It’s probably safe to say that most of us are eager to put 2020 in the rear-view mirror and were relieved to flip the calendar to a New Year. It’s also likely that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, several people who have been un-or-underemployed are in the process of researching and applying for new job opportunities. If you’re one of those folks who are currently looking for a new job or planning to make a professional change in the new future, there are several things you can be doing to move your career to the next step in 2021:
Reach out to your professional network
This is a good time to catch up with people you haven’t seen in months---or had reason to interact with--- because of the pandemic. Call or email your contacts and see how they’re doing and what they’ve been up to over the past few months. Conversations with peers, mentors and former colleagues are where you begin to uncover tacit knowledge and discover the questions you didn’t know you should ask during a potential job search in the near future.
Self-Development
Refresh your audio library by adding new self-help and professional development podcasts to listen to during your daily commute, or while walking the dog or washing the dishes. Much like the best self-help books, self-development podcasts will provide tips and tricks for achieving success in a variety of scenarios. Learn how to improve your professional relationships, how to boost your productivity, or just listen for some sage wisdom from the experts in your field. Here’s a list of 20 top self-help podcasts, and you can search your industry in places like LinkedIn and iTunes to find podcasts by the experts in your chosen field.
Add your 2020 accomplishments to your resume
January is a great time not only to reflect on the past year, but also on your professional achievements. Identify some ways you added value to your employer this year—and quantify it. Did you hit a sales goal? Take on additional responsibilities? Named employee of the month or selected to a new work committee? Add those new achievements to your resume. This should be obvious (but, it isn’t): use a professional or generic email address on your resume. Contact information like [email protected] or [email protected] will do nothing little more than generate a laugh and a trip to the recycle bin.
"If you were laid off due to COVID-19, make sure to note you lost your job as a direct result of the pandemic, recommended the Gee Group, a staffing agency located in Columbus, Ohio."
-Yahoo Finance (1/11/21)
Review Your LinkedIn Profile
If it doesn’t include your current job, add it. Did you receive an award? Host a webinar? Earn a new professional certification? Don’t forget to add those to your LinkedIn profile. And...if you haven’t created a customized LinkedIn URL yet, do so; it will make your profile more professional—and don’t forget to include your new LinkedIn URL on your resume. Make sure that you use a professional photo (leave the casual photos for Facebook and the like), added keywords for your industry in the About section, and that your headline (the words under your name) is something other than the default which lists your job title (you can be a little creative here). It will probably take less than thirty minutes to get your LinkedIn profile looking crisp and clean for 2021.
Assess Your Professional Gaps and Find Ways to Correct Them
Are you missing a critical skill? Certification? Has a previous employer told you that you need to spend more time in the community or networking? Write down what you’re missing and make plans to address it. For best success, take specific action: sign up for a class, find a buddy or colleague to hold you accountable, schedule time to practice what needs improvement.
Unhappy in Your Current Job? Why?
The most important thing is for you to try to figure out why you’re unhappy...is it something that is within your control (attitude, working style) or not (a colleague, unrealistic sales goals)? Next, assess your strengths, weaknesses, and be honest—take an assessment if you need to, or ask someone you trust to give you their true opinion about the situation. Identify what you want to do and whether you have the existing skills and experience to do so. If not, make a written plan to close those gaps and implement those steps. Without careful consideration of what makes you happy and what doesn’t, it’s likely that you’ll also end up unhappy in your next job.
Practice Makes Perfect: Strengthen Your interviewing Skills
Ask a friend or a colleague to give you a practice interview and record it. Spend 45 minutes (or longer) on your practice interview. You can use Zoom, Skype, or another platform—the platform doesn’t matter but the practice does. And when you watch your “interview,” do so with a critical eye and note what you could do better—and practice again.
Prepare Your Best Answer to, “What do you do?”
Everyone needs a good answer to this question. Make your answer interesting and engaging. Think about using this formula to craft your answer: what do you do/what you want to do + why you’re good at it + value you add. And after you spend the time preparing and assessing your next career move, target those companies that most closely embody your values, embrace your unique skill profile, and show promise in their industry. The best employers have done similar legwork as you and should be able to demonstrate their values, culture, and personality on their career site.
At HIRECLICK, we believe that successful hiring revolves around the careers site For as low as $99 per month, our clients enjoy a custom, mobile friendly careers site, automatic jobs distribution, full applicant tracking and communication.
Visit HIRECLICK.com to learn more and get started.
