Time to Change it Up?
It’s February 22? Where did January go? Where did your plan to start a new position at the start of 2017 go? Are you the wrong candidate for every job you applied too? Could it be your resume?
Well, maybe you are taking the wrong approach…. here are some hints that might help!
Don’t search by title
This is not the smartest approach! A lot of people automatically start their job search by looking for job postings of the exact title they are looking for. Instead of searching for titles, it is better to make a list of companies you have an interest in working for. Is location important? Is the company culture key to your decision? Are you targeting a specific industry? Do you want a start-up company? Whatever the case is, it is good idea to get an understanding of the type of company you want to work for first.
Networking
Once you find a list of companies you have an interest in, it is crucial that you do some networking. First and foremost, it would be a good idea to search through your LinkedIn connections and reach out to connections you have made in the past and see if they can lead you in the right direction. If you are having a difficult time finding the right person to reach out to because you do not have any direct connections to the companies you have an interest in, REACH OUT TO RECRUITERS IN THE LOCAL MARKET!!!!! They always know a good amount of contacts at local companies and would be able to help you get right in front of the hiring managers! (You can’t beat that!) They make the process of searching for a new job simple and painless. You might even want to skip networking yourself and go right to reaching out to us awesome recruiters first (haha).
Resume
Lastly, it is very important to make sure your resume is TOP NOTCH. This is the one piece of paper that is supposed to represent you in the best way possible and your one chance to showcase all that you can offer to a prospective employer.
Key points to remember:
- First few lines are crucial. Grab the reader’s attention immediately.
- Customize your resume slightly for each job opportunity you apply too. It is very important to emphasize the experience you have that align with the requirements of the opportunity and incorporate those keywords from the job descriptions.
- Short N’ Sweet- Keep your resume to 1-2 pages because after that no one is going to read it!
- Always incorporate any achievements you receive so you do not come across as boring!
- Show some personality- it could be helpful to mention some interesting activities that demonstrate you have a creative side.
- SPELL CHECK!!!!!!!!!!! Spelling and grammar are huge so don’t forget that!
If you have any questions on how to proceed in your job search, reach out to RightClick! We will give you the best advice!
Writer: Jen Rescigno, Director