You’re looking for a job
You’ve found yourself in the position where you’re looking for a job. It’s not often under pleasant circumstances that one finds themselves here, but you can determine what your job search experience will be like! So, where do you go from here? You need to be prepared. Have a game plan and set goals for yourself! Whether you’ve recently found yourself unemployed, you’re unhappy in your current role or you’re a recent graduate, you can apply all of these steps to your search for new employment.
- RESUME – No matter what skill level you are from entry-level to C-level executive, you need to have a Resume. Not only do you need a Resume, you need to be sure your Resume is tailored for the position you are seeking. If you’re looking for a job in Sales, you want to highlight anything that focuses on skills needed for a Sales position. It would be counter-productive and will have an impact on application to interview ratio if you don’t take care to make the necessary tweaks that will draw the attention of the hiring manager (AND get you past the ATS system to even get TO a hiring manager). If you’ve never worked with a professional Resume writer before, this is a great opportunity to reach out to someone with experience and proven success in creating Resumes that get people hired. The skills of a professional Resume writer can take your Resume from “good” to “hired”.
- ONLINE PRESENCE – Google yourself. It sounds silly, but I’m serious. In our modern world, a potential employer has a wealth of information at their fingertips. A quick google search revealing negative information could be the difference between you and the next candidate. It is also important to have your LinkedIn profile updated and utilize this as a tool in your job search. If you are applying for a job at XYZ Company and you’re worried about that pesky ATS, you can almost definitely find a contact for the company who works in recruiting through LinkedIn and send them a quick note. This is the age of networking; don’t be afraid to reach out.
- DEDICATION – You should treat your job search as a full-time job. It’s going to be work. If you’re only job searching for an hour a day, I can guarantee you that you’re not going to get the results you want. Unfortunately, most places you will apply to will require you to not only submit your Resume, but also engage in the often time-consuming process of manually filling out an application or “profile”. Don’t let it get you down, don’t get frustrated! Mentally prepare yourself for some redundant processes. This is an opportunity for you to show a potential employer that you don’t half-ass anything! Take that application, knock it out of the park, and again, make sure you tailor any answers or experience to match the role you are seeking. If confirmation is offered at the end of this process TAKE NOTE. Keep a record of the position, employer, and any contact information that may be given here. You’ll need this later. I’ll reference LinkedIn here again as well; LinkedIn is a great resource for a job search! Set a goal for yourself daily as to how many hours you want to spend job searching or how many jobs you want to apply to and hit that goal every single day! If you don’t set goals or prepare yourself for this process, you’re not setting yourself up for success.
- If you follow these simple steps, you’ll be interviewing in no time. Create an awesome playlist, get out your headphones and get comfortable at your computer. You’re ready for this! You know what to expect, you’ve mentally prepared yourself and you’ve got an updated, professionally reviewed Resume. This is where you go and get the job you’ve always wanted!
