With the unemployment rate lower than it’s been in years, it should be easy to get a new job, right? Not necessarily. In fact, some experts estimate it can take up to a full month for every $10,000 in salary. Who’s got that kind of time or patience? The good news is there are certain things you can do to fast-track that process and improve your chances of landing a new job quickly. Here are five recommended steps to follow:
Freshen up your resume and references.
Start by going over your current resume and references to see what resources are available to you. Make sure your resume is tailored to the specific job you’re seeking and effectively showcases your strongest qualifications and most relevant skills. Focus on quantifiable terms, such as percentage saved, dollars raised, number of employees supervised, etc. Also, take note of the various individuals you can tap into for letters of recommendation so you’ll be ready once the time comes.
Polish up your brand.
Job searching in the digital age can be much more challenging. While there are more resources available, such as job search engines, there is also much less privacy. Make sure that any and all information about you that is available online is up to date and paints you in a positive, professional light. Take a good, hard look at your social media profiles and clean up anything that might give off a bad first impression to prospective employers. Trust us – they’re checking.
Enlist help.
Nobody said you had to tackle your job hunt all on your own. In fact, to the contrary, there are resources available to you that can help make finding the perfect job much easier and less stressful. For instance, enlisting the help of a recruiting firm enables you to search passively, prepare better and improve the chances of getting the role and/or salary you’re after. What’s more, established recruiting firms already have existing relationships with top organizations and can help get your foot in the door where you otherwise couldn’t on your own.
Brush up on your interview skills.
Think of the interview stage as the final exam at the end of a long semester. You’ve made it through the first several steps, now it’s time to demonstrate what you’ve learned. Do your homework and learn about the company you’ll be interviewing with. Plot out some of the questions you may be asked and prepare your answers in advance. Have a good idea of what to do and what not to do. This will let you put your best foot forward and hopefully ace that final like a champ.
Follow up.
Once you’ve made it past the interview stage, the last step in getting a new job is following up. Your interviewer may have spoken to dozens of candidates. Sending a personalized thank you note can keep you top of mind and help you stand out amongst the others. It’ll also provide the opportunity to sell your skills and remind your interviewer one more time why you’re the best person for the job.
Getting a new job doesn’t have to take forever. You just need the right strategy in place. Follow the five expert tips above and you should be well on your way to snagging the job you’ve always wanted.
If your thinking about expanding your job search, Betts is a great resource, so get in touch! We can help cut the job search time down significantly, and find a position that you’ll truly enjoy!