The holidays have ended, the calendars have turned, and 2018 has finally arrived. If you’ve been waiting until the new year to think about looking for a new job, you can finally spring into action.
If you’re still mulling over your career resolutions for the new year, you might want to take a look at a few of these resolutions. While they’re designed for job seekers, you might find them useful if you think you’ll be looking for a job in the near future.
Spruce Up Your Resume
Whether you’re just setting out on your search for a new job or you’ve been looking for a while, now’s the time to look at your resume again. You may have updated a couple of lines and proofread it again, but if that’s all you’ve done, it’s time to give your resume some more effort.
The first thing you should do is think about giving your resume a facelift. While there’s some debate about using design to differentiate your resume from the rest of the pack, the consensus seems to be that design can help you stand out.
Be sure to use a clean, professional-looking design. There are many different templates you can adopt.
Update the language on your resume as well and be sure to customize it for each and every job you apply for.
Learn a New Skill
If you’re thinking about searching for a new job, learning a new skill can be a great first step toward getting where you want to go. If you’ve been looking for a job but aren’t having much luck, consider a new skill as a way to make you more appealing to potential employers.
You may not become an expert overnight, but there are many short, online courses you can take to jumpstart your learning. Check out lynda.com or YouTube tutorials to get started. A more formal course might provide you with a better foundation but may also take longer to complete.
Prepare for Your Interviews
If you’re on the job hunt, landing an interview is pretty exciting. Many job seekers don’t take the time to adequately prepare for their interviews, however, and it shows when they go to the meeting.
If you’ve been getting interviews but not landing the job, consider making more time to prepare. Practice some questions and answers. Have a friend or family member conduct a mock interview. Do some research about the company and think about the questions you’ll ask to wow your interviewer.
Work with a Recruiter
If you haven’t thought about working with a recruiter or you’ve hesitated to work with one, make 2018 the year you finally create this partnership. It’s often the easiest and best way to land a new employment opportunity.
Recruiters can help you through every stage of the job search. They can help you discover new employers and more job postings. They can give you guidance on interview preparation and even how to write a resume that will truly impress employers and get you noticed.
Focus on Soft Skills
Many job seekers make the mistake of focusing on their hard skills. While these skills are what set you apart and make you the right fit for one specialized job or another, soft skills are often just as important, if not more so.
In fact, recruiters and employers alike are beginning to put more emphasis on soft skills such as communication and critical thinking. If you want to hone your soft skills, consider an online course or tutorial designed to help you improve.
Stay Positive!
It can be hard work looking for a job. You might submit many applications and go through several interviews before you land the right one. Don’t get discouraged. You’ll find the right job for you. Just keep your head up.
