2023 is in full swing, and if you are a current job seeker, gaining employment may tie into your New Year's Resolution. As you settle into the search, you will notice that unemployment is historically low, and the demand for talent is at an all-time high.
Consider the following five New Year's goals for job seekers to set yourself apart from other candidates.
1. Update your social media, especially LinkedIn
Social media, specifically LinkedIn, is one of the first places a recruiter or hiring manager might discover you. It acts as a database of records for your career, is a place where you can declare yourself professionally, and helps maintain and grow a network of those in similar or different industries. Keeping social media accounts up to date with your professional experience is essential. LinkedIn should be a direct reflection of your resume. One significant refresh is making sure critical keywords appear on your platforms.
For more information on how to update your LinkedIn profile to stand out to decision-makers, read our blog on How to Create a Standout LinkedIn Profile
2. Tailor each resume
Tailoring each resume you submit per the job description can act as a tipping point that sets you apart from other candidates. There are a few key things to consider when editing your resume:
- Understand the needs of the company. Your resume should reflect that you understand the position and should prove that you are qualified for the job. Once you have demonstrated that you know the company's needs, show them how to bridge the gap they are experiencing. Thoroughly reviewing the job description and company website can provide greater insight into what the company needs, both directly and indirectly, and can show what is particularly important to the company.
- You can begin to tailor your resume by answering the following questions according to the position at hand: How do you meet the job qualifications? What makes you stand out from other possible applicants? What competence and experience do you have that applies to the position?
3. Grow your network
LinkedIn is one of the quickest and most effective ways to grow your professional network. There are tips and tricks to make your efforts successful using this program: personalizing connection requests, following up on events, setting connection goals, keeping an active feed, and interacting with current connections.
- Personalizing connections is an easy way to improve a generic request and can be as simple as, "Good to meet you last week; let's keep in touch!" Personal messages help establish a deeper initial relationship and can increase the likelihood that your connection requests are accepted.
- Following up on an event you attend is a great way to establish more connections on LinkedIn. If you attend a trade show, conference, or another event, take advantage of the opportunity to grow your online professional network.
- Setting a connection goal
4. Do your research
You have likely been advised to research the company you are interested in applying to better form questions for the hiring manager and see if the company appears to be a good fit for your skillset and company preferences. This is excellent advice, as it will show your curiosity and interest in the organization. Also, it is reasonably evident which candidates have researched and which have not researched the company. Plan to find background information on the company and position you are applying for, but also be sure to research the hiring manager and anyone else involved in the interviewing process. Not only can this set you apart, but it can help calm your nerves due to thorough preparation.
To begin the research process, visit the company website to review the organization's mission statement, learn the basics of its culture, and see who is actively employed. Most companies today have social media accounts. Checking a company's social media presence can keep you up to speed on updates and information not available elsewhere and shows the company's importance on public image.
LinkedIn is a great place to start to easily view your connections at the company, new hires, promotions, open positions, similar companies, and other company information. If you have contacts who work at your company of interest, consider reaching out to them, as they may be able to put you in touch with hiring managers and can share their experience working at the company.
5. Find a trusted recruiter
The following are some reasons it is beneficial to work with a trusted recruiter. For more information, check out our blog post on "Working with a Recruiter will Revolutionize Your Hiring Process."
Third-party recruiters keep candidates engaged through the hiring process. They are wholly dedicated to filling roles, as recruiters work around the clock to meet candidate and client needs. A considerable portion of a recruiter's job is to keep clients engaged as they put them before companies. Offers often come in from various angles, and recruiters keep candidates informed while the process unfolds. Employing a third-party recruiter usually means working closely with a singular recruiter; however, you are taking on a team in close communication about your employment needs. Negotiation is integral to the hiring process; using a third-party recruiter to take in both client and candidate needs and lead toward a mutually beneficial agreement is beneficial.
Written by Lauren Kemp
Lauren Kemp, Communications and Marketing Specialist at J2T, earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a minor in Latin American studies and a Master of Science in Innovation and Management from Montana State University. Lauren hails from Montana and enjoys reading about the history of her home state. Her bucket-list items include touring the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, and taking an immersion trip to Chile to experience Latin American culture first-hand.
J2T is a recruiting and staffing firm that solely focuses on accounting and finance roles. J2T Flex facilitates all operational accounting needs, both direct hire and contract or contract-to-hire needs. On the direct hire side, J2T Recruiting specializes in senior positions starting at Sr. Accountant up through CFO in direct hire and contract or contract-to-hire needs encompassing everything in the corporate accounting and finance organizational chart. J2T is a women-owned business exclusively serving the Colorado and Montana markets with the overarching goal to serve you in all areas of the hiring experience.
