Whether you call it the “Mass Resignation” or the “Great Awakening” the pandemic and its ripple effects have certainly made many question how they want their careers to look and feel.
Below are the 5 steps I share in my work as an Executive Resume Writer to help job seekers get organized, get clear on their wish list and dealbreakers, and get the ball rolling.
1. Make a Plan
It is OK to take a breath, collect your thoughts, and craft a job search plan. In fact, analysis and planning will make your job search shorter and more successful.
Consider:
- Which employers would be the best places for you to work? Do you know anyone who works for those employers?
- What are the requirements and job titles these employers use for the job you want? Do you meet those requirements or need to gain some credentials or experiences? Can you gain that experience by volunteering or taking a class?
- Can you continue to work in the job you had before, or do you need to consider and implement a career change?
- What job is possible next — short term and long term?
With the job market inundated with those “seeing what is out there,” a job search that does not have a target or that is “open” to anything, takes longer because the goal is not clear in the resumes, LinkedIn profile, and networking.
ALL of those are more effective when focused.
2. Organize Your Finances & Consider a Gap Gig
Now is the time to figure out what you can cut, what you can put on credit, etc. The goal is to help your funds stretch as long and far as possible.
If you choose to leave your current role without another job in hand, there is no shame in a gig of any sort to get you through this tough time.
3. Research the Employers and the Jobs
Keep tabs on roles as they arise by searching LinkedIn under hashtags like #hiringnow and #hiring on LinkedIn, as new posts are coming in daily!
Look at everything on an employer’s website to review press releases, learn about company benefits, products and services, executives and other staff members, and latest news.
For those who have a bit more breathing room, now is as great a time as any to do some deep-dive research into roles and companies of interest. Go to Glassdoor and even Indeed to get reviews as well as sites like Bloomberg and Hoovers for private companies. While you must pay to get a full report at Hoovers, it’s free to check out who is on the board and uncover the company’s major competitors.
If you REALLY want intel, however, the best place in my view is to get it straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Consider searching on LinkedIn and reaching out to people who work or have worked there.
If you feel strange about reaching out to a stranger about this, consider tapping into your university or corporate alum network (again – you can use LinkedIn’s search filters to identify people by school AND company).
4. Sharpen Your Remote Interview Skills
Virtual interviews and phone screens are here to stay. The upside of this is you can practice using phone and video interviewing using recording software platforms like Zoom or even iPhone Facetime to record and see first-hand how you sound and look.
Another fantastic resource is Riveter – where you can record and watch your own performance while also viewing that of 100s of other job seekers answering questions so you can get inspired.
5. Get Your Career Collateral Ready to Roll
With such a competitive field of folks testing the waters, it’s never been more important to stand out. This means your resume and LinkedIn must be current in content, fresh in format and keyword optimized.
As an executive resume writer, I use tools like JobScan or LinkedIn’s resume builder to ensure the resumes and LinkedIn profiles I write include the maximum number of keywords to give documents their best shot at doing well when Applicant Tracking Software systems and algorithms are at play.
The Bottom Line:
It seems the job search landscape is changing by the day – and it’s exciting to be experiencing a time when job seekers are in high demand! To stand out and succeed – it’s important to adapt.
In need of an Executive Resume Writer or someone to rebrand your LinkedIn?
As the founder and chief writer at Virginia Franco Resumes, offering customized services, I’d be happy to chat! BOOK NOW for your free resume consult.
VAFrancoResumes@gmail.com | VirginiaFrancoResumes.com | Call/text 704-771-8572