Introduction

The competition in jobs has never been stiff, and as more people hop from one company to the other, getting the employer’s attention is critical. Since millions of people are leaving, changing, or reconsidering their career choice, beginning a job search can be daunting. But building the right tools ahead can level you to the competitors, designing the best and distinguishing resumes and cover letters, as well as in networking methods, and better administration of applications. In this article, we will explore some of the best unknown free tools that exist today for your job search and how to leverage them for the right impression.

1. Crafting an Impressive Resume

It is excellent to develop a beautiful and eye-catching resume since it will attract the attention of the recruiter. Another useful free of charge tool that provides various templates for making a perfect resume is Canva.

•                 Templates for Every Style: Resume samples you can choose from Canva include simple resume templates and fun resume templates that are more eye-popping. The flexibility provided with the help of online presence gives the freedom to select a style that is appropriate both for the selected field and the personality of the applicant.

•                 User-Friendly Interface: There are no design skills required here; the basic customization of sections, font choices, and colours are made easy by the design’s drag-and-drop function.

•                  Extra Features: Canva also allows you to prepare matching cover letters and portfolios and ensures your overall professionalism and consistency in type.

While the free version of Canva allows for plenty of customization to create an attractive and professional resume, the add-ons included with the purchase of the more advanced version give even more versatile options and unique templates.

2. Ensuring Your Resume is ATS-Friendly

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) on the other hand is a system used by employers to filter the documents that candidates submit when applying for a certain job in preparation for the time when a recruiter first looks at all the submissions. ATS software is used by the hiring managers and recruiters to sort out resumes of candidates for a particular job and Jobscan is the right tool to make sure your resume gets through that software.

•                 Resume Optimization: Jobscan enables you to input source resume(s) and the job listing to see how suitable your resume matches the position. Some of them literally offer keyword suggestions to make it to the list and so you’d be on the right side, making your chances of being seen by recruiters a reality.

•                  Real-Time Feedback: In case of resume analysis, Jobscan outlines areas of compliance, missing keywords, proper formatting and whether the resume is too long or too short.

•                  Industry-Specific Guidance: Jobscan also tries to give you feedback according to your industry which makes you aware of the proper tone in your keywords and phrases.

The benefits of using Jobscan are rather obvious because it increases your likelihood of passing through the initial Applicant Tracking System (ATS) scan.

3. Writing of Cover Letters

It can be difficult to write a good cover letter, especially when one doesn’t know where to start; Zety eases the process due to its easy design and template options.

•                 Guided Writing Process: With the help of Zety, the cover letter writing process is broken down into simple steps and it would be extremely easy to incorporate certain details and run focus on the strengths.

•                 Professional Templates: Zety offers cover letter templates prepared by HR professionals so that your letter has the right look.

•                  Personalization Options: As you can see, each type of cover letter lets you specify additional details, making sure the cover letter echoes the job, you are applying for with a hint of your character.

The structure of cover letters with Zety guarantees you create professional and relevant letters that will capture the employers’ attention.

4. Building Your Personal Brand

LinkedIn is a go-to site for job search and is more than just a site that provides job openings. I clove it as a place that allows creating a platform for branding yourself, meeting people from the field, and advertising your skills and achievements.

•                  Profile Optimization: LinkedIn lets users to showcase their experiences, skills and any endorsements they get. Still, if one’s profile is filled and optimized to its maximum, employers, and recruiters who are looking for qualified candidates in the field will likely navigate to the profile.

•                 Networking Opportunities: LinkedIn offers ways to link with past co-workers, join groups, and inMail selected professionals, thus growing your network of contacts.

•                 Job Alerts and Easy Apply: LinkedIn offers a variety of jobs for its users and many of the jobs that are listed you can apply for via LinkedIn profile eliminating a number of steps in the process.

By virtue of the various features available in its platform, LinkedIn offers you this advantage to meet your would-be employers, and at the same time, stay abreast with the latest trends in the job market.

5. Tracking Applications

Managing a job search can be a real challenge these days, all the more so if you apply for several vacancies at the same time. Trello is a freely available project management application that allows you to organize your job search process and keep abreast of your applications at various stages.

•                 Customizable Boards: When working with Trello, applications are represented by boards, lists, and card. To organize this, you can create categories such as “Applied,” “Interviewing,” and “Follow-Up” to inform you where you are with any job.

•                  Reminders and Due Dates: One can keep track of deadlines that are associated with applications and follow up by extending due date and reminder options on each card.

•                 Attachment Capabilities: When searching for a job, each application involves sending in resumes and sometimes cover letters: all this is well maintained in the Trello as it can attach all the documents into one application.

Following your applications on Trello can help decrease stress because you always know when to follow up or finish an application.

6. Perfecting Your Interview Skills

Some of the worst experiences one can think of as a candidate are waiting for an interview, especially when there’s no clue about results, but Big Interview helps organize your preparation and enhance your answers.

•                  Mock Interviews: Big Interview features practice interviews by sample industry and occupation, which helps preparing for the real interview by practising answers to typical questions.

•                 Video Recording and Analysis: We are able to record the answers while we are giving them, listen to them, and then review the results and see what we got wrong.

•                 Interview Training Courses: Big Interview also offers courses in every aspect of the interview from the tactics to use when speaking to how to sit, stand, walk based on the stage of the interview, and even even how to tell your story effectively.

This means that with Big Interview, you can be confident, practice on your answers and make ultimate preparation for any question as you face them.

7. Developing In-Demand Skills

The process of skills upgrading has become paramount in the current world economy, which is characterized by high flux. It has the most enticing learning models compared to most online learning platforms – Coursera gives you an opportunity to acquire some new skills from well-known institutions for free which, in turn, can look very appealing to employers.

•                 Wide Range of Subjects: Whether pursuing data science, marketing, or project management, Coursera is here with lessons that will help you acquire skills within your field.

•                Certifications: A majority of the learning programs provided by Coursera come with course completion certificates, which can be used on your resume or linkedin.

•                  Flexible Learning Options: Flexibility: Anyone who has taken an online or self-paced course will tell you that Coursera offers classes that you can do at your own pace which makes it easier to learn while looking for a job.

Seeking new abilities on Coursera may help you become more desirable if you’re career-changing at some specialised field.

8. Writing and Editing Assistance

Resume and cover letter must be free from error if one wishes to make a first good impression to the employer. Grammarly is an app that works like all the other writing assistant applications with emphasis on spelling, grammar, punctuation, and style.

•                 Grammar and Spelling Checks: Grammarly is able to check and correct typing and grammatical errors for your resume and cover letter, as well as any other documents you may prepare. Style Suggestions: Grammarly suggests the best course of action to bring out the clearest and simplest ideas to make the writing most professional and persuasive.

•                 Customization Options: The tool does allow for creating goals inside the Grammarly application, including formality level or the type of the reader you are addressing.

Grammarly tools make your writing look polished and professional meaning you will be able to effectively engage potential employers.

9. Managing Your Job Search

Storing all documents related to your job search can be quite intimidating. Google Drive has limitless storage and easy way to organize all your material and files, so the course materials can be easily shared.

•                 Organized Document Storage: For every application, you can create subfolders for resumes, cover letters, job descriptions and other files.

•                  Collaboration Features: Google Drive also allows sharing that is helpful for the presenter and the mentors that may wish to review the content of your presentation.

•                 Accessibility: Google Drive is an online platform which implies that you can work with files in any device, at any location.

Having a folder in Google Drive can make your searching for a job easier and your files are always in one place.

10. Enhancing Networking Efforts

Networking is important and through Meetup, you can find interested individuals and join events online or in person.

•                 Industry-Specific Meetups: Industry-based groups and events make it easier for you to establish that all important professional network.

•                 Virtual Events: Originally, Meetup also welcomes virtual events; this mean that connecting with other people has never been easier with just staying at home.

•                 Professional Development Opportunities: Most of the Meetup groups organize seminars, panels or workshops that bring awareness of trends in particular industries.

Besides the network and knowledge sharing, one can find job opportunities through Meetup and it’s not stored in the common resources.

Conclusion

With today's job market competition, anything that can be done with free tool can go far in job searching. These concepts give you the basic support from writing a resume and cover letter, interviewing skills and even in applications that you need in every aspect of the employment search. When you apply these resources to your job search, you will make a good impression of yourself and interest job recruiters. These are useful if you are still a fresher and out in the search for your first job if you are switching careers, or if you’re just flat out looking for a job.