Before applying for jobs, you need to do some research.

First, pick the place where you want to work. For example, San Francisco can be the right choice. The Bay Area is the best place to live and work in tech. It's a hot market right now—everyone's hiring.

Move to the chosen city once you have made your decision. Unfortunately, it's impossible to do your job search remotely. If you apply for different jobs and get rejected, try visiting SkillHub's service in San Francisco. Their professionals can help you write your resume and land your job in no time.

Moving to a new place takes work. First, you need to have enough money to live for at least a month and somewhere to sleep. Although some people are fortunate with their housing, it isn't always easy. Many slept on the ground in the apartments for a month to save money. We suggest sleeping on a friend's couch if you cannot find a place to crash.

Next, decide what type of job you want. Consider your role and your industry. Write a compelling story about why that job is important and the skills you need to do it. Next, create your LinkedIn profile and resume to reflect that story.

Now that you know where you want to work and have a compelling story to tell, you need companies to notice. Interviews can be obtained in several ways.

1. College job board. Although universities may have recruiting seasons, most jobs are available all year. You can also search for old job listings and contact the right person at a company.

2. Internet job boards. LinkedIn, Angel, and Looksharp are great places to start. TheMuse is another good place to start. Avoid job boards. You might be sending your resume into a black hole. Many people cannot get past the second round of interviews from an online job board submission.

3. Hired.com. A hot online talent market in the Bay Area. Employers must disclose their salaries upfront, which is a major advantage to job-searching on Hired.

Everybody talks about "using your networks" to find a job. It's cliched advice. Here is how we advise you to do it. Do not email your classmates asking for jobs. Reconnect with old friends. Meet new people and learn more about their lives. Listening to other people's stories at lunch or dinner is a better way to learn than asking for a job.

You can be sure that if you find openings at a friend's company, they will most likely be willing to refer you. In addition, many companies offer referral bonuses.

Asking your friends to join you for lunch at the office is another way to "network" (this may only be possible in the Bay Area). Many companies in SF offer catered lunches for their employees. It's easy to drop by to join them for an afternoon meal.

It is important to establish a timetable when you are setting up interviews. For example, I am doing my first round of phone screens this week, and I will be on-site next week. Companies will want to know where you are in the job search process. Therefore, being open and honest about your timeline is important. They will accommodate you if you give the same schedule to every company.

Choosing A Job

Congratulations! Now comes the hard part.

First, it is a good problem. You will find many articles if you search "how to choose between multiple offers". While it may seem like a good idea, in theory, it is a difficult situation to find yourself in. After spending hours meeting with these companies and getting to know them personally, you are now making a decision.

After you receive the offers, you will have to refine and settle on three factors: (1) Culture Fit, (2) Learning Potential, and (3) Money.

Culture Fit. "Culture Fit" is a vague term that's often used. We found that the best way to assess culture fit was to visit the company and have lunch or drinks with the team members. Anything that isn't in a formal interview setting. Although it's easy to be attracted to people in informal settings, you should dig deeper and ask yourself if you can see yourself working with them daily. The people will be the most influential in the final decision.

Learning Potential. This is closely related to the product that you are selling. Is it a tool, platform, or service you sell? The former is transactional, and the latter consultative. You'll be more successful in a consultative sales role. This allows you to learn from each conversation and establish yourself as an expert in your area. Ask about training for new hires and ongoing. Ask yourself if you can learn from your colleagues and the leaders in the sales team.

Money. Make sure you are happy with the salary and know exactly how much you expect. Don't settle for less if you have the abilities and skills.

What's Next?

Let us end by saying that choosing one opportunity means you have to turn down others, even if it means turning down amazing companies. During this process, you will meet many amazing people who did exciting things at their workplaces. However, telling those people that you chose another opportunity will be difficult.

However, make sure you are confident in your decision and the choice you made. With the new company, you will challenge yourself and meet more people on the team. You will eventually learn, grow, and experience many good things. Good luck!