It is hard to believe another year has passed and, if you are in the job search mode, the time is right to review your methods and strategy. The beginning of a new year is usually a good time for job searching, as companies often start in January with new budgets. Any new headcount usually is delayed until a new budget while many companies will often place open positions on hold towards the end of the year to save money in that budget.
Take advantage of the ceremonial start to a new year by providing yourself a bit of a fresh start to your job search. There are several things you can do to start the year with the momentum you need to land the position you desire.
Let’s take a look at a few of the items that you can consider:
• Cultivate the Network – Hopefully the holiday season allowed you to reconnect with some old acquaintances. I know I had a few former colleagues who I had lost touch with reach out to me to wish me a Happy Holidays. Family, friends, and former co-workers can be a terrific source of job leads, advice, and encouragement.
• Reflect On the Past Year – Reflect back on this year and perform a “post-mortem” review of the year…what you thought worked well and what did not get a reaction. This exercise will serve as the basis for the rest of your job search tweaks in January. Be self-critical during this process, as this mindset will help you analyze the events of the year. Bring family and friends into the process, as they can perhaps provide you with a fresh perspective regarding the past year. Keep an open mind when listening to the constructive feedback they provide and try hard not to “chill the air” by becoming overly defensive. Were there a few jobs that you were really interested in and you thought you were perfect for and didn’t get? Spend time examining those scenarios to determine if there is anything that needs to be adjusted.
• Go Into the New Year Positive – Now that you have examined this year and gathered the learns from the past year, shake off any negative thoughts as you head into the new one. You want to avoid carrying into the New Year, any of the baggage from the past one. I know this one is much easier for me to write than for you to put into action, but a positive outlook is crucial for success in this challenging economy. Hopefully, time spent with family and friends over the holidays have assisted you in doing this.
• Leverage Your New Years’ Resolutions – Many people use the beginning of the year to commit to themselves that they will change something. Why not select a New Years’ Resolution that will help you in your job search? A resolution to lose weight, exercise, or learn something new can pay dividends in one’s job search. All of the above can also help stimulate the brain and help you gain energy which will naturally serve to assist in alleviating some of the stress found in a job search.
• Review Your Cover Letter and Resume – Take a little time to review the documents you send to Recruiters in order to apply for open positions. Your Cover Letter should consist of 3-4 paragraphs that serve to frame your interest in the position, explain why you are qualified, and provide information regarding how best to contact you. Your Resume should be a 1-2 page document that outlines how you will add value to the organization via your experience, skills, and education. A key area to consider in the Resume is how to handle listing dates. If you have spent an extended period unemployed, you may want to convert your timeline to years and drop the months off of your Resume. After you have reviewed the Cover Letter and Resume, have a friend or family member also critique, in order to obtain another opinion.
• Mock Interview – This is especially important if you have been generating resumes, but not landing any offers. Ask a friend or family member to conduct a mock interview with you. Select someone who (preferably) will provide you relevant, honest, and specific feedback about your performance. Make sure to cycle through some expected questions you will receive from Interviewers, so you can work on your answers. If you have been unemployed for an extended period of time, be prepared for more questions in the New Year regarding your gap in employment.
As I hope you gathered from the list above, all of these items are fairly simple, yet can be quite impactful to your job search. Don’t just continue what you are doing now and expect the results to suddenly change. Examine your current strategy and perform the necessary tweaks for next year’s success.
As always, best of luck in your job search.
The following has been prepared for the general information of WNYJobs readers. It is not meant to provide advice with respect to any specific legal or policy matter and should not be acted upon without verification by the reader.
Joe Stein
WNY Human Resources Professional
Feel free to contact Joe Stein regarding questions or comments at:
Joe Stein
