In the month of January, here are 7 simple methods to get a new job.
If you are looking for a new job, the next couple of weeks may appear to be the worst possible moment to begin your hunt. Managers may put hiring on the back burner due to the stress of winding up the year and holiday vacations. This means that your beautifully designed CV may be buried in his or her inbox for a lot longer than you would like.
However, this does not give you permission to neglect anything having to do with your job search for the next two weeks in favor of binge-watching Christmas specials and eating excessive amounts of seasonal delicacies.
Instead, why not take the remaining time of the year to be ready for the start of the new year? After all, come January 1, it will be time to get serious about looking for a job. Why not take advantage of this opportunity? On top of that, you’ll be light years ahead of the competition if you’re completely prepared on the first day of the new year.
Therefore, in addition to going to holiday parties and buying presents, you should set aside some time to prepare for your job search in January by following the seven steps outlined below.
1. Devote Time to Your Relatives and Acquaintances
I am aware that the holidays are a very hectic time. And it’s likely that you’d like to celebrate the spare time you have with your family and friends by attending parties and sharing presents with one another.
Well, go ahead! But make the most of that time you have. You should brush up on your interviewing and networking abilities by taking advantage of all the opportunities to mingle with other people.
For instance, your relatives who haven’t seen you in over a year will most likely inquire, “What sort of work are you looking for?” On the other hand, rather than dismissing Grandma’s inquiries by saying, “Oh, anything really—so, how are the cats?” Make the most of this opportunity to practice being comfortable when talking about your ambitions, skills, and dream positions. When an interviewer asks you why you’re interested in a specific career or what your talents are, you’ll be able to respond with the same responses, which will come in handy.
In addition, do not underestimate the significance of networking with people who are already familiar to you, such as friends and family. You never know who they are linked to, and if you offer a fantastic elevator pitch, it may spark an introduction to someone you would have never met otherwise.
2. Create a list and double-check it before submitting it.
When you plunge headfirst into the process of finding a job, it’s easy for the myriad of job postings, companies, and jobs to rapidly become a haze. Before you know it, you’re sending out applications to every job that even remotely resembles a legitimate business and offers to pay you. And this might very easily result in a job that is less than pleasant.
Therefore, before you even begin to delve into job listings, take some time during the last two weeks of the year to look for businesses that genuinely interest you and appear to be a perfect fit for your personality, passions, and skills. Doing so will give you a head start when it comes to your job search. It’s possible that you’re interested in working for a tech startup because of its relaxed atmosphere, but it’s also possible that you’d be happier in a more structured corporate role at a company that places a strong emphasis on mentoring and professional growth.
Create a list of the firm names and types of roles that pique your interest, no matter what your inclination is in this regard. When you do start looking for a job, this will help you maintain a laser-like concentration on the tasks at hand (for example, are you actually interested in this firm and position, or are you just eager to find a job of any kind?). and make you truly thrilled (yes, this is possible!) about the prospect of landing a job at one of your ideal businesses.
3. Revamp Your Resume
While you’re relaxing on the couch watching “Home Alone,” take advantage of the time to update your résumé on your laptop.
Think back over the past year (or however long it has been since you last updated), add in any current accomplishments and projects, and eliminate anything that is no longer relevant to your situation. After going through the document with a red pen to make any necessary last-minute changes, you’ll be ready to leave in only a couple of hours.
4. Reset all of your social media accounts to start from scratch.
Because you now have an updated CV, it won’t be difficult for you to copy and paste the bullet points from that document onto your LinkedIn page.
But you should also spend some time finishing the other parts of your profile, such as adding a headline, a summary, and a professional photo, as well as joining a few groups and actively participating in at least some of them. If you do not have any references, you should inquire about obtaining any from prior managers or coworkers who are familiar with the quality of your work.
And while you’re at it, make sure that your Facebook and Twitter profiles are in order as well; in other words, remove anything that you wouldn’t want your prospective employer to see from those accounts.
5. Start working on that dreaded cover letter right now.
The chore of writing a cover letter frequently appears to be an easy one. Because there are only a few paragraphs, you wouldn’t expect it to take too much time, would you? After four hours and a blank Word doc, we are all aware of how that story comes to a conclusion.
Create some example cover letter templates for yourself so that you don’t get stuck trying to write one when you see a job listing that you’re enthusiastic to apply for. This will help you avoid the inevitable writer’s block. First, compose a couple of outstanding introductions (this is, after all, the most difficult portion), and then make a list of your most notable projects and achievements, which you might elaborate on.
The following month, when you find a job that you want to apply for as soon as possible, all you will have to do is string together a pre-written introduction, a few accomplishments, and a little research about the specific company and position, and you will be all set — it will be much easier than starting from scratch each time.
6. Organize Your Personal References.
To phone up your references in the middle of the interview process and say, “By the way, I listed you as a reference. ” is not the most successful tactic. They might give you a call today, as it happens.”
Start making contact with your references as soon as possible so that you can give them adequate notice and ensure that they are aware of what to say about you that will tilt the odds of landing the job in your favor. The holidays are a busy time for everyone, so for the time being, it is sufficient to send a brief email with an up-to-date copy of your resume and a few phrases describing the kind of position you are interested in.
Then, at the beginning of the next year, begin making phone calls to touch base with people and answer any queries that may have been raised.
7. Set Your Resolutions.
The practice of making resolutions at the start of a new year is common, but let’s be honest: writing down “find a new job” isn’t the most productive aim you can set for yourself.
Consequently, before the beginning of January arrives, you should jot down a few benchmark goals that are more actionable (and less frightening), such as “apply for three jobs every week” and “attend five networking events over the month and meet five new people at each.” If you achieve each of these more specific objectives, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your larger resolution of finding a new job much more quickly.
As soon as the clock strikes midnight on the first day of the new year, you will be in a position to launch your job search with full force since you will have all of your job search tools prepared, your goals established, and a clear idea of what it is that you are seeking for.