Searching for a new job is certainly no easy task. Whether it's scheduling interviews, managing your applications, following up on emails, or preparing for an interview: finding a job is a full-time job all in itself. The hardest part? Starting. If you're considering looking for a new job, here are some tips for how to prepare.
Talk with Recruiters:
It's no secret that people tend to feel one of two ways when it comes to working with recruiters. Regardless of your personal experience, (and yes I am saying this as a former recruiter): recruiters will have insight on things that you just don't have the time to know. Areas of expertise ranging from changing industry trends and market demand, to insights on the changes occurring with remote hiring, all the way down to the nitty-gritty details, like including month and year of experience on your resume... Yes, I've seen people eliminated from consideration for details that were as easy to avoid as that. That being said, recruiters offer a wealth of knowledge when it comes to searching for a job. Use your recruiter's knowledge as a resource. That is what they are there for after all!
Looking for insight on the trends we're seeing for IT & Life Sciences? Check out our LinkedIn and connect with on of our Recruiting Executives!
Keep your LinkedIn Updated:
One of the biggest steps you can take toward being proactive in your job search is: keeping your LinkedIn updated. In 2021, LinkedIn is going to be the first place someone goes to do research on you, maybe even before your resume. It may seem like small details, updating your LinkedIn picture, your education, your previous work experience, but these small things matter to organizations, especially if you're applying for a remote position. A company needs to know that your brand and your background is compatible with theirs, and visa-versa.
If you're hesitant about updating your LinkedIn page - I'd encourage you to consider changing your perspective. Searching for a job is all about selling yourself. In order to sell yourself, you need to market yourself - meaning - people need to be able to find you and see you're a reputable business partner. Consider LinkedIn your free marketing platform with an uncapped potential return on investment.
What does that mean exactly? If it takes 30 minutes to set up a LinkedIn profile, and that profile leads to a recruiter extending an offer for a $100K position - then your 30 minutes invested in LinkedIn payed out at $3,333 a minute. Not a bad use of your time.
Check out Jeff Su's video covering his Top 5 LinkedIn Profile Tips
Keep a List of Applications:
Along with setting up a LinkedIn profile for yourself, one of the best things you can do to be proactive in your job search is keeping a list of all the positions/companies you've applied at. If you're really as superstar - I'd recommend keeping a list of the feedback/your thoughts on the role.
This is important for a few reasons: your thought process and what you are looking for may change as you speak with more and more organizations. Something you thought wasn't as important, may become a priority. You want to be able to note this so you can adjust your search and target similar organizations.
The opposite is true as well. If you had an interview for a role that you thought would be your dream job, only to find out it's nothing like you thought. It's probably not a bad idea to note these things, so you can be sure to ask follow up questions moving forward.
Write Down Questions Before Talking with Anyone:
I'd be shocked if I was the only one who accepted a job offer - only later to find myself thinking: "I really wished I asked more follow up questions on XYZ, because this is not what I expected".
Listen, every job has its ups and downs, and when you're looking for a new role: that's your time to ask all the questions you wished you asked at your last 3 jobs. If you're still working with you're searching, I'd advise you keep a notebook with questions, as they are bound to cross your mind as your search continues and you explore more positions.
However, I'd argue even more important is to listen to the concerns that come up in your current situation. Frustrated with management. One of your interview questions could be: could you please talk to me about your management style and what types of individuals tend to mesh well with this team?
Keep a Schedule:
Searching for a new job while still working can lead to a lot of awkward potential overlap when it comes to your scheduling. If you can, try to keep a consistent schedule that eliminates and guess work. Depending on how invested you are in your search, you'll have better luck managing everything if you know when everything is happening.
Unfortunately, with the market as competitive as it is right now - not knowing that the 4pm meeting was actually Tuesday and not Monday could be the difference between you and another candidate getting an interview.