The Job Seeker's Resolution Check List

2022 is winding down and it’s been a crazier year than any other.

The first half of the year followed a piping white-hot 2021 candidate’s market. The second half of the year ended up with headlines of layoffs, restructuring, slowdowns, and recession talk.

Don’t let the headlines fool you - we still have record low unemployment numbers. Within reason, the candidate still has the power (of course, everything ‘depends’ on skillset, industry, seniority, etc).

Whether you’re actively looking - or passively - here are the resolutions you need to have a successful job search in 2023.

1. Network

In my personal opinion, one of the most important parts of your professional career - let alone your job search.

I can argue that job stability doesn’t just come with the current job you have, but the network of people you have around you in case that job doesn’t work out.

A strong network has many benefits, including: introducing you to new jobs & other connection, make warmer new connections, and opening up doors to new opportunities that never would have existed otherwise.

If you’re looking to continue to build out your network, try connecting with people online (LinkedIn, Twitter), in person events (meetup.com), and reaching out to old peers, alumni, classmates to start.

1. Resume

Make sure it’s up-to-date at all times.

For active candidates - this is obvious. For passive candidates - you never know when a great opportunity is going to cross your desk. If the role of a lifetime comes your way, the last thing you want is to respond days later because you had to prep your resume & now the role might be on hold.

• Tailor your resume to each job - or type of job - you’re applying for

• Highlight relevant skills & experience

• Don’t overthink the format - sometimes boring is better

• Don’t just include your roles & responsibilities - highlight your accomplishments as well

• Do your best to include numbers, data, and facts to quantify the impact you had

• Share any supplemental links: github, portfolio, websites, etc

1. Optimized LinkedIn

The vast majority of recruiters use LinkedIn on a daily basis, and there are over 800M users. That alone should be enough to get yours started up.

While a good LinkedIn profile shouldn’t be the reason why someone gets (or doesn’t get) a job - it can be looked at as a major supplement to your job search.

Making your profile SEO (search engine optimization) friendly can help recruiters find you easier - thus helping to boost your odds of landing a new role.

Remember, recruiters don’t just rely on inbound applicants - there are also recruiters that go out and source their own candidates as well - this is who you will reach.

Here’s how:

• A title that shows what you do and how

• Professional headshot, extra points for a nice banner

• About me = elevator pitch

• Work experience - using the key skills that are on your resume

• Update education, certifications, any outside links (github, portfolio, website)

1. Interview Prep

Resume content gets all the likes, but a resume won’t get you an actual job. Passing the interview does.

There are different types of interviews: Behavioral, Technical, Coding are the most common for tech.

Make sure you identify with your recruiter which interview type you’ll be going through at each round specifically, as this will depend on the type of preparation you’ll need.

Start writing down STAR stories (google this if you need to), practicing free coding tests, and practice answering your questions in front of a mirror or with a friend.

1. Research

Research is important for many things in your job search, but here we will highlight two things:

• Salary/Total Compensation: make sure you are coming up with an optimistic range and a realistic range. If you overshoot your compensation way above what the market pays, recruiters won’t take you seriously even if you’re qualified for the job.

• Employee reviews: looking these up on glassdoor and blind is crucial. The last thing you want to do is board a ship while it’s burning down. Granted, a lot of theirs can be hit or miss but it’s important to still take a look at them and see what you’re potentially getting into

• LinkedIn: Can you look up the specific team members you’ll be working with? If so - are you able to see what their tenures are?

1. Time

Often overlooked by most job seekers. Time can always help you make a winning decision.

First - make sure you have a solid emergency fund in case you are laid off abruptly. This will help ensure that you can wait for the ‘right’ job offer, not the first one. Yes - there is a difference.

Second - if you’re currently working at a job you hate, it might not be the best time to just quit cold turkey without another offer in hand. Bide your time, play the game, and keep that job until you land something confirmed.

Don’t be discouraged by the layoff news - you can still take control of your job search. Using these resolutions will help put the power back into your hands.

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-RR