Light up your job hunt in the new year

Posted on 13 December 2016 12:04:52 by C Andreanoff

The year is quickly coming to a close. For many, this means thoughts of New Year’s resolutions…are finding a new job on your short list? If you’re looking to make a switch, what things could you be doing to make the most of this year’s end? As the calendar rolls over, what steps have you taken to ensure you’re prepared to take advantage of the fresh 2016 job postings? This resolution is best to get started today! Don’t get me wrong, there’ll still be plenty of time for reveling in New Year celebrations, however take the time to give yourself something else to cheer about. Here are some tips to help get you prepared for your 2017 job search.

What do you want to do? Is it a new career you desire? Or maybe you’re ready for an organizational change?
You should sit down and make a pros and cons list to help determine why you’re looking to make a switch in the first place. Often people will discover that it’s more than just a company change, rather a change in careers entirely. If it’s a career change, you will need to go back to the drawing board and make another list of what you like about your current career and those things which you dislike. You may want to meet with a career counselor and go over available options. If it is in fact the company – make a list of companies for which you would like to work.

Target companies. Once you have determined your “target companies” you should make connections with people within those walls. This will begin your networking stage. Talk to friends, family, neighbors and, just simply, ask around. The bigger you are able to grow your network, you’ll find the number of opportunities will also grow- this will really help you get a leg up over the competition. Many times people will find out about new postings before they are ever posted and end up being tapped on the shoulder by the hiring manager for the position.

Prepare your resume. Dust off the old resume and make sure it’s updated and contains the targeted keywords within the position you desire. I suggest the assistance of a resume writer as they make sure your resume is ‘up to snuff’ and showcases your skills in a professional manner. Even if you’re interested the same type of position as that of your current job, it’s a great idea to have targeted resumes for specific companies. This might mean you have several versions of your resume with each containing job-specific keywords. The goal is to make sure your resume gets the greenlight when passing through the applicant tracking system.

LinkedIn profile. Take a peek at your profile and make sure that it is up-to-date. Your online profile is something that many organizations will use to further your under story. It’s also very important to make sure your profile houses the job specific keywords. Doing such will allow recruiters who are conducting a search to find your profile…and that’s when they come knocking.

Being prepared before the end of the year will be very important in your job search. You must be proactive in all phases of your search. Don’t let your guard slip as we enter another holiday season- beat the competition to the punch! As Milton Berle said, “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door”. Grab your hammer and shims and use these tips as your new frame.

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