New Year, New Job: 5 Tips To Win The January Job Rush
New year, new job! The start of a New Year is a great time to act on your New Year’s resolutions, while they’re still fresh in your mind. If one of your “must-dos” for the New Year is to get a new job then you’ve picked a great time! With unemployment at a record low, competition is thinner than ever. Businesses will also be kicking off the New Year with fresh budgets and some extra money set aside for new hires.
So what are you waiting for? As the old saying goes, never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Without further ado, here are our 5 tips to help you ace the January job rush and start the New Year with a new job!
1. Spruce up your cover letter
The first hurdle is the most important one. Stumble at this point and you’re out of the race before it’s really begun! Feeling daunted? Don’t worry, writing a flawless cover letter is a skill anyone can master.
Above all, your cover letter should answer two questions: what you can bring to this company and who you are as a person. For your “what” point, highlight your achievements, whether that’s education, experience or both. For “who”, you’re showing how your personality and ambitions line up with the role, company and team you’d be working for.
Moreover, make sure you get the details right. Proofread, proofread and proofread again! Check the date, addressee’s name and position you’re applying for are correct. You don’t want to miss out on a great opportunity due to a minor typo.
2. Update your CV
We believe that writing a CV should be fun. Yes, you heard us right! Updating your CV might feel like an arduous task, but we genuinely believe it can be enjoyable. After all, it’s a chance to talk about your accomplishments! It’s a chance to get your most saleable points down on paper. You might find that you even feel more confident about your abilities once you’ve written them down. Just make sure your CV is completely up to date with your most recent job and any qualifications you’ve taken. For more advice on how to get your CV application-perfect, check out our insider tips…
3. Give your LinkedIn a makeover!
The Instagram of job applications, Linkedin is your no.1 social media channel for scoring a new opportunity. It’s a chance to present your unique individual brand to the world and delve into what makes you truly different from other applicants! With that in mind, it’s a good idea to get yours recruiter-ready. Choose a professional-looking photo (no party snaps!), a rocking headline and keep your summary space between 3 and 5 paragraphs. “But wait!” we hear you say “what’s my current employer supposed to think if I go changing my LinkedIn all of a sudden?!” fear not: LinkedIn now has a feature where you can edit who gets to sees your profile changes – for this specific reason, we suspect!
4. Pick your role carefully
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the onslaught of new jobs in January but be selective. Make sure you’re picking out the jobs that really sound like the right move for your goals. Depending on your aims, that might mean working for a different type of company, taking on more of a management role – or less! Whatever it is you want to do differently this year, don’t settle for a role that doesn’t meet your expectations.
Of course, sometimes there’s only so much you can glean from a job specification. If you’re interested in getting as much information as possible about your future role and workplace, it’s a good idea to sign up with an agency. Your recruiter will be working closely with the HR Managers who have outlined what they’re looking for. As such, they should be able to give you the inside scoop on the company, and what they’re really looking for. What better way to get a head-start on your application? Knowledge is power! And this brings up to our final point…
5. Enlist the free, professional help of an agency!
Diving headfirst into the job searching process can be a challenge, there’s no doubt about it. From choosing a job to writing a winning application to the interview stage, it’s one the best of us need help with at times. While it can be helpful to turn to friends and family for tips on what works for them, every application is different. When you take on the help of a professional recruiter, you gain an ally who knows what you’re looking for and how to get it. Moreover, signing up with an agency is free! You’ll save time and money for no extra cost.
If you want to get a step ahead of the process, register with us online today!
