Monday, August 2, 2021

Are You Ready for This Job Market?




Many workers are looking into new careers or new jobs, spurred by changes in their industry or simply a desire to do something else.

If you're one of those people, it helps to be aware of recruiting trends so you know what to expect.

1. Target a specific employer. Even if you're applying for only sales jobs, you need to tailor your resume to a specific employer. That means carefully reading the job ad and making sure you're including as many of the key words as you can from that employer. This doesn't mean you have to rewrite you entire resume for each job application, but know that an applicant tracking system (ATS) or an overburdened hiring manager is going to toss your resume if it doesn't seem like a really, really good match. 

2. Be flexible. There has been a lot in the news about employees who claim they will absolutely quit their jobs if they're not allowed to continue working from home, or they won't consider a job offer unless they can work remotely. While employers are certainly trying to accommodate workers in this uncertain climate, they're not going to upend their business just so everyone can work from home. So, unless you can really walk away from a job or a good job offer, don't completely discount a "hybrid" work arrangement -- be willing to prove your worth and then negotiate for a more flexible work deal if you still want it.

3. Embrace video. While Zoom fatigue is certainly real, it's not something that's going away even after the pandemic. Since chances are good you may initially be interviewed via video, make sure you're prepared with the proper equipment and background and are dressed professionally. If you can't handle a video interview, the hiring manager may worry you won't be able to handle Zoom meetings.

4. Clean up social media. It's surprising how many people decide to improve their social media presence after they begin job hunting. This is something you want to take care of before you send out a resume or let your network know you're interested in new jobs. It might take you a while to clean up (remember your frat brothers still have your drunken photos on Instagram) and you want to make sure you do a thorough job.



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