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1. Make it simple for recruiters to find your LinkedIn profile (and Love)

You've most likely spent a significant amount of time editing your CV, but if you haven't updated your LinkedIn page recently, now is the moment. This offers a handful of advantages: One, if a recruiting manager looks you up online, you'll have another chance to impress. More significantly, an optimized profile makes it simple for recruiters to locate you when they search for individuals like you (for example, "customer service manager in Seattle").

Here are the fundamentals: Do you have a summary with keywords from the job descriptions you're considering? A headline other than your existing job title? A photograph that makes you seem both approachable and professional? Yes? The next step is to solicit references from a few individuals so that you can demonstrate to anybody who views your profile that you'd be a pleasure to deal with.

Furthermore, Muse Master Coach Jenny Foss suggests include a sentence at the conclusion of your synopsis that signals you're open to new options without making it too evident to your supervisor or coworkers. She says something like, "I'm captivated by anything digital marketing and appreciate meeting like-minded individuals." Please contact me at YourEmail@gmail.com."

2. Create a Personal Website

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: having a personal online hub is a terrific way to show employers what you've done before you ever walk through the door. You may provide hiring managers with more information about yourself than what fits on your CV with only one URL. And, if you're changing jobs or taking on a new position, you may even demonstrate your enthusiasm for this new endeavor.

The good news is that you don't need any technical or design experience to create one. Sign up for The Muse's three-day email workshop to get started, which will lead you through the process step by step. (Alternatively, start with something simpler, such as an online résumé.)

Then, include the URL in your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, email signature, and wherever else you can think of. Also, don't be hesitant to bring it up in interviews! "During the first phone screen interview, I was able to send the recruiter to the site so they could see the experiences and work samples I had," says Mark Scott, who attributes his corporate communications role to his personal website. "That helped me stand out from other applicants who didn't have a convenient website and were waiting for in-person chances to present their work."

3. Work on a Project for Your Ideal Employer

This one will take a little longer, so you don't want to do it for every job you apply for. However, when you come across a dream company—one that makes you pause and think, "I have to work here!"—consider doing something completely out of the ordinary, such as producing a project that demonstrates your abilities.

In a recent essay for Business Insider, Raghav Haran discusses this technique in detail, claiming that it led to "interviews with prominent internet firms like Quora, and it even led to Shutterstock establishing a job just for me." He went out to prospective partners on the company's behalf while applying for a business development post. He conducted his own user testing for product locations and compiled design suggestions based on them.

So, how about you? You may create an example customer presentation if you work in sales. You have several alternatives as a marketer, from advising a plan for a new social media platform to authoring a content marketing post. After applying for a position she wasn't quite qualified for, writer Alexandra Franzen put in a list of example taglines—and soon had an offer in hand.

Yes, this is definitely an above-and-beyond approach. That's why most people won't do it—and if you do, you'll truly stand out.

4. Make Use of Your Network

The majority of folks I know despise this stage. And I understand: the job hunt is extremely personal, and reaching out for assistance seems unpleasant.

However, for the majority of us, it is still the most successful approach to find work. When confronted with numerous equally competent prospects, a hiring manager is much more likely to interview or employ the one with whom he or she has a personal relationship.

So, if you haven't already, reach out to everyone you know who may be able to assist you in your hunt. Using an email template like this, I suggest beginning with folks you already know and trust. If you know just about everyone in your profession or work for your ideal job, take them out to coffee or lunch and ask for their guidance on how to submit your application. (After that, write a heartfelt thank you message and stay in contact with your progress.)

I guarantee it will be worthwhile.

5. Consult with a Coach

So, you've been looking for a job for months. Maybe you tried everything above and nothing worked.

It's quite disheartening, yet it occurs. And if this is happening to you, don't attempt the same old, same old—it will simply make you more irritated. Instead, if you're stuck, try speaking with a specialist. A career coach who specializes in job search strategy may review your materials, evaluate your present method, and suggest areas where you may need to change your approach. Not to mention, working with someone who has helped numerous others in similar situation will help you remember that you are not alone and can keep you enthusiastic about the process.

Which is, in fact, rather significant. The job hunt may be exhausting, particularly if things aren't going as fast as you'd want. Hiring supervisors are aware of this. So, if you can come into the interview and demonstrate that you can remain positive and happy during the challenging hiring process, it will go a long way.