New Year, New Job Search Guide

New Year, New Job Search Guide New Year, New Job Search Guide In the first few months of a new year, there’s often a feeling of hope, newfound aspirations, and perhaps reflection about how you’re spending each day. If you found yourself in a career rut in 2017, it’s likely that one of your 2018 goals is to find a better position and one that offers you flexibility to live your life more fully. To begin your search for a new career path and work flexibility, we’ve devised a step-by-step job search guide to set you on your way. Follow this job search guide as the path to your flexible work career: 1. Create a specific plan for success. The first step to your new career is to drill down to your area of interest and write down your goals. What does your ideal career look like? Realistically determine the career that best suits your skills and experience and then factor in the type of work flexibility that’s needed to give you work-life balance. Take a career quiz to help you with your career change plan and consider meeting with a career coach. Keep honing these goals to get to the root of your ideal career. Be as specific as you can and then write down ways that you can better achieve that career. Is more education required? Would an online class or two refresh your skills? Would learning a complementary skill better prepare you for the road ahead? When you take a class or learn a new skill, be sure to add that to your resume to show that you’re growing and interested in learning. Begin your search with . Use the advanced search tool to select potential jobs based on your area of interest, location, desired flexibility, career level, and other refining categories. Through this search, record the education and skills needed for the jobs that interest you most to determine if you need to obtain more education or skills for your ideal career. 2. Tailor your resume. Especially if you’ve been in your current career for some time, take out your resume and dust it off. Read through it carefully and then edit it in stages. First, review your resume for any necessary updates that should be included and add those details. Next, sharpen the language used to describe each position and be sure your newly obtained education and skills are included. Lastly, ask an HR connection to review your resume for holes, unnecessary lingo, and for suggestions for improvement. Tweak your resume to align with each job to which you’re applying for better matching potential. When applying for flexible work positions, include the qualities you have that lend themselves well for this type of work, such as self-motivation, organization, and accountability. 3. Write a sharp, succinct cover letter. Review your last cover letter used and revise it. Use heightened language and sharpen the text to make your cover letter succinct and engaging. Again, ask your HR connection to review the cover letter and offer suggestions for improvement. Take the extra time to tweak your cover letter to suit each position just like you’ve done with your resume. 4. Prepare your references. Meet with or email each reference you wish to list and explain to them your career goals so they understand the importance of their reference and so their language will align with your skills and your desire to succeed in a flexible work arrangement. When applying for flexwork options, ask your reference to describe why you would be good at working from home to better solidify your chance to land an interview. 5. Refresh your online image. Use a discerning eye and peruse your social media outlets from an HR perspective. Delete posts or tweets about volatile or political issues. Add posts and tweets about professionalism or your career interests. Consider building a website that features your skills, goals, and career path and add that information to your resume and cover letter. 6. Brush up your networking and interviewing skills. If it’s been some time since your last interview or if you communicate better on paper than you do in person, brush up on your networking and interviewing skills. Practice responses to common interview questions, attend local business gatherings to hone your networking skills, and develop an “elevator speech” that describes your skills in a brief introduction when meeting a new connection. 7. Understand the applicant tracking system. An often-overlooked part of a job search guide is advising job seekers to understand how HR departments utilize an applicant tracking system. Companies that experience heavy application volume often use applicant tracking systems to weed out applicants who are an immediate wrong fit or lack the required experience. Learn more about this system by reading “5 Ways to Stand Out in an Applicant Tracking System.” Best of luck on your search! Browse Open Flexible Jobs