5 Things To Have Ready When You Start Your Job Search

Did you know that, even though you think you have a great resume, you can get knocked out of the interview process because of something you posted on Facebook years ago?

Employers have started looking at your social media accounts. They want to see if they can get a glimpse of who you really are before deciding if they want to spend time getting to know you in an interview. Even if that step is not built into a formal recruitment process, managers can do some digging on their own and look online at your Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn accounts and see that unprofessional party pic from summer vacation years ago. You probably forgot you even posted it.

With the pandemic causing a lot of lay offs, a job from a year or two ago that had 50 people applying for it could have 10 times as many people applying today. Imagine competing against 500 other candidates who also really want the job? You better hope that you are prepared, organized and put your best self forward to stand out from the other candidates.

So, what are the things that are a must to have prepared before you start your job search? Take these tips from someone who has been in the recruiting game for over 16 years who has seen the good, the great and the “Are you for real” applicants!

#1: A Tailored “Wow Them” Resume

Everyone knows that you have to have a resume ready, and you should have copies saved in both a word and PDF version. You need a word version so that you can easily make changes to your resume as needed. You need the PDF version to attach to your online applications and have peace of mind knowing your masterpiece can’t be altered in any way after you send it. You can be assured that the employer will receive a copy that will not unformat if you send it in PDF form.

Recruiters look for resumes in these two formats so please, please don’t think of sending a picture of your resume or an unformatted one that was saved from the notepad of your computer. This will look unprofessional and will get you knocked out of the process very quickly.

A ‘WOW Them” resume is one that is tailored to the specific job you are applying for and highlights accomplishments…not just job duties. I will have future posts on how to ensure your resume makes it past applicant tracking systems and into the eyes of the recruiters. Until then, try to incorporate some of the job description information into your resume if it matches your skillset.

#2: A Custom Cover Letter

I am often asked, “Do I really need a cover letter?” What I really want to say is “Do you really need the job?”. That may sound harsh… and I don’t really say that…but the short and sweet answer is yes.

I know you have already done a lot of work getting your resume in great shape but please spend the extra time to create a cover letter. You are competing against many candidates and, if recruiters or managers are deciding on who will be shortlisted, it could be the person who made the extra effort to include a cover letter.

This does not have to be something that is lengthy or just repeats information in your resume. If the stat is correct, and recruiters look at your resume for less than 7 seconds, you need something SHOWSTOPPING to get them to look at yours. Although there are articles upon articles telling you how to write a cover letter, there is no right or wrong way in my opinion.

A quick and easy format is to:

#1: Open with a good reason about why you are qualified for the job and what motivated you to apply.
#2: Include 2-3 stats, or accomplishments, that will highlight why you are a great match for the position.
#3: Close by saying you are available, at the employer’s convenience, if they want to ask further information or schedule an interview.

There….Short, Sweet, Standout and Done!

#3: A LinkedIn Account

The way I describe LinkedIn is that it is like a professional Facebook account. I feel you need to have a LinkedIn profile whether you are a job seeker or are in a job already. I will have future articles about networking on your social media platforms as this will be a crucial way to network for future job opportunities. You can build a great reputation and meet key contacts by interacting with followers and commenting positively on LinkedIn posts.

In the meantime, make an account, build a profile with a professional picture, and include a compelling “about” section. When I say professional, I don’t mean that you have to go out and hire a photographer. If you check out my LinkedIn profile, and website pictures, I can tell you that I took all those pictures with my iPhone, good lighting and a smile. Yes, they could be better, but I am pretty proud of them and they look professional enough for what I need them for.

#4: Regular Social Media “"Sweeps”

In my introduction, I talked about that dreaded Facebook picture that can be discovered when you forgot it even existed. I know your Facebook is more of a fun, social form of expression so don’t go completely changing who you are. What I am saying is that you want to do a review, or sweep, of your social media accounts and put yourself in the shoes of a potential employer. What would you see as unprofessional in a future employee that would be a deal breaker for wanting them to come and work for you?

It’s a good idea to set your privacy settings so that the only people looking on our accounts are there because you want them there. Have a nice photo on your Facebook and Instagram accounts and then….lock em’ down. LinkedIn is the place you want to focus attention on for your job search. This is where potential employers can see your professional side.

#5: A Job Interview Tracker

I am rooting for you to be one of the lucky people who gets your dream job right away! The reality, though, is that you may apply for many jobs and you need a system to keep track of everything. You will see a common theme if you read the articles about people going through a job search during recent times. You will hear about how they applied for A LOT of jobs over many months before landing a job offer. An interview tracker will keep everything organized in one place so you have information available when recruiters call.

I am a huge fan of trackers and have built a few over the years. I sell an interview tracker on my website for a reasonable cost. This is a really good one, not just because I built it, but because I know what information is most valuable to track as a job seeker. As a bit of a marketing push, my tracker will allow you to do more than just track all of your job applications. You can also track your ultimate career goals, interview examples as they happen so you are not cramming before an interview, detailed information to assess interviews, key contacts you meet and accomplishments for motivation. Check that out on my website here.

You already have great skills and experience and I am here to help you market them in the best possible way to employers. If you are serious about getting the job and career you want, I know you will put in the effort to make that happen. I promise it will pay off when you get your dream job offer.

I would love to know what things are a must for you to have ready before you start your job search. Please comment below and tell me what you thought the best tip was from this article. Are there things you already do that weren’t included on the list?

All the best,

Michelle

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