The new year is just around the corner, and while no one has a crystal ball and can tell you what 2019 will bring, you have far more power over how things go than you might think. For example, if you have been feeling stuck in your job, perhaps now is the time to start doing something about it and start searching (finally) for a new job.
If you aren't sure whether or not the feelings you have been experiencing are tied to career dissatisfaction, check out this post:Â “Are You Experiencing Career Dissatisfaction? Here are Some Signs that You May Be.”
I contend that people often stay in jobs they hate–or no longer love–because they don't know how or where to start a job search.
That is understandable. The job search process has undergone profound changes in recent years. You may shoot yourself in the foot and not even know it!
To help you get started, let me offer what I believe are ten important tips, tools and strategies you should know about undertaking a job search whether it will be in 2019 or any time.
Just FYI, I offer a free pdf guide on the ten things you should know when you think you are ready for a job or career change. You can get it for free by clicking here. But read on to find the ten pointers provided in the guide in an abridged form.
1) #1 Challenge — Know what you want to do next.
What do you want?
The hardest thing for any new job seeker or career changer is to decide what you want to do NEXT! If you are ready for a job change, you already know the things you prefer not to do again in your next job. But you are probably not nearly as clear about what you DO want to do. That's a problem.
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The reason that's a problem is that you can't write your resume yet if you don't know what you want to do!
Nor can you create a strong LinkedIn profile if you don't know what you want to do. And you certainly can't craft a compelling cover letter until then.
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I ask people this question all the time. Do you book your hotel room and airfare before you decide where you are going on vacation? That's a no-brainer, right? Duh! You have to decide where you are going first.
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Yet people start writing their resumes and LinkedIn profiles based only on their PAST without identifying their strong transferable skills first.
Before you start your job search, you need to start thinking regarding your future!
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And that is the hardest part of every job search I have ever facilitated. People have the darnedest time deciding what they WANT.
2)Â Develop the clarity and focus you need before you start your search
And it's not enough that you know kind of, sort of, maybe what you want. You need to know for sure–or as sure as you can be. After all, we are talking about your future, here.
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Because this decision is so important, I recommend that you spend time focusing on the kind of work you want. Think through how you want to spend your days. What kind of people would you like to work for and with? What sort of work do you find “easy” instead of “hard?” What is your preferred learning style? Your preferred work preferences? These are important questions to ponder.
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Develop clarity around what you want.
Focus on it, and then you are ready to start looking for jobs that you will love.
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3)Â Learn how to write an effective resume.
Resume on typewriter
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Once you have decided what you want, THEN you are ready to write a resume. But not before.
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Here's the thing. You want your resume to reflect the transferable skills that you have accumulated up until now. You want to showcase them in the best possible way. You need to structure your resume showing what you can offer an employer. It should practically leap off the page! But you can only do that AFTER you have gained the clarity, and focus you need on your next career goal.
4)Â Learn how to write a compelling cover letter.
Don't make the mistake of using the cover letter to rehash everything that is in your resume. If you are going to do that, skip the cover letter altogether. No one will want to read it.
But people WILL read a cover letter that is well-written and connects with the reader in a personal way. Make the case for why you would be the perfect candidate for the job that you happen to be applying for.
5)Â Learn what you need to know about how the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) works.
Recruiters and Hiring Managers LOVE their Applicant Tracking Systems. Why wouldn't they? The ATS does a lot of the heavy lifting for them. The ATS is used to track and sort applications that come through its portal every single day. It throws out the candidates that aren't strong and hangs on to the ones that are.
The trouble is that the ATS isn't human.
It just “judges” based on the settings it has been programmed for. It can't make a judgment call. It can't think to itself, “Hmmm, this might be a good candidate even though they may not have all the criteria we need.”
You need to learn how to work WITH and AROUND the ATS if you are going to speed up your job search.
6)Â Create a strong personal and professional brand.
personal branding
We have long lived with the idea of branding as a marketing tool. Who doesn't recognize the golden arches that represent MacDonald's, for example? You may even be in a different country, but the arches represent burgers and fries. Every company has its own brand.
And so do YOU.
Your personal brand is how you show up in person. How do you greet people you don't know? Are you comfortable in your own skin and portray confidence? Or do you fidget? Do your eyes dart about the room because you can't look someone in the eye?
These are all parts of your personal brand.
And then there is your professional brand.
How do you show up at work? Do people have to wait for you before they can start their meeting? Or can they depend on you to be on time? Do you have your work ready by your deadline? Or are you always asking for an extension?
In meetings, do you sit in the corner checking your phone to keep from participating? Or are you always offering new ideas and volunteering to take on extra duties because you love what you do?
And finally, there is your ONLINE brand.
How do you show up on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc., etc., etc.? Do you maintain a blog? Is the subject matter useful or deliberately provocative?
Think you can hide your online persona from potential hiring managers and employers? Think again. They can find you. And if they are interested in you, they will. Think about what they are going to find.
And don't think that going “dark” and not having a social media presence will be good for your reputation. It won't be. Over two billion people are on Facebook. It is likely that you are one of them. If you try to hide, that may be considered “suspicious.” Does that sound unfair? Well, maybe it is. But it is a fact.
7)Â Create a stellar LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn is where people–especially recruiters and Hiring Managers go to find potential talent. They look at keywords. They are trying to find people who have the qualifications that they need in a candidate.
They expect to see some good stuff on LinkedIn, so you need to pay close attention to what you post.
Do NOT post your resume on LinkedIn. And do NOT announce that you are “looking for opportunities” or that you are “currently available for new possibilities.”
A coaching colleague of mine used to compare those designations to dating sites. You might as well post, “Dateless and Desperate” if you put that in your profile. So don't.
But DO follow good advice for how to craft a solid, fully completed, and fully optimized profile. Make the best of that platform to make yourself look professional and polished.
8)Â Develop a strong research strategy and marketing plan.
Research Concept Button on Modern Computer Keyboard with Word Research on It.
Every successful job search or career change requires a research strategy.
And with that strategy, you need a strong marketing plan. Research all the companies you think you might like to work for BEFORE you apply. That way you know if they have the culture you are interested in.
You will also be learning about the company so that if you get an interview, you will know as much as possible about the company, its leaders, and its purpose.
You will need to keep track of all the jobs you have applied for and with whom you have talked and when during your search. Set up a system from the start. You need a system to keep track of all the jobs you have applied for and all the people you have talked to. Without such a system, you will soon become confused.
9)Â Use social media platforms in your job search.
Many job seekers are surprised to learn that they can use Twitter and Facebook for job searching. But you can use those platforms in addition to LinkedIn. Follow the companies that interest you on their social media platforms. Many times, they will post job vacancies there before they get around to posting them on job boards. It may give you an advantage.
10)Â Don't blow the interview!
The most important aspect of the job search process is preparing for and properly executing your interview.
It is the most challenging aspect of the search after deciding what you want to do.
I have been on the interviewing side of the table many times. As a result, I can say with some certainty that most people do not prepare for interviews as they should. They think they only need to have read the job description. And they need to talk about themselves. They miss the entire point of the interview if they think that's all there is.
The people who are hiring could care less about most of what you might want to tell them.
What they want to know is WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THEM? That's it. If you can speak to the problem(s) you can solve better than anyone else, you'll get the job.
11)Â BONUS: Develop patience, persistence, and do not give in to panic–even when you want to.
Persistence
The tips I have outlined for you can lead to a successful and productive job search or career change. But note that it is all part of a PROCESS. This isn't something you pull off overnight or even in just a few weeks. The average job hunt can last from four to nine months. That means some people are lucky and find something after only four months. But it also says that for some, the process can take longer than a year.
Undertake a job search or career change armed with as much knowledge as you can.
That is why I offer a program that is designed to provide the support and tools you need to be successful. I call it the “Jumpstart Your Job Search Program.” It comes in four purchase options.
Jumpstart Your Job Search Logo
But YOU must provide the secret sauce of patience and persistence. And you must be unwilling to give in to the panic you will feel on occasion. And you will feel panic on occasion. Unfortunately, it goes with the process.
For more information on the job search “secrets” you should know before undertaking a search, click here:
https://teachersintransition.com/job-search-secrets/job-search-secrets.
If you would like to know more about the“Jumpstart Your Job Search Program” that I offer, take a look here.
Or you might want to take advantage of a 20-minute complimentary Discovery Session. By talking together, we can determine if
this program is for you or not. Sign up for that session here.
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Until next time.
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