Three tips that, as a recruiter now, I would tell myself, looking for a job, last year
Three tips that, as a recruiter now, I would tell myself, looking for a job, last year.
From about July 2020 to April of this year, I was on the hunt for a new job. I had felt for some time that a change was in the cards for me and wanted to “test the waters” of the job market. This exciting venture toward the next great chapter in my career quickly became frustrating for a number of reasons, as job searches often do… Alas, after almost one year, I found my current job… as a professional Recruiter! Now that it’s my full-time job to help other people find jobs, I want to share 3 things that I wish I could tell my past self to make my previous job hunt more effective.
1) Play the LinkedIn Game:
I’m not one for social media, and last year my LinkedIn profile clearly reflected that. I wasn’t engaging with people and my profile didn’t articulate what I was doing, or what I had done in previous jobs, or what I wanted to do in my next job. Now, as a recruiter, I live on LinkedIn, and realize how important this platform is for jobseekers. Update your profile, articulate your experience and skill sets, invest in a professional headshot – there’s no more important tool for finding your next job opportunity.
2) Resumes Longer Than 2 Pages are OK:
The idea that your resume needs to be on a single page is somewhat outdated. During my job search, I removed a lot of relevant and impressive information about my work experiences to make my resume fit on one single page.
Nowadays, companies and recruiters are using AI to screen through resumes. They input certain terms, scan thousands of resumes, and the candidates that meet these terms surface to the top. I can say that, as a recruiter, I am a professional resume skimmer. I do the same thing as the AI. Set yourself up for success by taking the time to detail all that you’ve done with your previous jobs. Don’t write a book, but certainly share all relevant experiences that an employer will value.
3) Salary Is Not Everything:
Many candidates that I speak with are locked into making a certain salary and won’t even consider anything below that number. While in some case this is understandable, oftentimes there is more to the picture that they are missing. The experience and credentials gained from taking the right role can outweigh a few thousand dollars in salary over the long term. Furthermore, are you considering the health benefits, paid-time-off, remote work flexibility, room for growth and promotion, or the culture of the organization?
I removed myself from many interview processes because I was so bogged down by the salary. Make sure to take a step back and weigh what’s important in the job search. You may be surprised to see how many jobs actually align with what you are looking for.
(Bonus) Network:
Talk to as many people as possible. It’s important to build a network of advocates who can help you in your process of finding a job. The job market can be competitive, so finding ways to stick out are of high importance in the job search. Don’t turn down any conversation. Cast your net far and wide. You’ll be surprised at how small the world is. People who aren’t in related industries probably have connections in the industry you are trying to get into. Be aggressive and keep your foot on the gas with networking.