How to Succeed on the Job Hunt in the New Year

Is 2019 the year you plan to land your dream job? If your New Year’s resolutions include a job search, now is the time to start preparing for success. Before you get started, there are some steps you should be taking now to position yourself ahead of the competition. As one of South Florida’s top employment firms, Future Force can help. Here’s a look at five of them.

Step #1: Take time to craft your resume and cover letter.

These documents play a critical role in the success of your job search. Don’t treat them like an afterthought. It’s vitally important to invest the effort to craft and polish an effective resume and cover letter, especially considering the short amount of time you have to get a hiring manager’s attention.

In fact, the average job opening attracts over two hundreds applicants. As a result, hiring managers spend less than a minute – and oftentimes, just seconds – reviewing each resume. Yours therefore needs to stand out.

Step #2: Highlight the most relevant information first.

Hiring managers want to know what you can do for them and their company. That’s why when you’re sending in a cover letter and resume, cookie-cutter won’t do. Instead, carefully read through the posting and research the company, then tweak your resume so the most relevant information about you is front and center. If it’s not, then the hiring manager will simply assume you’re not the best-fit candidate.

Step #3: Quantify your achievements.

Vague statements and generic claims – like “being a team player” or “highly organized with strong attention to detail” – don’t mean much to hiring managers. They want you to get specific, so they understand your track record and the value you offer. This means quantifying your accomplishments in a way that enables them to see the impact you’ve made. To do this, you can discuss:

  • Sales / revenue you’ve generated
  • Amount of money or time saved
  • Number of people managed
  • Ways you’ve improved efficiency with company processes
  • Time frames you’ve achieved goals in
  • Awards you’ve won or recognition you’ve earned
  • Specific benchmarks you’ve hit

Step #4: Show your soft skills.

In addition to your technical skills, hiring managers want to understand your soft skills and how you interact with others. This includes with communication abilities, work ethic, and collaboration skills. Your cover letter is often an ideal place to highlight these.

To do so, pick one or two areas that seem most important for the position and tell a story to highlight them. You’ll bring your background to life in a way the hiring manager will remember.

Step #5: Don’t forget about social media.

In today’s day and age, hiring managers research candidates online and expect a positive presence. So, for instance, if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, then now’s the time to build one. Likewise, if you Google yourself and don’t like what you see, it’s important to clean up your online reputation before launching your job search.

Need more help with your job hunt in 2019?

As one of South Florida’s top employment firms, Future Force is passionate about matching the right people to the right jobs, all so professionals like you can achieve more meaning in their careers. Contact us today to learn more or search our South Florida jobs now.