Spring clean your job search, 2020 edition
Yes, this is a weird time in history. And yes, many companies have put hiring on hold until they can figure out what impact the global pandemic will have on the long-term health of their businesses. However, many companies are still hiring, and candidates are still getting interviews and offers. These unusual times present a unique opportunity to realign your job search with the current and continuously changing reality. And, since winter is officially gone, it’s an excellent time to review and reassess what you’ve been doing and to see what you could do differently.
Make LinkedIn work for you. LinkedIn is a fantastic networking and job-seeking tool. However, if you want to reap the most benefit from it, you need to be engaged and not passive. To maximize the results on LinkedIn, create a presence. This means that you need to interact with influencers, like/share/comment on posts, become active in groups, and create original content for your followers' consumption. All of this helps to build your brand and to optimize your profile.
Get out the hedge clippers and trim back your LinkedIn connections. Take a look at your LinkedIn connections. Are there people to whom you’re connected that you don’t know? Could you call every connection and ask for a favor? If the answer is no, and it probably is, then what is the point of having the connection? Networking is about helping other people, which ultimately helps you. Simply collecting contacts without building relationships does not advance this goal.
Prune your resume of anything that isn’t helping you. Does your resume have an objective statement? Does it have phrases such as “responsible for” or “duties include”? Does it include your physical mailing address? Get rid of these. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t care about your objectives. They care about solving their pressing business problems. And that’s why you need to showcase your achievements and accomplishments; don’t focus on mundane tasks associated with your job. Your snail mail address? Is someone going to use their Royal typewriter to write you a letter? Don’t waste precious real estate on this. Oh, you know how to use Microsoft Word and Excel? Congratulations. That’s like saying you can use a pen and a calculator.
Network. But do it differently. You know that LinkedIn is a great networking tool, specifically LI groups that are targeted by field or interest. But the regular networking that you would have done in-person last year is still around. It’s just moved online. Seek opportunities to connect with people virtually. Remember that networking is a two-way street. Offer to help; don’t merely ask for assistance.
Lastly…
Up your virtual game. I have no idea when you might be able to go out and meet with people live and in-person. That means that interviews are going to be conducted via phone and increasingly over videoconferencing. It is difficult to read body language virtually, but you still want to be mindful of it. Reduce fidgeting and verbal or physical tics. Be sure that you have an excellent WIFI connection and that the camera you’re using, whether on your phone, tablet, or computer is optimized for video conferencing. Also, be mindful of lighting and shadows. Before getting on a video call, do a dry run to make sure that you are literally casting yourself in the best light.