"Do's and Don'ts" for kicking off your job search
According to Monster.com, January 6th is the most popular day to look for a new job. What's your plan? Here are some do's and don'ts:
DON'T: Post your resume on job boards and expect the perfect job to find you. We all know, there are no free lunches, so what's the likelihood that a premier employer will contact you with a good career move? (Hint: slim). At best, you'll be contacted for jobs doing exactly what you're already doing.
DO: Rewrite your resume. Note, I don't say, "update" your resume. That would mean you're adding your most recent job and maybe editing a few other bullets. If you want to land a great job, you need a great, relevant resume. Review what you have for each of your jobs and take out earlier information that's no longer relevant (like college activities and honors) or responsibilities that are noted in more recent positions. 0-5 years of experience: 1-1 1/2 pages. 5-10 years: 1-2 pages. 10+ years, 1-3 pages. Unless you are curing cancer or bringing about world peace, your resume should NOT be more than 3 pages.
DO: Rewrite your LinkedIn page. Yes, go back and make sure it is grammatically correct, has all of your skills and experiences, contains key words for your field.
DON'T: Use the picture from New Year's Eve as your profile photo on LinkedIn! Can't afford a photo shoot? That's OK. You can get a professional photo done at Target or someplace similar for less than $100. It's easily affordable if you give up your lattes for a week.
DO: Research companies and positions extensively. Beyond searching job postings, read the local business news for information on up and coming companies.
DO: Network! Talk to friends, former co-workers, former college acquaintances. Where do they work, what do they do, what do they like about what they do? Remember to offer to help them, too! One-sided networking doesn't work too well.
DON'T: Lose hope if something doesn't materialize overnight. Anything worth having requires effort!
DON'T: Post your resume on job boards and expect the perfect job to find you. We all know, there are no free lunches, so what's the likelihood that a premier employer will contact you with a good career move? (Hint: slim). At best, you'll be contacted for jobs doing exactly what you're already doing.
DO: Rewrite your resume. Note, I don't say, "update" your resume. That would mean you're adding your most recent job and maybe editing a few other bullets. If you want to land a great job, you need a great, relevant resume. Review what you have for each of your jobs and take out earlier information that's no longer relevant (like college activities and honors) or responsibilities that are noted in more recent positions. 0-5 years of experience: 1-1 1/2 pages. 5-10 years: 1-2 pages. 10+ years, 1-3 pages. Unless you are curing cancer or bringing about world peace, your resume should NOT be more than 3 pages.
DO: Rewrite your LinkedIn page. Yes, go back and make sure it is grammatically correct, has all of your skills and experiences, contains key words for your field.
DON'T: Use the picture from New Year's Eve as your profile photo on LinkedIn! Can't afford a photo shoot? That's OK. You can get a professional photo done at Target or someplace similar for less than $100. It's easily affordable if you give up your lattes for a week.
DO: Research companies and positions extensively. Beyond searching job postings, read the local business news for information on up and coming companies.
DO: Network! Talk to friends, former co-workers, former college acquaintances. Where do they work, what do they do, what do they like about what they do? Remember to offer to help them, too! One-sided networking doesn't work too well.
DON'T: Lose hope if something doesn't materialize overnight. Anything worth having requires effort!
About Nicole DelToro: Nicole has been helping organizations (big and small) hire and retain top talent for over 25 years, while helping individuals realize their personal and professional goals by ensuring they’re working in the environment that’s ideal for their current situation. Contact her at: [email protected]
Andrews & Cole is a certified woman-owned boutique executive search and consulting firm with a focus on accounting and finance professionals. Clients range from start ups to Fortune 100 in nearly every industry.
Andrews & Cole is a certified woman-owned boutique executive search and consulting firm with a focus on accounting and finance professionals. Clients range from start ups to Fortune 100 in nearly every industry.