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Job search tips for the New Year
Jan 21, 2021

If your New Year’s resolution is to find a new job, you are definitely not alone. Hiring typically increases at this time of year as businesses get going again after the holidays with new projects for the coming year, coupled with December being a slower hiring month. However, while this brings opportunity for the hopeful job seeker, it can also be a highly competitive time to secure a job as many people are using the new year to launch their job search and look for a career change.



This can make beginning your job search a little overwhelming, so if you’re not sure where to begin, here are some tips and strategies that you can implement to increase your chances of landing a new job.

 

Tailor your resume

When beginning your job search, the first step is to make sure your resume is up to date. But in order for it to appeal to the hiring manager, it’s important to go to the next level and tailor it to the specific job and industry for which you are applying. If you are applying for a specific role across different industries, you may need to create a few different resumes so they are more relevant to that industry. Similarly, if you are applying for roles that come with diverse duties, look at the job description for that role and tailor your resume to highlight skills that align with the job description. This doesn’t mean stating false information, but it could involve reordering information or removing words, as well as considering your keywords and customising it for search functionality.


You can also create a more impressive resume by not just stating what you’ve done at a previous job but also by quantifying your achievements. Adding impactful numbers to prove your achievements (e.g. ”I was able to improve overall sales for the business by 15% in my role”) illustrates to hiring managers the benefit you could bring to their organisation.

 

Improve your online professional presence

After being hired, your LinkedIn profile can often be neglected until you’re on the hunt for a new job again. That’s why it’s important to review and potentially rewrite your summary, work experience, achievements and skills section before you begin applying for jobs. Hiring managers will often look at your LinkedIn profile when they are reviewing your job application, and updating your profile will also make it more relevant when recruiters conduct a LinkedIn search. This means you could be approached for a role that could be of interest to you. Furthermore, you should ensure your LinkedIn profile picture is appropriate and professional, so it isn’t a potential barrier to being hired.


It’s also wise to check your other social media accounts such as Facebook and Instagram to ensure they remain private, or that they don’t promote content that perceives you in a negative light. Our

 

 

Grow your network and reach out to recruiters

As well as updating your resume and online profiles, it can be beneficial to go out and talk to friends, current and former colleagues or other professional contacts, as you never know what connections they may have or opportunities that could arise.


It’s also helpful to reach out to and connect with specialist recruiters on LinkedIn, as they could present you with a job opening that may not have been publicly advertised. If this is not the case, it can still be a good avenue for some valuable career advice, a point in the right direction or just to be on their radar so you’re front of mind should another job opportunity arise that you have appropriate skills for.

 

Spend time researching

You may be inclined to apply for the first job you see, but it’s important to research the company carefully, as well as the role. If you’re not set on a specific industry then look towards those that are showing growth and do your research on sectors that may offer you the best opportunities in terms of career growth, personal development or salary. As well as industries, also look at the companies within those areas that are displaying growth, as this is where you might find greater job prospects. Have a look at their social media pages to learn more about the company and its culture before you apply there.


If you’re interested in a particular career path, keep looking back at job boards to see the common attributes required of candidates, and thoroughly research what would be required of you. This will help you to see the areas you might need to improve in, or how you can use your strengths to your advantage when updating your resume and online applications.

 

Record your job applications

If you are applying for several jobs, it can be useful to keep a record of the jobs you have applied for so you have a reference point if the hiring manager gets in contact with you. There are several ways to do this, including creating an excel spreadsheet that lists the job you applied for, the company it was with, some information about the role and a link to the job ad. If you are a visual person, you may prefer to take a screenshot of the advertisement and save it in a file on your computer. It is also helpful to include the date you applied and whether or not you heard back from them.

That way you can keep track of your applications in the one spot, and where appropriate, touch base with those applications you may not have heard a response from.

 

Stay positive

The job search journey can be a long one, so it’s important to stay positive and take care of yourself, especially if you’re currently not employed. Take breaks in between job searching, get enough sleep and eat well, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you are getting a lot of knockbacks. Remember, this is a competitive market, so you won’t be the only one in this situation. Keep persisting and other opportunities will present themselves.

If you are looking for more resources to assist with your job search, visit our Career Resources page or get in touch with Bayside Group’s specialist recruiters today.

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