The job market is completely different than it was a year ago. The whole corporate world has been reinvented. All of the significant changes that have happened throughout the past year can leave any job-seekers with questions on what their future careers will look like.
To best prepare yourself for the reinvented job market, we have put together tips that will help you secure your next role.
Tailor your resumes
One of the most common mistakes that job seekers make is using the same resume/CV for all of their job applications. According to the 2018 Deloitte Human Capital Trends report, 38% of companies are now using AI recruitment solutions, this means that hiring teams are increasingly using automated systems to help manage the influx of applications. Some are even developing AI to review recorded video interviews by watching facial expressions or even scanning cover letters by looking for relevant keywords. Although that level of technology seems to be new it will increasingly become more popular in the future.
What does it mean for job seekers? It means tailoring your resume and CV for the job you’re targeting will be more important than ever.
To tailor your resume make sure you do your research on the job role and company you’re applying to. Explain why in your resume that you are a good fit for the role and make sure that your resume is ATS friendly. What is ATS? ATS is an applicant tracking system (ATS)—software that helps hiring teams organise job applications. For your resume to get passed through the AI and make it into human hands there is are certain tricks to use. To find out more on how you can make your resume ATS friendly you can read this article: Beat the Robots: How to Get Your Resume Past the System & Into Human Hands
Another thing to keep in mind is to not be afraid of automation. One of the things you can take advantage of with automation is the predictable questions that you might get from a chat box or digital interview. You can research ahead of time for common interview questions and prep yourself in advance. It is also a good idea to follow up your application with an email to the hiring manager.
Your free time is your asset
If you’re currently laid off, in between jobs or currently working and looking for a new position, it would be good to start viewing job search as a personal project. This means that you should carve out time in your day to focus solely on job searching. Create a schedule and come up with rituals, like setting aside certain hours of the day specifically for job searching, updating your résumé and LinkedIn profile or acquiring new skills and certifications.
Job searching can be time-consuming and it not only requires updating your resume but researching companies, trends and figuring out if you need to upskill or obtain certain certifications. The same applies if you land an interview. You need to prepare the same way you would for an important project. Research about the company beforehand, practise some interview questions and think of ways to stand out. During the interview, you want to gain a clear understanding of what would make a person successful in this position and prepare questions to ask in the interview regarding the job role and the company. An interview is a two-way process, and you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.
Expect the unexpected
If there is anything that the pandemic has taught us it is that unpredictability has become the new norm. It can be stressful to deal with uncertainty especially if it is going to stay a bit longer than we predicted but it is also good to take a step a back and see how we can make the most out of it. Setting goals, spending time with your family and friends, getting exercise and finding distractions when you feel like you’re hitting a wall can help you feel like you have some sort of control and balance in your life.
If you’re feeling dejected after various rejections in your job-hunting journey, it may be a good idea for you to take the time to self-reflect and consider the scope of your ambition. Really think about the job you want and why you want it and then determine how hard you are willing to work to get it. Prioritising mental health is also important. Don’t just dwell on mistakes you may have made that are beyond your control but take the time to process what improvements you can make to be more confident in your next job search. It is important not to focus on filling out mass applications and take more of a strategic approach. Remember why you want the job and let that be your guiding light to seek out the positions you want and make 2021 your year.
Like so many areas in our life, job seeking has become completely reinvented over the past year. Being prepared for job seeking in 2021 does look different than before. However, by using the tips we have provided above, you will set yourself up for reaching the next step in your career.
For expert advice on discovering and preparing for the next step in your career, you can contact us here: Monroe Consulting Group