Don't confine your job search to the basics. Use this job search help to get creative! 

You're in the market for a new job. You love your career field, but it's time for that next step. Everyone knows that in 2016 you don't pick up the local newspaper and circle job notices in the classifieds. What do you do? You surf the same online job boards that everyone else does.

Eventually, you'll begin to feel like a very small fish in an extremely big pond. What can you do to create better focus for finding a job? Embrace your industry.

Check out industry-specific job boards

With the ease of creating online job boards, more and more of them are popping up and many of them are industry-specific. Are you a human resources professional? Head to websites like humanresourcesjobs.com. Do you work in the airline industry? Take your pick from sites like avjobs.com, flightattendantcareer.com, or airlinejobfinder.com to name a few. Regardless of your industry, there is probably one or more industry-specific job board out there that can help you get a jump on those jobs that may not be posted on all of the standard job sites.

So what else can you do?

Don't settle for being a spectator on your niche job board

Here's a piece of job search help many people don't think abobut: create a profile and get your resume out there. This is a dedicated space where employers in your industry are posting jobs and looking for available talent. What better place to boast your credentials? By putting your resume out there on one or more industry-specific job board, you're getting your name in front of the people you want to impress. While you're at it, don't forget to add connections to your Linkedin page, portfolio website, or any other relevant link that will help separate you from the pack.

Join professional organizations

If you love your profession, immerse yourself in it. Most industries have professional organizations, most with local chapters. Join one and get out to some networking events. Yes, these memberships may cost a little money, but the connections you make and the insights you can gain will be well worth it.

If you aren't certain what organizations are in your area, your local chamber of commerce should be able to help you track down the right group. If that doesn't work for you, the U.S. Department of Labor has a site dedicated to professional organizations.

Attend industry related conferences

If you don't want to commit right away to joining an organization, check out conferences. You may find something local or get a chance to travel someplace new. Once there, take it in for all it's worth. Don't be a wallflower. Talk to people, both attendees and presenters, if possible and don't be afraid to talk about your strengths in the field. By attending a good conference in your field, you can get a feel for new trends, learn something new to add to your resume, and make face-to-face connections - all components that can become job search help. Put yourself in the best possible position to discover the right opportunity and be discovered by the right employer.

Not sure where to start? Head to allconferences.com to get an idea of what is out there in your field.

When you're on the hunt for that next great career step, you can't rely on the same few job sites that everyone else embraces. By all means, keep your eye on them. They're the biggest tools for finding a job for a reason, but don't limit yourself to just those listings. While they pull in many of the job postings that are out there, they inevitably miss a few that may have been posted on niche sites. Industry specific job boards, organizations, and conferences can help narrow the focus for both you and the employer.

Let TopResume help you write the next chapter of your career with our resume writing services.

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