New Years Resolutions Every Job Seeker Should Make For 2014

New Year’s Resolutions Every Job Seeker Should Make for The ball has dropped, and you’ve made a promise to your self that 2014 shall be a year to recollect in terms of taking the following step in your career. But in case your primary aim for the brand new 12 months is to land a brand new job, hopes and needs aren’t enough; you need to outline and execute a plan to make sure your success. (Click right here to tweet this thought.) Finding a brand new job is both an artwork and a science, and there are a couple of tried-and-true guidelines for serving to job seekers prepare to land that coveted job within the new 12 months. So if you want to begin 2014 off on the proper foot career-wise, consider including one (or extra!) of those to your list of resolutions: 1. Create a Plan You can’t get there should you don’t know where you’re going. Define your objectives and a particular plan to achieve them, along with actionable steps. Assess your expertise, strengths and interests. Think about the type of work you’ve enjoyed in the past, even it was in internships, half-time jobs and even volunteer experiences. Document your plan and measure your progress in opposition to it. Set weekly goals and hold yourself accountable. Reward your self by doing one thing you enjoy when you’ve completed your weekly targets. 2. Prepare Your Tools If you’re planning a trip, you pack your bags and make the appropriate reservations. As you embark on your job search journey, you also need to have the suitable instruments. Is your resume up-to-date and ready to go? Have another person proof it for you to ensure it has no typos or grammatical errors. Practice writing personalized cover letters and ask for suggestions. Consider growing a networking profile to share during networking conferences. Think about who you should use for references, and guarantee that you've got their current contact info. Having the proper tools won’t get you the job, however it could get your foot in the door so you have a chance to sell yourself for the job. 3. Develop a Target List What corporations are you most thinking about working for? What industries curiosity you the most? What corporations hire for the roles you’re considering? What companies are in your geographic target space? Start your listing and then broaden your analysis. Use on-line tools to create a sturdy goal listing. Research those companies to study more about them. Use your target record to direct your job search efforts. Prioritize your listing primarily based on the place you have contacts, alumni connections or LinkedIn connections. Look at latest job posting history to additional prioritize your record. four. Network, Network, Network This is the only most essential factor you can do in your job search. More positions are stuffed through networking than all different approaches mixed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, practically eighty% of all jobs are filled through networking. Online postings typically receive tons of of responses. To stand out and be seen, you want an internal contact to pass your resume to the hiring supervisor. Networking helps you construct and determine those internal contacts. Networking just isn't asking for a job, nonetheless. It’s meeting with someone at the firm to be taught extra in regards to the company, the trade, the types of roles they offer, the talents they value, the corporate culture and their hiring process. Networking involves a significant amount of listening. The vacation season can be the right time for networking â€" some companies are less busy, so managers usually tend to have flexibility for meetings. You’ll also see family and friends at vacation gat herings, and you'll ask who they could know in your target corporations. 5. Identify New Networking Contacts Identify all your contacts, and see who they know at your goal firms. Think about former work colleagues, former scholar colleagues, and so on. and see who they know. Utilize your alumni database. Search LinkedIn. The true power of LinkedIn could be found in the groups, so identify relevant groups to expand your community. Work to establish contacts at all of your target corporations. Do your neighbors or your dad and mom’ associates have contacts in these firms? Ask for 15 â€" 20 minutes for an informational interview. Come to the dialogue nicely-ready, and study as much as you'll be able to. Ask every contact for a minimum of three other individuals you must contact. Always thank them and maintain monitor so you can comply with up whenever you see a chance at that firm. Challenge yourself to make at least 5 networking connections each week. It makes a difference. 6. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare For each informational interview, put together as if it had been an actual interview. Research the company. Put collectively an inventory of questions. Make a positive impression and reveal your interest and passion by coming nicely-ready. Practice with friends and family. 7. Always Say “Thank You” Interviewers remember when candidates send a handwritten thanks observe. Stand out from the crowd. Time is a valuable commodity, so say “thanks” when somebody is willing to share their time with you. 8. Add Value to Your Resume If you realize you’re missing important skills on your resume, are you able to volunteer a number of hours per week to amass them? Most nonprofits need the help and would give you a chance to develop and improve your expertise. Maybe an unpaid internship is an effective investment to add important expertise to your resume. In addition to adding valuable skills, it additionally shows your initiative and creativity. 9. Protect Your Social Media Presence Many potential employers verify applicants on-line earlier than making a suggestion. Be cautious what you submit, knowing that it could be seen by a possible employer. Put your finest foot forward. 10. Sweat the Details They really do matter! Many cover letters and resumes aren’t moved to the “interview pile” because of a lack of attention to element. There must be absolutely no typos or grammatical errors in your cover letter or resume. Don’t minimize and paste your cowl letters â€" it’s too simple to send with the incorrect company name or job title. Be careful to not brag about your consideration to detail when your letter has apparent errors. Don’t exaggerate your experience â€" two years is not intensive experience in something. When it comes to the interview, be sure to be properly-ready. Arrive on time. Know who you’re meeting with. Don’t ask the interviewer what the corporate does; as a substitute, have some nicely-thought-out questions already ready. 11. Remember It Isn’t All About You A hiring manager has business wants to address. That’s why they acquired approval to fill the place. There’s a particular job to be carried out, and so they need to find the most effective-qualified individual to fill that job and the most effective fit for the organization. Don’t focus your cowl letter and/or interview on what this position can do on your career or how much you need specific advantages. The employer actually doesn’t care. Focus instead on how one can assist the corporate meet their business needs. What useful abilities do you deliver to the desk? How are you able to make a difference? 12. Be Responsive When employers do start calling you for interviews, be responsive and skilled every step of the way in which. Make a positive impression with each interaction. Dress professionally, arrive a few minutes early, answer your cellphone professionally and are available well-ready. thirteen. Differentiate Yourself There are many candidates for every open place. Use every alternative all through the method to distinguish your self positively. Again, the main target should be on how one can meet the employer’s needs, not what they will do for you. Don’t go away your profession path as much as chance; now’s the perfect time to revamp your method as you resolve to pursue new alternatives in 2014. Develop a plan and execute it flawlessly, and there’s a great chance you’ll be celebrating a new job in the new yr. Which of the above resolutions are you able to add to your job hunt strategy? Lynne Sarikas is director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University, the place she supplies profession management and job search recommendation to students looking for residency and full-time alternatives. She also works closely with Northeastern’s company companions to determine their needs and assist student hiring. Previously, Lynne was VP of Development at United Way of Massachusetts Bay a nd held quite a lot of management positions focusing on corporate relationships and new enterprise growth, as well as instructing as an adjunct college member at Stonehill College. Image: Flickr