New Year. New Job? Four Tips for Upgrading Your Career
One of the top New Year’s Resolutions is improving your finances, which often means a career upgrade. As someone who has gone through a major career upgrade in the past, there are a few key points to keep in mind.
Once again, I want to welcome my friend Lucy Wyndham to the blog to talk with you about finding a new career. Take it away Lucy!
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Finding a job is, in itself, a full time job. Hours can be spent on job sites such as Indeed.com to no avail. Employers receive hundreds of resumes a day, so making yours stand out becomes your part time job. Effectively looking for a job, then getting that employer interested, requires a lot of hard work. Check these tips to make sure you’ve got your search down pat.
Understand What You Want
This means that you need to organize your priorities. What do you truly want from a job? Perhaps you want a good salary, or a positive company culture. Order your priorities from most to least important, then use the list to guide you toward specific companies.
Remember, however, to stay flexible without straying too far from these priorities. For example, if your dream company has an opening a step below your dream job, consider taking the lower job. Be a writer before becoming the chief editor.
Read Every Job Thoroughly
It seems redundant, especially in our get-it-now society. However, reading that job description up front will help you direct your resume to the company. You’ll also know if the job is really for you. Applying to jobs that just don’t fit is a waste of your time, and the employer’s time.
Further, the employer will expect that you have read the job description fully. In today’s Internet-based job search, making the most of your job search is essential. Reading the job description is as important as researching the company.
Avoid Blanket Paperwork
As mentioned above, you’ll want to customise every resume and cover letter you send. When applying for a job via email, either attach the cover letter separately or treat the body of the email as a cover letter.
Highlight the skills the company mentions in the job description. Remember that an employer will skim your resume, and you may have only a few seconds to make a great impression. Make sure the scannable material matches the employer’s requirements. Further, remember that some employers use machines to search keywords within a resume. Match your skills to the employer’s words on the job description so your resume stands out to the machine.
Use Referrals
Make sure to network and use referrals that you’ve gained. There are a number of different networking programs available, so find one and join it. Attend conferences in your field to meet those already established. Apply when invited, and keep up with industry connections. Employers appreciate a candidate who has been paying attention to the industry. Further, if an employer remembers you fondly, you have a higher chance of getting the job.
Looking for a job is busy work. However, prioritizing and knowing what you want will help you get the attention you deserve. Remember one thing though; never give. Press on, no matter how hard the process may be.
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Editor’s Note: One note I’ll add to this is that a career upgrade is a major opportunity for you to bump up your salary from your current job. Once you’ve found a job you’ll love, and received an offer, don’t assume that offer is set in stone.
An offer is a great sign that the company wants to hire you and invest in you, but they also have an obligation to try to keep overhead low, so they’ll likely offer you less than they’re really willing to pay you.
Take this opportunity to ask for just a little bit more salary, as well as benefits such as paid time off. Just one ask can go a really long way.
“Lucy Wyndham is a freelance writer and editor. She began her career as a financial advisor helping both people and businesses with their financial needs. After taking a step back to spend more time with her family, she loves to pass on good advice and to take her Labrador, Rosie, on long walks.”
