1) Start Early: Update your resume and LinkedIn profile
Starting off by editing or updating your resume will pay great dividends right away to start the new year. You want to be as prepared as you possibly can for new positions that come your way. Adding your most recent work experiences with responsibilities and added skill sets can attract more attention to your resume.
Your LinkedIn profile is another helpful asset to help you grow your network and find future employment. When hiring managers or recruiters are searching for candidates, they will look at your most recent work experience. Having a professional profile set up with proper tagging of the companies you’ve worked for to allow easy navigation for them to learn more about you. From time to time you should update the information on your Linkedin Profile, just like you would update your resume, and it only takes a few simple steps for big improvements.
2) Make a list and check it twice!
Create a list of must haves that you will be looking for in a potential job that you can see yourself doing next. Whether you’re looking for an increase in salary, closer location, or something more complex like a change in overall roles and responsibilities.
If you are looking for an increase in salary, you need to ask yourself, by how much and what amount would warrant a change? A standard amount could be a 10-15% increase, for example a 15% increase on $80,000/year would look like this: $80,000/year X 1.15= $92,000/year.
If you are looking for a better commute or change in location, map out all the companies, towns or cities that are closer to your location that you might feel like is a better fit. Setting up boundaries is a great way to giving yourself a guideline to where your next job location would be most ideal for you.
If you’re looking for new roles and responsibilities, reading job descriptions will give you a great idea exactly what the job details are. Write down exactly what you are currently doing, and what you want to be doing next. It could be new projects, traveling or less travel, new challenging industry work, etc.
3) Always keep expanding your network
The holidays are a time for family and getting together with friends, but it can also be a great way to catch up and expand your network. Casually bringing up, following up or asking friends or family members what your plans are for the new year can help expand your network into new opportunities.
Following up with a friend or family member might lead you to another person or company that is looking to hire in the new year. Take all the leads you can get and listening to other people is a great skill to have.
Completing your yearly follow ups are critical for starting off the new year right!
4) Start applying early
Applying at the end of the year and the start of a new year is a great idea. This way your resume will be in the mix come the first wave of hiring once the holidays are completed.
Searching for new employment that match your list, location and future goals is something that takes time and is better to start earlier rather than left to being done later.
Create a company list, and have your resume ready to go once the right jobs come up that you want to apply for!
*Bonus Tips* Reach out to a Technical Recruiting Firm (Expand Reach)
When you work with our team, we will help you expand your network of opportunities and help to ensure that your resume reach the right people at the companies you’re interested in.
We work closely with top employers across Southern Ontario to have a good idea of their hiring plans and the overall hiring landscape for the new year. And with our close connection with potential job seekers, we’re also able to provide them with insight on the labour market and where to search for talent giving our candidates and our clients the best possible chance to make a match.
From everyone here at Expand Reach we want to wish all job seekers and employers alike a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! Let’s make 2022 your year!
Contact us today to speak with one of our Recruitment Specialists and let us help you find new opportunities for the next step in your career!
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