinkedIn job search features such as “Open to work”, job alerts, Career Interests dashboard, or Easy Apply.
Search job boards, use advanced searches, filter fast hiring jobs and set up job alerts.
Utilize other social media like Facebook or Instagram where you can find job posts groups or recent job ads from companies.

Finally, don't forget to:

perfect your resume and cover letter
practice job interviewing (for virtual job interviews too)
track your job applications and follow up.

About Christy Morgan
Christy Morgan has over two decades of experience working within international recruitment, HR, and candidate support. She began her career at Hudson, joining as a Team Coordinator in Australia before working her way up to senior management in Ireland and Ukraine as Operations Manager. She also spent 7 years in Canada, where she worked as a Candidate Support Consultant and External HR Advisor. Now based in Slovakia, Christy assists clients all over the world with resumes, CVs, cover letters, corporate bios, LinkedIn, and interview coaching. She is also Kickresume’s Resident HR Expert.

Geared up to job hunt at lightning speed with our HR expert's tips? Awesome! Why not pour some more fuel on that fire? Transform your LinkedIn profile into a dynamic, top-tier resume with our user-friendly tool.

Nikoleta Kuhejda
Content Manager & Resume Expert
A journalist by trade, a writer by fate. Nikoleta went from writing for media outlets to exploring the world of content creation with Kickresume and helping people get closer to the job of their dreams. Her insights and career guides have been published by The Female Lead, College Recruiter, and ISIC, among others. Nikoleta holds a Master's degree in Journalism from the Comenius University in Bratislava. When she’s not writing or (enthusiastically) pestering people with questions, you can find her traveling or sipping on a cup of coffee.

How to Find and Get a Job Fast? 8 Proven Tips From an HR Expert

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