If you're a job seeker, you might be looking for your first career position, your next move up the ladder or a complete transformation of your life by embarking upon a different career field. Whichever type of job seeker you are, you'll find the following job-search strategies useful.
First, begin with the end in mind. Know the job you are seeking and be able to describe it succinctly whenever you're asked. Know the type of company you want to work with: is it large or small, what is its mission, vision and values, and how do they align with yours? In what type of environment do you flourish? Do you enjoy collaboration or working independently? Do you do your best work in the office, hybrid or 100% remote? Taking the time to answer these questions will help you focus your search and allow you to quickly identify the job descriptions that match your ideal. You only want to spend your time applying for positions that are a good fit. You don't want just a job, you want the job – the position that is such a good match you can see yourself growing with the organization and making it your career home.
Likewise, prior to beginning your job search, you need to know who you are, what you bring to the table and why you fit the job description you just articulated. In other words, what is your personal brand? Sound crazy? Well, it is a thing for job seekers in 2024.
Articles published by Forbes and Harvard Business Review emphasize the importance of having a personal brand. Your brand is how you want people to see you. It's an intentional exercise of defining what motivates you, your values, strengths and competencies, including the skills you're curious about building in the future. Your brand also highlights your key personal attributes. Harvard Business Review suggests if you are a creative person who likes to problem-solve, your attribute would be that of an innovator.
Once you have a handle on your brand, it's important to connect with influencers in your field and make your brand visible. And when it comes to visibility, the Forbes article recommends elevating your brand by making sure your "online profiles support the qualifications listed in your resume." Google your name, as according to Forbes, "this view is most likely what hiring managers will see."
Your personal brand has to be authentic, or it won't be believed. Forbes included survey results from The Harris Poll that states 71% of U.S. hiring decision-makers believe that viewing candidates' social media profiles is an effective way to screen applicants. Use this opportunity to make your brand known.
Speaking of connecting, this may sound old-school, but it works. Make a list of the people you know who are employed in your field of interest. Why? Because you cannot put a price on human connection, and this is your list of human connections within the context of your job search. In the digital age you have the opportunity to build your brand online and connect with those who are employed in your field of interest. Let these people know you are looking for a position and ask if they know of open positions in their organizations. Are they willing to be a reference for you or introduce you to someone in a department that has open positions? Having permission to include the name of a current employee in your cover letter or application is worth a million bucks. Especially if they can speak to your personal brand. It builds a bridge of familiarity and humanizes your digital application package.
Another way of augmenting your search is to work with the job-search experts in your own backyard. Community colleges and universities have career services departments staffed with people who know every aspect of the job search process. They have the resources to help you focus your search, write your personal-brand statement, cover letter and resume. They can assist with practice interviews and provide guidance on how to complete online applications and resume submissions.
Partnering with an employment agency is another strategy for finding your next position. Springfield is home to a number of successful employment agencies that are in the business of matching people with employers. An employment specialist at the agency will interview you, much like an employer would. This is to inventory your work history, skills and abilities so that they can accurately match you with an employer. Once the agency matches you, it is up to you to ace the interview, and they'll help you prepare for that also.
Once you land the job, it might be a temporary contract or temp-to-hire, which means the company has the option to hire you directly after the contracted time with the agency has expired. Either way, you get the opportunity to get a feel for the employer while you're showcasing your skills and professionalism. It's a win-win situation.
No matter the economic reports in the news, there are more than 2,000 jobs available in Springfield on Indeed's platform alone. The odds are in your favor. Let this be your time to shine.
Holly Whisler is the associate editor of Springfield Business Journal, and someone who appreciates the joy a good career fit can bring to your life.
