Your Fall Job Search Checklist
Even though the current economic outlook is still a little bit uncertain at the moment, companies are hiring and people are leveling up their careers despite these not-so-ideal circumstances. If you’re unhappy or unfulfilled in your current role or if you’re unemployed and looking to get back into the workforce, fall is a great time to get out there and make it happen!
To prepare you for a successful fall job search, we’ve prepared a checklist that you can follow to make sure you have everything you need to blow the hiring managers away:
Defined Goals - I strongly encourage anyone who is about to embark on a job search to first sit down and really think about what your goals are. Do you have a salary goal? Job title? I know it sounds cheesy, but where do you want to see yourself in one year? Five years? Ten years? Knowing this will make it easier for you to review any offers you receive and determine if they’re worth accepting. Too often, we can be so flattered
Company Wish List - List out 20-30 companies you are interested in. Research the companies by looking at their website, social media pages, and look them up on Glassdoor. see you know anyone who works there already (LinkedIn is perfect for this) and if so, send a connection request and ask if they have any advice for getting your foot in the door. Maybe they can even make an introduction for you!
Reach Out to Your Network - Let the people in your life know that you’re looking to transition in a new role. Share your goals with them and ask them to give you a heads up if they hear of any openings that might match what you’re looking for. There’s power in numbers, so share your intentions with those closest to you!
Updated Resume - Of course, before you start applying for any roles you will need to spend time updating your resume. Whether you decide to hire someone to help you or you create your new resume yourself, you’ll want to make sure you’re aware of these three simple tips to get your resume in gear and ready to hand off to a hiring manager.
Cover Letter - Just like your resume, your cover letter needs to be updated... and not just once, either. While most of it can stay the same, you will want to scan it and tailor it slightly for each job you apply to. Trust me, recruiters and hiring managers can tell when they’ve been given a stock cover letter and with competition for jobs so fierce right now, you don’t want to disqualify yourself with something as simple as this!
Updated LinkedIn Profile - Once you “pass” the resume and cover letter review phase of the job search, the next thing a hiring manager will do is usually search for you online and see if they can find you on LinkedIn. Make sure your profile is current, professional, and active. Share some interesting industry news and add your thoughts to the conversation. Make sure your headshot is current and your experience section is updated. Spend an hour or two polishing your profile and you’ll be good to go!
Get New References - If it’s been a while since you’ve been on a job search, chances are your references are outdated. Look at your list and if there’s anyone on there who you don’t have regular contact with anymore or haven’t worked with in some time, it’s probably time to remove them. If you can get a current manager or supervisor, that’s the best case scenario. If not, a past manager or supervisor is the next best thing.
Ask for Recommendations - You know how companies like to share testimonials from their satisfied customers on their website? That’s called “social proof” and it’s a very powerful sales strategy. Your LinkedIn recommendations are basically the same thing. These recommendations make it easier to say “yes” to hiring you! If you don’t have any or they’re pretty outdated, ask some of your closest colleagues if they wouldn’t mind writing one for you!
Prep Interview Answers - We don’t think anyone should go into a job interview and “just wing it.” If you really want the role that’s on the table, you should put in the work and prep your answers beforehand. If you really want a leg up over the competition, consider hiring an interview coach to help you answer the tough questions, increase your confidence, and position yourself as the best candidate for the job.