It’s the end of the year again (already!) and a great time to start planning. What would YOU like your career to look like next year?
Is it time for you to make a career move?
Are you bored in your job?
Are you making a difference where you want to be?
Are you excited about starting your work week, or do you get the Monday blues?
Are you unemployed and just spinning your wheels?
Avoid these 3 massive mistakes to position yourself for career success in 2015!
MISTAKE #3. Your résumé is not ready on demand.
One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is to wait until an opportunity presents itself, THEN rush to create a less-than-stellar résumé that actually repels the employer.
Solution: Keep your résumé updated and target it to each job announcement. Yes, this takes effort, but this small strategy will pay off big, if it is done right.
Does your résumé need a fresh design, or a new strategy that will work? Think about this past year. What major projects did you work on? What accomplishments made a difference? How did they make a difference? Did you receive a great performance review, a commendation letter, or any awards? Were you published, or did you attend any training? Did you earn a new certification?
Make sure that your résumé is always current and speaks to what you have to offer a potential employer. The best strategy is to keep your résumé current so that only fine tuning is needed to target any opportunity that may come your way. When you are rushed, important things get forgotten.
MISTAKE #2. Lack of a professional social media presence.
How can you “be found” by employers and recruiters if you are not active on social media? Are all of your social media profiles up to date? Do they strategically position you so that recruiters, hiring authorities, and experts in your industry find YOU?
According to Jobvite’s 2014 Survey, 94% of employers use LinkedIn as their principal source for recruiting! Recruiters also use Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for sourcing.
Keep your profile updated. Use your headline to capture their attention. Your photograph needs to be a professional photograph of just you and free from distractions. Your summary should express what solutions you bring to the table. If it does not convey your personality, and if you do not make it easy for the employer to see your value, then it needs to be optimized.
Did you know that according to Jobvite’s latest report, 4 in 10 job seekers have found their favorite or best job through personal connections?
According to Jobvite, “Top recruiters use social media at each stage of the recruiting funnel.” Where do you want them to find you and what do you want them to know about you?
MISTAKE #1. Neglecting your network.
I know—networking can be time consuming and is on the bottom of the job seeker’s list for a number of reasons. It is hard to focus on networking when the outcome is not immediately measurable. LinkedIn is the #1 a fast way to keep in touch with your network. It is also a great career tool to showcase what YOU have to offer an employer.
- Have you maintained contact with your professional connections?
- Are some of these people a potential reference for you?
- Are they in a position to know of future opportunities that could be a great fit for you?
Chances are—someone in your professional network is aware of a position that might be a good fit for you. If you do not let them know you are looking, they cannot help you, and vice versa.
Solution: Nurture your network for just 15-30 minutes per day, every morning before the events of the day take place. The key is set aside time consistently every day. If you are unemployed, then 1-2+ hours a day and any spare time would be even better!
Maintain regular contact with your career tribe, (former managers, colleagues, mentors, co-workers, vendors, contractors) and continue to nurture these important relationships is essential to great career management.
Now that YOU know the mistakes and solutions, NOW is the time to position yourself for career success in 2015 by preparing for opportunities in the new year!
Our clients are successful in every step of the job search. If you are new to LinkedIn, or if you are not having success on LinkedIn, learn our Top 11 Secrets for Job Seeker Success.
We hope you have a joyful holiday season!
