If you’re dying to get out of that job but you’re dreading the search for a new position, we’ve got you. Time’s-a-changing when it comes to the application process. You’ve got to adopt a winning strategy that will land you a job that makes you happy.
Here are the job hacks you’ll want to know as you begin the process.
1. The Linkedin headline that draws people in
Whatever you do, please don’t put “looking for opportunities” or any other related word phrases in your headline. Not only is that way too general, it also fails to tell people who you are.
You want to answer the question: who are you and what makes you special? Well, it’s actually the question you want to answer throughout your professional materials but make your headline a concise version of that answer.
Ex. Website coder ready to design your next project
Or better yet, don’t say that you’re looking for work in your headline at all. Save that for the bio. You could write something like: “website coder designing functional and interactive pages.”
2. Flip the switch
Linkedin has a silent trigger that you can flip on so that recruiters and HR professionals know that you’re looking for the next big thing. Turn it on when you’re ready to go live with your job search. And before you even ask – no, your boss or connections will not be alerted that you’re looking for a way out.
Brand yourself at the top of your resume.
3. Branding yourself on your resume
The biggest thing to keep in mind is to brand yourself at the top of your resume.
The average HR professional or recruiter spends roughly six seconds on every resume. Let’s be honest, we can’t even decide on what to eat for dinner in that short amount of time…
Overcome that obstacle by writing a punchy 1-2 line summary that answers the following questions: “Who are you? What is the value you bring to the table? What results have you delivered in the past?” (Notice we did not say list your current job title and what you’ve done. That’s what the rest of the resume is for.)
4. Show me the money
Sometimes job applications will require you to input how much you were paid in previous positions. It’s a trap! Do some research on what the salary target is for the role you are applying to and put that number into all fields showing your past salaries. Then, in the next comment section, indicate that the salaries you listed represent your current target for your next position.
5. How to determine your salary target
Research the average salary for similar jobs at the same or similar companies. Glassdoor is one of many sites you can check to get the information you want. With this information, you can suggest a salary that fits in a similar range.
6. Nailing that job interview takes practice
Winging it will not allow you to soar in any job interview. There’s no substitute for preparation on the road to success.
Identify the top five achievements you want to make sure the interviewer knows about you before leaving their office, then practice adapting the story for possible interview questions to use as an example of your value-add.
Do your homework on the company as well. Know the latest product launch. Be familiar with the current marketing campaign. Read recently published articles about the company. This will allow you to have a more natural flow of conversation in the interview, show that you are knowledgeable about the company, and enable you to develop smart questions to ask the interviewer.
Sarah Sax is the founder of Write for the Job.