 Sometimes, job seekers make the job seeking process more difficult than it has to be.
They do this and that and the other thing, but then they overlook something simple and that oversight costs them. Specifically, it costs them an employment opportunity. Looking for a job can be an exciting time in a person’s life, not to mention a stressful time. As such, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation and the details associated with it. When that happens, things “slip through the cracks,” things that can negatively impact your job search and by extension, your career. Below are four quick (and easy) tips for today’s job seeker: #1—Lock down your Facebook account. Will hiring managers be checking out your Facebook account? Yes, they will. That’s why it’s in your best interest to do two things. First, make sure that your account is not a public account. (Access your account settings to make it private.) Second, make sure that you haven’t posted anything that will cast you in a negative light. After all, you might be friends with somebody who’s friends with somebody who’s friends with the hiring manager. It’s happened before. #2—Spruce up your LinkedIn profile. Job seekers should spend as much time on their LinkedIn profile as they do on their resume, if not more. That’s because hiring managers will visit your profile there, as well. Whereas on Facebook, you’re simply trying not to embarrass yourself, on LinkedIn, you’re attempting to impress and “Wow!” your visitors. We’ve published blog posts previously about branding yourself well on LinkedIn, including here and here. #3—Check your voicemail (and respond to messages). Who even uses voicemail these days? Hiring managers, that’s who! Who even returns voicemail messages these days? Job seekers do . . . if they want to get hired, that is. We live in a “texting age,” to be sure, but hiring managers are not going to text you. And checking your voicemail is just the first step. The second (and more important) step is responding to the message and calling the person back. If a hiring manager has to call you three times to get in touch with you, then they’re probably not going to be cheery. #4—Refresh your resume and cover letter. Yes, you’ve spent a great deal of time updating your LinkedIn profile, as well you should. However, don’t do that as the expense of your resume. If you update your profile with new information, then your resume should be updated with the same information. In addition, don’t send out the same cover letter for every position. Instead, customize your cover letter based upon the particular position for which you’re applying. Are you currently in the midst of a job search? Have you covered the four tips listed above? Comments are closed.
|
