If your goal is to get a new job
in the new year, here are seven things you need to do to prepare yourself for
your job search.
1. Update your resume. While ideally your
resume is customized for a specific job, having an up-to-date resume targeted
for a specific “type” of position is the next best thing. So if you’ve taken on
additional responsibilities in your current job, or you’ve changed your job
target, or you’ve added new training or educational credentials, 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. Develop — or update — your LinkedIn profile.
A LinkedIn profile doesn’t replace the resume…it complements it. 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. So make
sure you have a LinkedIn profile — and make sure that it’s updated. (Yes, this
is something your resume writer can help you with.)
3. Know what you’re worth: conduct salary
research. 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.
4. Build your network. It’s estimated that
40-80 percent 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.
5. 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.
6. Define your ideal job. “If you don’t
know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” That line, from Alice in Wonderland, is important to
remember in your job search. 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.
7. 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.
