Seven Things To Do To Get Ready For Your Job Search

Seven Things To Do To Get Ready For Your Job Search

If your goal is to get a new job in this year, here are seven things you can do to prepare yourself.

1. Update your resume:

   Have you taken on additional responsibilities in your current job, changed your job target, or added new training or educational credentials? If so, now is the time to talk with your resume writer about updating your resume (And if you don’t have a resume at all, now is definitely the time to put one together! A professional resume writer can help!)

2. Update your LinkedIn profile:

   Someone looking for a candidate with your skills and experience might conduct a search on LinkedIn and find your profile. Or, someone in your network might be interested in recommending you, and forward your LinkedIn profile URL. You may also choose to apply to a position that is posted via LinkedIn. So make sure you have a LinkedIn profile, and make sure that it is updated.

3. Manage your online reputation: 

   More and more hiring managers are checking you out online before they interview you. What will they find when they type your name into Google? How about if they check out your Twitter profile? Or find you on Facebook? Now is the time to conduct a social media assessment and clean up your online profiles.

4. Define your ideal job: 

   If you don’t know what your dream job looks like, how will you know how to find it? What job title and responsibilities are you interested in? Do you want to work independently, as part of a team, or both? Do you like short-term projects or long-term projects? Who would you report to? Who would report to you? Answering these questions can help you define your ideal position.

5. Create a target list of companies you’d like to work for:

   Like your ideal job, you probably have a preference for the type of organization you want as your employer. Things to consider include: company size, industry, culture, location, and structure (public, private, family-owned, franchise, nonprofit, etc.). Once you’ve made your list, look for companies that fit your criteria.

6. Build your network: It’s estimated that over 40% of jobs are found through networking. Networking effectiveness is not just about quality, although that’s important. It’s also about quantity. It’s not just about who you know. It’s about who your contacts know. Many times, it’s the friend-of-a-friend who can help you land your dream job. Grow your network both professionally and personally. You never know who will be the one to introduce you to your next job opportunity.
7. Know what you’re worth: One of the most often-cited reasons to consider a job search is to increase your salary. But how do you know what you’re worth? There is more salary research data available than ever before. Websites like Glassdoor.com and Salary.com can help you see how your current salary and benefits package stacks up.

Note: This blog post only touches on certain aspects of this topic and is not a comprehensive list. This blog post is an educational and informational resource for job seekers and is not a substitute for working with a resume writer or other professional. See our Terms and Conditions for additional information.