A new year, for many, means a fresh start or a new outlook in life and work. Whatever your career goals might be for 2023, whether you’re looking to take that next step in seniority, are just starting out in your career, searching for a new challenge, seeking a pay rise, or hoping to achieve more flexibility, consider these five important tips to set yourself up for success.
1. be clear about your priorities.
As individuals, we all have different priorities in life and work. Having a very clear idea of what you want to focus on this year will certainly help you achieve your career goals. Are you looking for more flexible working conditions? Career development opportunities? A full-time, part-time, or contracting opportunity? A job in a particular sector, business or location? Or is your focus on securing a certain level of pay?
Being very clear about your priorities for the year ahead will help you clarify what you need to do to either improve your current job conditions, or help you find a more rewarding job where you can thrive.
2. if you need to upskill, make it happen.
If you’ve started searching for your ideal job, you’ll very quickly learn whether you have the necessary skills and experience, or you need some upskilling. Yes, you can try to learn on the job, hoping your employer will support your ongoing growth and development. However, a better recommendation is to take control of your career and put a plan in place to build on your skills, knowledge, and experience. Then, when the opportunity arises to step-up, you will be ready, helping you to stand out from the crowd.
Consider enrolling in a training course, whether it’s through TAFE, LinkedIn Learning, or any other reputable RTO or industry organisation. Seek out a coach or mentor, offer to volunteer with a charity or community group, or sign up for a traineeship or internship.
To know precisely what skills, knowledge and attributes employers are looking for in the current market, reach out to a recruitment consultant who specialises in your field of expertise. Invest your time in building a long-term relationship with this recruitment specialist, as they will not only have the best advice to help you land your next role, but your dream job might just come from them as well.
3. prepare a resume that helps you stand out.
Before you start applying for jobs, you need an up-to-date, winning resume (curriculum vitae or CV). This takes time to get right as the goal of the CV is to be the best representation of who you are, and what you can bring to your employer – i.e., your professional and personal brand – to help you stand out in a crowded marketplace. Your CV should compel the recruiter or hiring manager to select you for the next stage in the recruitment process, which usually means a phone screening or first stage interview.
Therefore, it is vital your CV features all your recent achievements, skills, and experience, including any professional development courses you have completed. And if you want the best possible chance of being selected, you need to be prepared to tailor your resume to suit each job you are applying for. This could mean highlighting certain skillsets specific to the job, expanding on achievements and experience you have which are essential to the job you want, and cutting out information which is not relevant or essential to the desired job. And a tailored cover letter for each individual job you are applying for will also play a critical role in helping you stand out.
4. update your linkedin and social media profiles.
Your
LinkedIn profile needs to align with your CV, so update it as soon as you can. Remember to choose language and keywords throughout your profile that will resonate with the position, industry, and profession.
And make sure you are maximising every feature and option available to you in your LinkedIn account settings. Go through each option step-by-step to carefully select your specific preferences. Taking the time to do this right will give you the best opportunity to be found by recruiters and hiring managers on LinkedIn, and to verify you as a strong candidate for the role.
In line with this, it is also wise to review your social media profile, as this public information is often ‘informally’ screened to help employers decide whether or not to move forward with a candidate. So, before you start job hunting, the safest thing to do is a personal social media review - remove any content that could have a negative impact on your personal brand or your employer. It could be a comment, a controversial repost, or a misconstrued photo of you at a party. If you really want the job, don’t give the potential employer any reason to not select you unrelated to your skills, experience and capability.
5. connect with a recruitment specialist and reap the benefits.
Job hunting and career changes can be an overwhelming, emotional, and stressful time in your life. Knowing who to turn to for advice and guidance and who to trust can be difficult to work out. When that same person can not only share valuable insights, but can also bring career opportunities to you, well that’s a welcome bonus.
HR Partners by Randstad is a HR specialist recruitment company dedicated to helping people find work that fits them best. One of the best things you can do when looking for a career move is to build a strong relationship with a HR Partners consultant in your local area. They can help you stay relevant in this ever-changing world of work and help you find a rewarding job. This is what motivates HR Partners consultants every day.