Landing a great job is no easy task if you don’t take the right approach. Whether you’re out of work or just ready to make a change, if you don’t take the time to plan and prepare adequately, you’ll find yourself spinning your wheels. Here are five tips that will help you get better results from your efforts.
Tip #1: Research Your Target Industry and Organizations You Want to Work For
You may think you already know all there is to know about your target industry, especially if you’ve been working in it for a while. There’s always more to explore to ensure you are up to date with industry trends, critical issues and potential job openings.
Through your research, narrow your focus to specific organizations you want to target. Create a robust job leads list of organizations you want to work for. Dive deep to learn more about these organizations’ challenges and needs to determine how you can add value. Here are some ways to get up to speed:
- Google news for the specific industry and organization
- Check GlassDoor.ca for employee reviews
- Peruse industry websites
- Visit their company website
- Take a look at their Facebook page or Twitter feed
- Utilize LinkedIn to research the organization and identify the hiring managers
- Seek information about their competitors
Your research into the industries and organizations will serve you well throughout your job search. It gives you a solid foundation for knowing what to include in your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile. It also helps in interview preparation to ensure answers are relatable and relevant to each employer’s needs.
Tip #2: Build a Rock-Solid Resume That Commands Attention
Successful resumes have three features. First, they have a strong profile statement. Devote the top third of your resume to a profile statement that describes you, summarizes your unique value proposition, and gives details about your specific successes.
Next, ensure the Professional Experience section of your resume is rich with your accomplishments. Demonstrate your track record of success through using $, % and #. For example: Coached and developed an award-winning sales team that achieved over $8.5 million in sales (2018).
Finally, include keywords that relate specifically to your chosen industry. Because today’s recruiters rely on computer software programs (specifically Applicant Tracking Systems – ATS) to find and assess resumes of qualified applicants, you need relevant keywords to get their attention. Otherwise, all the time you spent carefully crafting the language of your resume will be wasted.
Tip #3: Update Your LinkedIn Profile
Before you start sending out resumes, get your social media house in order. In other words, make sure you present yourself online the way you want hiring managers to see you. Help recruiters find you through your LinkedIn profile by using industry-specific and job-specific keywords. Be smart about the way you fill in each field in the profile. Instead of your job title, use a profile headline that highlights your specialty and unique value proposition. Your career coach can help you craft a compelling LinkedIn headline and summary section that command recruiters’ attention.
Tip #4: Prepare to Wow Hiring Managers with Your Great Interview Skills
You never know when you’ll get a call from the hiring manager of your dream company, so you need to be ready to make your case in the interview. It pays to start practicing early. Developing tailored answers to behavioural interview questions takes time and it’s critical that you have numerous examples, versus relying on one story of your success. When you have been scheduled for an interview, you can fine-tune your approach to meet that hiring manager’s needs.
How do you know what questions they’ll ask? You don’t. However, you can make some educated guesses if you know what types of questions hiring managers usually ask. You can start with JL Careers’ list of the most commonly asked interview questions and typical executive interview questions. Then, to prepare for an interview for a specific role, Google: “Interview Questions [+ your job title].”
If you find that you aren’t getting called back after interviews. Do an interview audit to determine what you might need to work on to improve your results.
Tip #5: Work with a Professional Career Coach
Having a professional on your side through the job search process is a smart move. They can guide you in crafting your resume, LinkedIn Profile and cover letters. Plus, they can provide targeted interview coaching and interview practice that will help you ace the interview and land the job of your dreams.
Are you ready to go beyond ordinary job search strategies and take control of your career? Contact us! We can provide the expertise and help you need to launch a successful job search.
Wishing you much career success!
Joanne Loberg
Certified Executive Coach & Internationally Certified Career Management Professional
JL Careers Inc
