The job market tends to be quiet in the run-up to the holidays. However, the first quarter of the year is usually one of the best times to look for a new position. So, if you have been considering moving to a new job, Q1 is an excellent time to prepare for a concerted job-seeking effort. Here are 10 tips for setting yourself up a successful job hunt.
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Get Organized
The first thing to do is to get organized, which begins with making a to-do list of your job-seeking tasks. Then you will need folders on your computer to save resumes, job applications, and correspondence. Cleaning up your home office would also be a good idea, so you have a clear desk on which to work and conduct online interviews. It’s the little things that can make a big difference and get you focused on the task at hand.
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Review Your Options
You will have skills and experience that suit specific roles. However, you may not have to move to another job of the same type in the same sector. Consider if your current career path will meet your long-term objectives
. Think outside the box about what your next position might be. It could be as simple as just changing teams and teammates, or you can find a job that offers training in a new field, that provides fresh challenges that might provide greater job satisfaction, and enhanced prospects in the long term.
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Set Your Goals
Once you have decided on a career path, you can define the must-haves of a new position. These points will begin with the basic pay and benefits but also include perks, training, and career progression potential. Company size, reputation, and financial standing may also influence your decision.
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Boost Your Skills
Once you have reviewed your options and goals, focus on skills or experience you lack, and make a plan on how you will fill those gaps. For example, taking some courses might improve your employment prospects or asking your present employer for exposure to other aspects of the business will broaden your experience.
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Your Resume
This is a biggie. It may have been a while since you last applied for jobs. In this case, you will need to update your resume. It might also be helpful to research current trends in resume content and layout. Remember, though, that it’s best not to use the same resume for every application. Instead, tailor the document to fit the job, highlighting the relevant skills and experience for the role. Most resumes reviewers will say they only look at the first half of the first page of a resume. You need a crisp, definitive opening statement with clear keywords in this section. Your current job tasks need to pop and show that your skillset is current and up to date.
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Clean Up Your Social Media Accounts
Employers will likely look at your social media accounts before offering you a job. So, removing any posts that look unprofessional or embarrassing is advisable. Alternatively, you might prefer to make some social media accounts private. Also, ensure that professional profiles on sites like LinkedIn are up to date and match your resume. Recruiters will automatically check your LinkedIn profile. Have a professional head and shoulder snapshot.
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Line Up References
Most employers will contact candidates’ references towards the end of the recruitment process if they do so at all. It is polite to forewarn people that they may receive calls from employers. Contacting references also allows you to confirm their contact details and ensure they will give a positive reference.
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Network
Your job search isn’t limited to applying to advertisements. You may also uncover opportunities by networking. Update your social media accounts to show that you are in the market for a new position. Get active in the new year, expanding your professional network and reaching out to prospective recruiters and employers. Recruiters are a great tool to make yourself stand out. A candidate submitted by a recruiter has much more power than just applying for the job yourself. Setting “open to work” on LinkedIn will get you noticed.
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Work on Your Professional Brand
The more evidence you can show that proves you’re a good fit for a role, the better your chances are of landing the perfect job. Consider what you can do to improve your professional brand. As already mentioned, your social media accounts can be used to reinforce your personal brand. There might also be LinkedIn groups or online forums to which you can contribute. For some people, contributing guest posts to relevant blogs could raise their profile. There are plenty of people with the same skillset and titles, you need to stand out from the pack and position yourself as a leader and contributor.
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Prepare for Interviews
Consider the questions you may be asked in interviews and practice your response to each of them. Prep for the interview with your recruiter because it’s the recruiter that knows exactly what the employer is looking for in a candidate. You might also benefit from holding a few mock interviews with a friend, family member, or mentor. When you have job interviews, assess your performance so you are better prepared for later interviews.
Conclusion
Setting a goal to find a new job is easy. But, if you don’t get organized and plan your job-seeking efforts, your search could lead to nothing. Break down the overall goal into these individual steps. Then, hopefully, 2023 will begin with you landing a great new job!
Contact
Chris Salvadore
Director Corporate Accounts and Research
csalvadore@grncoastal.com
