The last thing you want to do is a lot of work for your job search and then realise you are heading in a direction you don’t actually want to go. So, before you start updating your CV or applying for jobs, we recommend you follow these three steps in preparation for your job search.
Step 1: Review and assess your current skills
In order to enter the job market with confidence, we always recommend that people review and assess their skills honestly before doing anything else.
A good way to do this is to ask yourself, “What can I offer?” Or “What strengths and knowledge do I have that is valuable to the market?” Also, “What is valuable to a potential future employer?”. However, this can be easier said than done. Luckily there are some really helpful tools out there to support you with this, and many of which can also be helpful in your current role. We recommend you check out Myers-Briggs, also known as 16 Personalities and CliftonStrengths Assessment, previously the StrengthsFinders test by Gallop.
If you are not ready to start completing psychometric assessments yet, it’s a good idea to assess how much value you are bringing to your current employer, your current community, and your current team simply by asking them. If it is not possible to get this feedback because you are not currently working, simply ask your friends and family what they think you do better than average. What do you contribute that makes you unique? What would make you an asset to a team?
We understand that this can be hard if you’re feeling insecure, but it’s a really important first step because a job search is essentially a personal branding campaign for yourself. This is not about self-worth or honing your confidence, this is about getting pragmatic about what you can do that potential employers find valuable. For example, are you creative? Do you provide great customer service? What can you do that’s better than average and would be valuable to a future employer? Bear in mind average doesn’t mean you need to be the best, just better than average. The average person is only good at a few things so think about what you can do and what you enjoy doing.
Step 2: Confirm what you are looking for in your next role, and crucially, what you are not looking for.
We believe everyone should do work that they enjoy. The best way to start this process is to think about what you want to change from your current or previous role. It might be your commute, the culture, your boss, a lack of development opportunities or even the day to day work you were doing. Whatever it is, think about what you would change, then note this down for your search.
Once you have noted this down, you should start thinking about what it is in your current or previous job that you do not want to change. What do you enjoy doing at work? Some people can be quick to leave jobs without taking stock of what they enjoy at that current or previous workplace and this can be a mistake.
While it might be easier to focus on the negative, it’s important to focus on the positive too. After all, these are the things that mean you enjoy your work. Many people think more money, more influence, and more freedom will make them happier. Sometimes that’s true, and sometimes it is not. By following this process you will start to get some clarity to help you make better decisions as you move on to step three and start to identify the companies you want to work for.
Step 3: Develop a list of target companies and / or roles that interest you.
Now you know your strengths, your knowledge, and what you want and don’t want in your next role, it’s now time to start exploring the companies you want to work for. Many people skip this step and jump straight into applications without ever taking stock of the companies that are best suited to them.
A great way to start identifying the right companies for you is to write down a list of all the companies you admire. You can then start to research these companies and even start to network with people that work for these companies (be sure to check out the practical tips in the networking section). You can also check out their career site, read about their company values, purpose and culture and register for job alerts so you hear about new roles before anyone else.
Another idea is to set up Google Alerts that align to your company list. By setting this up, you can keep up to speed on what's happening in a particular company and in the industry as a whole. This includes keeping tabs on who is hiring and who isn't.
Another way to approach this is to focus your search on companies that are based in your location. For example if you are relocating to a new town or city, simply Google who the largest employers are in the region, or note down which companies are listed at the top of the search results for your industry in your area. See if they align to your own values and then check out what opportunities are available with them. You would be amazed at how many companies are in your town or city that you don’t know about.
It is also always worth checking out government and council opportunities in your area as they are often large employers.
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