Now more than ever, preparing for an interview is vital. With so many layoffs and job scarcity due to the pandemic, landing an interview has become more challenging. However, with a bit of extra work and planning, landing one or multiple interviews is very possible. Our experts at our professional resume services understand the value of planning and being prepared.
Stop and Make a Plan
All too often jobseekers jump into a job search without first making a plan. Some think that landing a job only requires forwarding your resume and filling out as many online applications as possible. The problem with this plan is the lack of strategy. If you are truly looking for your next career move stop and consider a few things. Take note of the jobs you do and don’t want to do. Consider your unique skillsets, accomplishments and what you bring to the table. This will help you to know what to apply to and what to avoid. Knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to apply to. Applying to and landing a job you don’t want to do is just as bad as not landing an interview. It can lead to a habit of job hopping which can bring down the quality of your resume.
Creating a plan will also help you understand how to tailor your resume. Having the right keywords included in your resume is vital. Without the right keywords, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) will skip over your resume. If you are unsure how to make sure your resume meets the mark be sure to reach out to an expert at our professional resume services.
Research Companies – Not Just Jobs
When it comes to looking for your next job, there is more to it than just searching online for open positions. You will want to be on the lookout for companies with great benefits and ethics that match with what you are looking for. A good place to start researching is LinkedIn. You can start following companies that catch your eye to find out what they are all about. LinkedIn offers a feature to see if anyone in your network works at a company you are interested in. It can help to reach out and ask them about the company, work ethic and expectations. You can also search company websites to see what kind of mission statements they stand behind.
Use Your Network
Use your network to get the word out that you are looking for the next career move. Often times companies prefer a candidate if they have been referred rather than a cold applicant from a job posting. For hiring officials, receiving insight from an employee offers better chances of avoiding turnaround. Having a friend, family member or previous colleague give a good word for you can make all the difference.
You can also use LinkedIn to reach out to your connections. You can comment on their posts, inbox them and politely ask for a recommendation or simply create posts that display your expertise.
Contact our Professional Resume Services
A good job search starts with a good plan and a well-written resume. Don’t jump into a job search without having one of our writers look over your resume. Aside from providing expert advice on your job search, we can create pristine career documents that will get you going on the right foot! Our clients typically land an interview within three weeks of using our services. Give us a call today to get started.