Dissatisfied with your current job? Suspect a new role may be just what you need? There’s no harm and no better way to find out than to test the waters!
Who knows? There may be a different role out there that pays better, works better with your day-to-day life, has better perks, or is more personally fulfilling.
If you haven’t looked for a job in some time – buckle your seatbelt.
Today many roles are filled prior to being posted and first-line screeners spend just a few seconds reviewing a resume, view documents on screens both large and small (no one prints them out anymore!).
Although the market is leaps and bounds better than it was during the recession – scars still remain. Hiring managers handle risk aversion by hiring via consensus-decision making – which means you must impress many before being offered a role.
Given the realities of the 21st century job market, it is critical you prepare before taking a leap.
Here’s how:
READY??
Spend some time brainstorming about the most logical next step. Is it a lateral move to a competitor, a promotion or a new area within, or perhaps an industry change?
Use the Internet, web and app-based job search apps to see who is hiring and in what kind of roles. Do a bit of due diligence to see if the companies or the roles sound appealing, and use LinkedIn to see the kinds of people currently filling those shoes.
GET SET . . .
DOCUMENTS
Don’t do a thing until your resume and your LinkedIn profile are in tip-top shape. This means making sure your resume is easily skimmable when read on screens of all sizes, and quickly shows the reader how you are a perfect fit.
Your best shot at success comes with a LinkedIn profile that is fully complete with a headshot, a searchable headline, compelling summary and noteworthy achievements.
SOCIAL MEDIA SITES
Spend some time shoring up any other social media sites with your name on them (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) as recruiters are known to check. Any sites that are not private should contain material that presents you in a great light professionally.
NETWORK
Spend some time identifying potential people to include in your network. People in your virtual rolodex should include connections of connections, friends of friends and recruiters. LinkedIn is a great resource for identifying these people and reaching out.
GO!!
Your documents are ready to go and your network is in place.
Now it’s time to let them know you’re looking and initiating conversations to uncover roles. Get on their radar by proactively engaging with company insiders be it through a LinkedIn group, a phone call or an email.
Picture yourself next year at this time. Will you be kicking yourself if nothing has changed or if you hadn’t explored if the grass is in fact greener somewhere else?
If the answer is yes than there’s no time like the present. Get moving . . . you’ll never know unless you try!