7 Essential Tools for Job Search

7 Essential Tools for Job Search Tools For Job Search If you are considering a job hunt or revamping your current search, these are the essential tools you need to succeed in finding your next opportunity. Tools For Job Search Before you start your job search, youll need to make sure you have the right gear in place to help you do it right! Sure, you need a resume, but theres so much more. Think about all the people youll be meeting with and all the email messages youll send. I want your search to be successful and productive from the start, so here are the essentials you need. 1. Email Signature Your email signature is possibly one of the most important branding tools youre not taking advantage of. It’s your chance to let everyone know what your expertise is, how to contact you and where to learn more about you online. Employees are often required to add the company logo, tagline and contact information to email signatures. As job seekers, an email signature is a subtle way to remind people what you do. Quick tips: The most important information to include is your name, phone number, email address, desired occupation and link to your LinkedIn profile. An easy solution is to use an app like WiseStamp to create and insert your signature. Learn more about what to include in your WiseStamp email signature. 2. Active and Robust LinkedIn Presence LinkedIn has become a go-to source for companies of all sizes to seek out talent. While your profile will be similar to your  resume, it is not exactly the same. LinkedIn is a social network  where people share information. Besides having a profile rich in content and media, you should also use status updates to share newsworthy articles to help build your online reputation and stay connected with your network. Quick tips: You must have a headshot, a headline that describes what you do and a summary where you tell your story. But don’t stop there.  Embed a presentation that summarizes your experience or includes testimonials. Have you checked out SlideShare (now owned by LinkedIn)? What about the LinkedIn Job Search  app? These tools give you a better mobile LinkedIn experience. 3. An Easily Accessible, On-the-Go Resume There will be occasions when someone wants you to send your resume ASAP or when you arrive at an interview and your resume  is MIA. Save your resumes so you can  easily  access them and share them from your mobile device. Quick tip: Being able to access important documents from anywhere is critical not only in your job search, but at work, too. Learn how to save and share documents using Dropbox or Google Drive, which provide free storage and are easily accessible from any device. 4. Business Cards This may seem old-fashioned, but business cards make life easier. When you meet someone new or reconnect with an old friend, just hand him or her your card at the end of the conversation. Here are ideas on what your business card should include:  Get Your Business Cards Now Quick tip: Your business card need only include the information you want to share: your name, occupation (or desired occupation), phone number, email address and links to any social media profiles, like your LinkedIn URL. If you want to use something more high-tech, try one of the apps that allows you to share your card from your phone, like CamCard. (If you are looking for other alternatives, search for business card scanning apps.) 5. Your Perfected Pitch You only have one chance to make a great first impression. Don’t blow it. You’ll need it when you meet people and they ask what you do. You’ll also need one customized for every interview you take. Your pitch conveys what problem you can solve for an employer. Use words and language to ensure your unique style and personality come through. And avoid resume-speak or jargon that isn’t universally understood. Quick tip: Keep your pitch under a minute, and practice so it sounds natural. If you need some guidance, check out the myPitch app created by Karalyn Brown of InterviewIQ. 6. Target List of Potential  Employers Rather than searching job boards all day, looking for the perfect job and getting lost in the black hole of applications, why not approach people inside companies you would like to work for? This route is more work up front, but it will help you stand out and rise to the top of the referral pile if you make the cut. Quick tip: There are tons of apps for finding posted jobs, but what you really need is additional help networking. Don’t miss Alison Doyle’s app called Career Tool Belt. Its loaded with job hunting tips, including the 30 Days to your Dream Job series to guide you day by day. 7. A Dose of Motivation Job searching tends to lead to frustration. Rejection is an unfortunate part of the process. Invest time doing things that rejuvenate your energy and keep you feeling hopeful, such as exercising, volunteering or learning a new skill. Keep moving forward and create to-do lists and follow-up actions every day. Quick tip: Whether you use a calendar system or an organizational app like Any.do, mapping out your weekly activities helps maintain momentum and puts you in the driver’s seat. This post originally appeared on US News World Report On Careers