Realign Your Job Search
The job search process can feel like a full-time job on its own. You may feel overwhelmed and not know where to begin. Outline the different steps in your job search process to stay organized and measure progress. Whether you are just starting or hit a roadblock in your job search process, the following three tips can help realign the direction you may go.
Identify your Career Goals
To ensure your job search process is as smooth as possible, take time to identify your career goals. This step is very important in your job search career because it gives you a clear vision of what you would like to achieve. There is a high probability that your career goals will follow a SMART-goal format once you begin analyzing the purpose of your job search. If you need a guide to create SMART goals, visit our previous article.
Before creating your goals, you must brainstorm. Ask yourself:
1. How are you looking to develop your career over the next year?
Are you thinking about leaving your job because you saw no future growth within that organization? Are you looking for a new role similar to your previous or current position? Make sure that you understand where you see your career heading in the immediate future. If you are ready to take the next step in your career, you may look at different titles compared to your current job title.
2. What are your must-haves in your next position?
In this position, are there specific characteristics that are a must for you to consider an offer? Are you looking for a work-from-home environment? Are you looking for certain benefits? Is there a commute you are looking to make? These are the type of questions you should ask yourself to help reduce the number of applications you submit. The job search can be tedious. If you intentionally apply to roles, you will receive the results you would like quicker.
3. What sort of culture are you looking for in your next company?
There is a reason why you are leaving your current role. Are you looking for a company that offers professional development? Are you looking for a company that gives back to the community? Although it may be difficult to figure out the culture of a company, research in detail the values the company stands for or take advantage of interviews to ask questions.
Research the Job Market
Start researching what job opportunities are there and what industries or companies you are interested in. Are you looking for a change in the industry? This research will give you a better understanding of what is happening in the job market. Fast-growing industries can offer competitive salaries for a wide range of job opportunities. Here are the top five fastest-growing industries in the U.S.:
1. Information technology: Some of the fastest-growing positions in the IT field are related to computer support in this technology age. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates IT occupations will grow by 12% over the next decade.
2. Construction: The fastest-growing type of construction is heavy civil engineering, and those in the industry can expect to see an 11% employment rate increase before 2028, according to the BLS.
3. Drink manufacturing: The number of companies that produce beverages continues to grow as the demand increases. The BLS estimates that sales professionals associated with drink manufacturing will see a 5% increase in employment by 2028.
4. Personal services: Professionals in this industry provide a wide range of services such as delivery services we saw grow during the pandemic. The BLS predicts that personal services will increase by 17% in employment before 2028.
5. Direct retail: Direct retail involves selling and delivering manufactured goods through door-to-door, office-to-office, or at-home parties rather than from brick-and-mortar stores. The employment rate for direct retail will increase by 2% before 2028.
Prepare your Personal Brand
Your brand is very important during your job search. You want to put your best foot forward to potential employers. Therefore, there are small steps you need to make sure are aligned before you begin applying.
Email Address: There is a chance that you may get creative with your email address when you are creating a new account, and that is great. However, for your job search, make sure to use a professional email. You do not want a recruiter/hiring manager to reach out to you via email with your iluvunicorns22@gmail.com account.
Voicemail: Make sure you have your voicemail set up! You would not like to miss a potential job opportunity because the recruiter or hiring manager couldn't reach out to you. Include your name in the voicemail to confirm that the recruiter or hiring manager reached the correct person.
LinkedIn Profile: LinkedIn is the most important social media platform for finding a new job. Make sure your profile includes up-to-date information with a professional headshot. You want to update all relevant experience, certifications, and other information to recruiters or hiring managers that may visit your profile. Our last article also included pointers on how to elevate your LinkedIn profile that you may also incorporate.