Job Search Guide: Resources for Your Next Career Move

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Take control of your job search with these tips, strategies, and resources for each stage of your career move.

[FEATURED IMAGE] An interviewee hands their resume to a hiring manager as they embark on a job search.

Key takeaways

Tailor your job search by considering the roles that interest you, the qualifications and skills you possess, and the lifestyle you desire.

  • If you have a degree or you’re in the process of earning one, focus your job search on positions that align with your area of study.

  • By upskilling, you can enhance your job skills and increase your qualifications for more opportunities.

  • You can develop a convincing cover letter and a detailed resume that showcase your skills and qualifications to potential employers.

Explore key strategies and helpful resources as you prepare for a job search. If you’re ready for a new role, consider enrolling in Google's Accelerate Your Job Search with AI Specialization. You’ll have the chance to learn how to identify your skills, develop your resume, and prepare for interviews in as little as eight hours. By the end, you’ll have gained in-depth knowledge to prepare for your next interview.

How to choose a career path

Whether you’re entering the job market for the first time or considering a switch to a new role or industry, you’ve got options. Explore in-demand, high-paying jobs based on your desired lifestyle, degree, or target industry with the resources below.

If you've read the above articles and are still unsure which career you'd like to pursue, you might consider taking a career quiz online. Career quizzes can be a great way to brainstorm ideas, but remember that the advice given is limited and impersonal.

Find a job that fits your lifestyle.

We spend a third of our lives at work on average. As you think about what type of job or career path to pursue, it’s worth considering those jobs that both bring you satisfaction and empower you to enjoy the lifestyle you want. 

Explore work-from-home jobs.

Browse in-demand career paths.

In these career fields, job candidates with the right skills are often in demand and paid well for their expertise. Start here to learn more about some of these lucrative industries: 

Find a career that works for you.

Get job-ready with professional-level training and a credential in a high-growth field. Not sure what career is right for you? Explore your options with Coursera Career Academy.

Look for jobs that leverage your degree.

If you already have a degree—or are in the process of earning one—consider these jobs that might align with your degree level or area of study:

How to get a job without a degree

How to get your first job

A first job represents an opportunity to gain work experience and build skills you can take with you in your future career. These positions are often called "entry-level" or "junior" roles.

How to change careers

We change careers for various reasons: the desire for a new challenge, more advancement opportunities, a bigger paycheck, or a better work-life balance, among them. Regardless of when or why you choose to change careers, a shift calls for thoughtful planning.

How to upskill for your next role

When it comes to developing new job skills, a small investment in time and energy can lead to big opportunities in the job market. Small steps add up over time. Most active Coursera learners spend an average of three hours per week building skills that help them pursue their goals. What skill will you build next?

Read more: Upskilling: What It Means and How It Can Help Your Career

How do you apply for a job: Writing your resume or cover letter

Your resume and cover letter often serve as the first impression potential employers have of you. An effective resume clearly communicates both who you are as a professional and the value you would bring to a company or organization. Make your cover letter or resume shine with these tips:

Providing references

Sometimes, an employer will ask for a list of references—former colleagues or managers, professors, clients, or personal connections—who can speak to your skills, accomplishments, and character. Learn more about who to request as a reference (and how to ask them):

Creating a portfolio

In some industries, such as data analytics, development, and user experience (UX) design, for example, you may be asked to provide a portfolio as part of your application. Your portfolio is your chance to show off your best work and validate your ability to get the job done.

How to search for a new job

If you already know what career you'd like to pursue and are ready to start searching, these next few sections are for you.

How to apply for jobs online: Job search sites

With so many job search sites, it can be difficult to choose one or keep up with several. Here's a list of five of the top job search engines, according to Money [1]:

  1. LinkedIn

  2. Indeed

  3. Glassdoor

  4. Simpify

  5. ZipRecruiter

You might also consider job search websites geared toward specific industries. For example, Dice is an excellent platform for connecting to tech jobs.

If you've completed a Google Career Certificate on Coursera, you've gained access to the Google Hiring Consortium!

Interviewing

Congratulations! You’ve landed a job interview. This is a big accomplishment that brings you one step closer to that new job title. Interviews can be both exciting and nerve-racking. With a little preparation, you can walk into your next interview with confidence.

General interview tips 

Prepare for each step of your next interview with key skills, practice questions, and interview best practices:

Industry-specific interview tips

Practice some common interview questions for your target industry so that you’ll know what to expect on the big day:

By subscribing to Career Chat, our weekly LinkedIn newsletter, you can stay updated on career trends and tips. You can also check out these free resources as you plan your next move:

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses. 

Article sources

  1. Money. "5 Best Job Search Sites of October 2025, https://money.com/best-job-search-sites/." Accessed December 19, 2025.

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