In the face of economic challenges, companies often find themselves making tough choices, such as downsizing their workforce. Perhaps you’re going through this now, or will be in the future (maybe as an employer, or even an employee). In a situation where there are seemingly no winners, it says a lot when employers support employees through a layoff experience – so be sure to bookmark this page!
We've compiled ten job search tips that will help departing employees not only in their search, but when positioning themselves in favor of the recruiter. This will help to stand out in a job search, and secure their next dream job quickly.
1. Weekly Resume Updates on Job Boards
Recruiters often receive new job requisitions on Fridays when employees put in their notice. To ensure your resume is seen, post it on job boards like Indeed.com, Glassdoor, and any niche sites relevant to the industry every Sunday. Literally, take your resume down, and put it back up. Here’s why - Recruiters typically set up saved searches to pull new resumes over the weekend, so refreshing your resume weekly ensures that you remain on their radar.
2. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn profile is your digital business card. Make sure it mirrors your resume, and enable the "Open to New Opportunities" function. This signals to recruiters that you are actively seeking new opportunities and allows them to find you more easily.
3. Join and Engage in Social Media Groups
Recruiters often share job openings in LinkedIn and Facebook groups as a way to reach potential candidates. Join groups specific to your industry or job searching, and spend time each week reading and engaging with the content posted. This not only keeps you informed but also makes you more visible to recruiters looking for candidates in these groups.
4. Follow Companies
If there are specific companies you're interested in, follow their LinkedIn pages. Depending on how the Companies are posting the jobs, not all of them will show up in the general job search feature. Meaning, you’ll want to monitor the jobs that are shared on the Companies’ pages.
5. Connect with Local Recruiting Agencies
Reach out to recruiting agencies in your area and ask them to add your resume to their system. Agencies are constantly seeking qualified candidates, and once you're in their database, they can connect you with potential job opportunities.
6. Apply-- Even if You Don’t Meet All the Requirements
When job hunting, remember job postings are written to find the “perfect” candidate. Here’s a secret - “perfect” candidates don’t exist. It is highly unlikely that anyone will meet every single requirement on a job posting. That said, apply to positions where you meet at least 70% of the required skills.
An extra bonus with this strategy is that recruitment teams often consider candidates for multiple roles, so casting a wider net can lead to unexpected opportunities.
7. Set Up Saved Searches on Job Boards
While regularly searching job boards is necessary to keep the momentum, you can save time by setting up saved searches on job boards, so newly posted jobs are emailed directly to you.
8. Slide into Recruiter/HR’s DMs
After applying for a role, use LinkedIn to find a recruiter or HR Business Partner at the company. Send them a personalized message expressing your interest in the position and your eagerness to learn more about the company. This proactive approach can help you stand out from the competition.
9. Attend Career Fairs
Career fairs are not only for graduating students. Search for, and attend local career fairs where you can distribute your resume to multiple companies at once. Be sure to dress professionally, bring resumes, and be ready to give a 30 second run down of your work experience.
10. AI Magic for Resumes
Tailoring your resume to align with requirements in a job description is a known best-practice– but we all know how unbelievably time consuming this can be. Generative AI platforms like ChatGPT can help you customize your resume for each job application. Paste in your resume, paste in the job description, and create a Prompt for AI to pull items from the job description and update your resume.
REMEMBER to edit the output, and only share include what is accurate!
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