Happy New Year! 2012 is here and people around the world are looking for ways to better themselves for the coming year. If your job search isn’t panning out the way you had hoped, perhaps you should designate some time to reflect upon what’s working and where there is room for improvement. Here are several new year’s resolutions that could have an impact on your success rate.
I will spend more time customizing my resume.
Traditionally, it was thought that the best method to land an interview was to have a standard, reusable resume and a customized cover letter for each job description. However, the job search has largely switched to an online venue. Open job listings are easier than ever to find and apply for, and hiring managers often receive massive amounts of resumes in a matter of hours. Due to high resume volumes, applicant tracking systems are often used to filter resumes, so it’s important that your resume is full of key words specific to that particular job description to ensure you don’t get lost in the shuffle.
I will focus on more than just the name.
Smaller companies and start ups tend to be in less demand with job seekers than the corporate and tech powerhouses. Larger companies may have longevity and prestige in their favor, but it may also be worth your time to check out open positions with smaller companies. Landing a job with a smaller company often means that your work will have an immediate impact to the business, a close-knit workplace community and some unique perks thrown in for employees.
I will build a stronger network.
It may be easier to keep all of your job hunt efforts online, but wouldn’t you rather give yourself as much of an edge as possible? This is where your professional network comes into play. Many companies would prefer to hire based on an internal referral. If all other variables remain equal, it’s less risky for the hiring manager to select a candidate who a current employee can vouch for than to select a previously unknown candidate. That means that the more people you connect with in your industry, the better your odds are for landing a job. Your contacts might have insider knowledge about an open position within their company and could pass your resume on to the right person.
What are some of your new year’s resolutions for the 2012 job search? Let us know below.
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