We live in an amazing time; you can talk to someone halfway across the world from the comfort of your home, have career coaching in your back pocket, and apply to jobs with a click of a button. Technology is all around us; meant to make our lives easier. However, if you were planning on relying on technology to help you land your next job, you’re going to be sorely mistaken.
Technology Has Actually Created A Problem For Job Seekers
Due to the easy, user-friendly interfaces of job boards, too many unqualified people are now applying for the same jobs you are. This forces companies to use an automated tracking system to review the applications they’ve been getting. What does this mean?
Humans are no longer looking at your resume, bots are.
Job Search Is A Skill, And You Need To Learn How To Develop It
Millions of people will lose their job in the recession, in fact, many already have. It’s important to not rely on technology to find a job faster. With the recession right around the corner, here are a few things all job seekers must know:
- Hiring Managers Will Be Cautious Who They Hire. Companies are trying to fill a position with minimal risk, not discover someone who breaks the mold. Now is not the time to stand out for the wrong reasons.
- 80% Of Jobs Are Gotten Via Referral. It’s not how you apply, it’s who you know. And if you don’t know someone, network until you do. A friend-of-a-friend is all it takes to get an introduction. But, that won’t happen if you don’t ask.
- Job Search Is About Quality Over Quantity. The number of jobs you apply to has no correlation to whether you’ll be considered, you are better off focusing on the right opportunities and getting in front of actual people (virtually) as best you can.
What Can You Do To Stand Out During The Recession?
- Do a salary assessment. Use Glassdoor to see how your salary ranks against your peers’ by region, skill level, and industry. The key is to make sure you aren’t too high or too low on the salary range.
- Create A Personal Branding Statement. Create a 2-3 sentence statement that outlines what you do, how you do it, and what you’re looking to do next. Make it easy for an employer to see your value quickly!
- Create A Company Bucket List. Make a list of the companies you’d love to work for. This will help you be more intentional with both your networking and job search strategy.
- Ask For Help. If you were laid off, you shouldn’t have to go through this challenging time alone. My team and I created a free webinar and checklist to teach you how to bounce back after being laid off. Utilizing resources like these will help you to streamline your job search, even in a recession.
Focus On Growing Your Career
Whether you are currently looking for a job or are preparing for the worst, the best thing you can do for your career is regularly work on a strategy plan. Your plan should ensure that your skills are in-demand and that your network is aware of how you provide value.
P.S.S. If you don’t think a membership to my company’s career coaching service is for you (yet).
At Work It Daily, we put together the following free career growth tools for you:
- A complete job search checklist.
CLICK HERE to DOWNLOAD the pdf file.
- A list of the 18 most common interview questions.
CLICK HERE to DOWNLOAD the pdf file.
- Free cover letter samples.
CLICK HERE to DOWNLOAD the pdf file.
- Guide to changing careers.
CLICK HERE to DOWNLOAD the pdf file.
- Masterclass on how to avoid common job search mistakes.