Archive for Recruiting
If you’ve applied for every job in town with no luck and are now ready to find other ways to get the job you want, try networking. It’s the best way to tap into the “other” job market. Some experts say 70-80% of available open positions aren’t posted online. I’d agree that a majority of positions aren’t posted or easily found. You’re doing a disservice to yourself if you are ONLY looking at the job boards.
By attending events in your area, you can meet key decision makers and contacts that may be able to help you find your next job.
Here are 10 tips to help you get more out of your in-person networking.
1. Find Groups That Target Your Industry
If you want to work in PR for entertainment, as an example, visit Meetup.com and see if there are any groups or organizations that cater to this niche. If not, aim for a public relations organization like PRSA, which might have local chapters in your city. By connecting with people in the industry you work in or plan to work in, you can find out what’s happening in the field and what companies are actively looking to hire people with your skillset.
2. Have Your Elevator Speech Ready
When you meet someone new, you don’t want to stumble over what you say when they ask about you. You want to talk about your current role, and maybe briefly mention that you’re interested in finding a career in X area/Y industry. Keep it short and leave room for people you meet to ask questions.
3. Speaking of Questions… Ask lots of them yourself. People like talking about themselves, and this is a great way to get them to open up about hiring. While it shouldn’t be your agenda to aggressively approach a new contact about hiring you, asking casual questions like “what does your company have planned for next year?” can open the door to you getting a little insight into what might turn into a job opportunity down the road.
4. Take Notes
Ask for business cards of anyone you find to be a valuable contact (just don’t be that collector who goes around the room with nothing to offer!). If you can step away from the event, make quick notes on each card so that you remember who you met and maybe something you should follow up on. This will help you keep from letting good opportunities slip through the cracks.
5. Don’t Be a Wallflower
So many people feel awkward their first time at a networking event. That should help you realize you’re not alone in wanting to nurse your ice water along the wall and blend in with the plants. But fake it until it’s easier. After all, you came to the event to make new contacts, so make yourself walk up to someone who maybe looks as nervous as you do. It gets easier.
6. Don’t Self Promote
Yes, you want a job. But chances are, no one is going to interview you on the spot for one. That’s not your purpose. Instead, aim to meet a variety of people, and follow up later to grow the relationships. You should aim to make new contacts that could, down the road, develop into an opportunity for a career move.
7. Pay Attention
Once you attend a few industry events, you’ll begin to see the same people. Remember who you meet, and make an effort to recall something you spoke about at the previous meeting. This will impress your new contacts and help them remember you.
8. Bring Business Cards
Seems straightforward enough, but many people end up forgetting their cards and waste a great opportunity to connect. But don’t machine gun spray the room with your cards; focus on making quality connections.
9. Pick a Few Events
It can be tempting to attend a different networking event each night, once you get the hang of it. But you’re better off focusing on a couple groups that you can really commit to and start building relationships in. 10. Master the Followup After the event, make sure you reach out quickly. And please, don’t just automatically subscribe your new contacts to your automated email newsletter! Send a personal follow-up reminding each person where you met and why you want to stay in contact – and then keep in touch.
For whatever reason, come spring, we’re ready to get to cleaning: our closets, our desks, even our refrigerators. But have you given thought to your resume? Even if you’re not actively job hunting, giving it a good airing out and making sure it’s updated to your latest job experience is always beneficial.
How Long Has it Been?
Most of us only update our resumes when we’re looking for a job. And while generally, that’s fine, there are other reasons to consider keeping your resume updated year ‘round. For one, many employers are looking at LinkedIn as the version of your resume, and people are constantly searching the site to find professionals that fill a niche. Even if you don’t think you want a new job, if the right offer came in, you might consider it. And if you haven’t added the last three promotions you’ve received, or consequent skills you’ve gained, you can’t be considered for opportunities those would make you eligible for.
Another reason you should update your resume: nothing is certain. Life changes, business change. In either scenario, you don’t want to have to add updating your resume to the list of tasks you’ll have in finding your next job.
Read It With a Fresh Eye
If it’s been awhile since you looked at your resume, read it out loud and consider whether each section accurately portrays your current experience. Probably your past work experience can stay as-is, though you might find better verbiage for some of it. But make sure your current role is properly depicted on your resume. Have you added other skills, or taken on new responsibilities since you last updated it? What have you accomplished in this past year you are particularly proud of?
Also consider whether the resume as a whole still portrays the professional you want to be. If you’ve suddenly shown interest in a new field or role, your resume should highlight all experiences that would make you a better fit for transitioning in that direction.
Revamp Your LinkedIn Profile Too
It’s easiest to start by editing your resume, then move on to LinkedIn, as much can be copied and pasted. But also look at adding keywords that relate to the work you do, or the industry you’re in. You can change your “headline” on LinkedIn, so zero in on what type of work you want in the future.
Ask for endorsements for the skills you think are your strength, and more importantly, testimonials from people you’ve worked with. If you’ve joined any professional organizations, given any presentations, or otherwise gone over and above in your job, make sure you find a place for these accolades and events on your profile. Also consider joining professional groups on LinkedIn to network with others in your current field or profession, or one you aspire to join.
Create an annual — or even quarterly — task on your calendar to remind yourself to refresh your resume and LinkedIn, to ensure you’re always up-to-date.
If you want to dip your toes in the marketing world, but aren’t ready (or aren’t hireable enough) full-time job, give freelancing a try. Apparently it’s a good time to do so.
Every quarter and year, Elance looks at which industries are hiring freelancers. Looking at last year’s data, marketing grew in leaps and bounds in specific niches:
- Digital marketing
- Social media
- Content writing
- Blog writing
- Web design
- Graphic design
Local Economies No Longer an Issue
One hypothesis on why earnings have increased so drastically (just digital marketing saw a 190% increase year-on-year) is that geography is no longer a barrier to finding good talent. So if an employer runs an office out of Church Point, Louisiana (population 4,575), he can find talent anywhere in the world. That opens up the possibility to finding better talent. What that means for you as that talent is that you aren’t limited to finding a job within commuting distance.
The report showed that Rhode Island, whose unemployment rate is 10.2% showed an 89% increase in earnings for marketing freelancers. So in addition to removing geographic barriers, the freelancing industry is helping alleviate a bit of that unemployment rate to boot!
More Marketing, More Jobs
While a few years ago, companies of every size held back on social media and blogging as part of their marketing strategy, they’re embracing them like crazy now. And that means that they need more bloggers, social media strategists and overall Internet marketing experts. But that doesn’t always mean they want to hire full-time roles. Often this work can be done part-time externally, which saves the company on benefits, salaries and overhead.
If you’re smart about it, you can piece together a decent living through freelancing. Find a few clients who need content marketing, design work or social media execution — all of which tend to be ongoing work — and you’ve got yourself a paycheck!
How to Start Freelancing in Marketing
Step 1: Search for Gigs. If you’ve got some experience in marketing, you can start looking for projects on sites like Elance, as well as Guru.com and others. Beef up your profile as much as possible: add samples of your work to your portfolio so potential clients can see what you’ve done.
These sites let you search categories for projects. Some will be one-time projects, while others may need someone long-term. Make sure you have the skills the project requires, and send a well-crafted application letter, targeting the key points you feel make you qualified. If you’ve worked on similar projects, make sure to say so, as many employers would be more comfortable with someone who has worked in their industry before.
Step 2: Get a Website and Blog. Build a simple website that also highlights your work, outlines your services, and provides contact information. It’s wise to start a blog and write about the areas you want work in. The more you demonstrate your expertise, the easier it is for potential employers to trust in your skills and hire you.
Step 3: Network. Reach out to companies in your area — especially smaller ones that might not have in-house marketing and let them know the services you offer. Also connect with marketing agencies, as often they have more work than they can handle and need extra help.
It may take a while, but you’ll find that once you get a few projects under your belt, you’ll have some experience to back you up and it will because easier to close a new project.
If you can’t claim one of these excuses on why you shouldn’t blog professionally, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be using a blog as a fantastic tool for marketing yourself to potential employers. Here are ten ways starting and managing a blog can make you more hireable, in case you need more reasons to get started.
1. It makes you look tech savvy.
Blogs are search engine fodder, and if a potential employer searches for your name, you want a smattering of blog posts you’ve written to appear. It shows you’re being proactive in managing your online profile.
2. You prove your writing skills.
Employers are no longer asking for a folder full of your newspaper clippings; they’re looking online. And if they can easily see in one place samples of your writing, they can assess whether you’ve got the communication skills they’re looking for.
3. They don’t know how to blog.
While this isn’t true of all companies, many are still desperately seeking talent that has experience in this realm, and if you prove your mettle, you just might get the job.
4. It proves you’re paying attention to your industry.
If you’re blogging about the field you work in (or want to work in), you’re staying on top of industry trends and sharing your insight on them. Employers like that.
5. A blog shows you’re a go-getter.
If you start a professional blog that’s not part of a college assignment or part of your responsibilities at a company, you’re showing that you want to take the effort to improve yourself professionally by taking on the task of blogging on your own.
6. A blog can cover up lack of professional experience.
If you’re just entering the workforce, your blog doesn’t have to reveal that. If you consistently post great content, it can make up for a lack of real-world experience in the professional world.
7. It can help you segway into another field.
If you suddenly decide to switch fields or roles midway through your career, a blog can help ease the blow. Rather than applying for a new role in a new field with zero experience, at the very least, you can direct hiring managers to your blog to demonstrate your eagerness to immerse yourself into something new.
8. It shows you’re diverse.
Even if the job you want doesn’t require blogging as a skill, showing off your blog can demonstrate that you’re not afraid to take on new tasks. From pitching journalists to analyzing social media data, you’re ready for a challenge.
9. Blogging helps you understand bloggers and journalists.
If you’re considering PR as a career, blogging can give you new appreciation for the media. You will understand better what motivates them, as well as how to approach them with a pitch (especially if you’re a blogger who gets pitched). You’ll also be more likely to be considered “one of the gang” by bloggers if you blog in addition to working in public relations.
10. You might find a new career without looking.
Many people start blogs as a hobby or as a way to show off their writing skills to potential employers, but instead find that they really want to turn blogging into a career in and of itself. If you love writing and begin expanding your readership, you might find a way to turn blogging into a full-time job, or at the very least, a side job that brings in a little extra cash.
The key to using a blog as a branding tool is to start it long before you start looking for a job. Maintain it by regularly contributing useful content to it and sharing it through your social channels. By the time you do begin the job hunt, your blog should be established enough to impress any hiring manager.
In addition to dozens of job boards providing an easy way for you to instantly apply for a job online, now mobile and tablet apps can help keep you connected to your job hunt, even on the go. Here are some of the best.
1. Indeed.com’s Job Search
If you’re on the go and want to browse job listings, this app lets you view all the jobs you’d find on Indeed’s website, in a handy mobile format. And you’re not limited to just US jobs: you can also search jobs in Canada, UK, Ireland, India, South Africa, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore and Australia, if you’re interested in working abroad. You can save jobs or email them to yourself.
Job Search is available for Android and Apple products, and is free.
2. JobMo
In addition to letting you search jobs, JobMo also lets you compare salaries and trends for the job you want in your city. You can search for a job in a geographic region, and get involved in the forum to ask questions of other job seekers.
JobMo is available for iPhones and iPads, as well as Android phones. It’s free.
3. Gigwalk
If the job hunt is taking longer than you’d like, download Gigwalk and find part-time and freelance work you can do to make money in the meantime. Join private groups to get access to even more gigs without having to apply. Projects include tasks like:
- taking photos of store displays
- testing mobile apps
- delivery services
- mystery shopping
The app is free and available for all Apple products.
4. Lunchmeet
To balance out the job hunting apps, try Lunchmeet. It uses your LinkedIn account and contacts to help you find people you can network with in your area. Set up a time slot when you’re available to meet up over coffee, and others can set up a get together. It’s a great way to meet people at companies you want to work at, as well as find mentors who are willing to give you a little free career advice.
The app is free and available for Apple products.
5. Monster Job Search
If you use Monster to hunt for a job, you can tie in your account through the mobile app. You can get instant notifications of new jobs that fit your search parameters, and search for jobs in your geographic area. The app’s available in 19 languages, in case you speak more than one!
Monster’s app is free for Android and Apple products.
6. Interview Prep Questions
If you have an upcoming interview and are nervous about the questions you’ll be asked, this is a great app to do a trial run with. The app has some of the most commonly used interview questions, and you can flip through them flashcard-style. Give your best answer and practice what you’ll say, and you will rock that interview.
The app is free for Apple products, and $2.99 for Android phones.
7. Job Juice Social Media Search
This app leverages social media to help you build your online network with recruiters and hiring managers. It provides tips for building those relationships without overstepping your bounds, and helps you learn to beef up your online profile.
The app is $14.99, and available for iPhones, iPods, and iPads.
8. Pocket Resume
If you don’t have time to sit down at a computer and create your resume, this app will help you update your resume from your phone. It uses pre-created templates and layouts to help you design a professional-looking resume in minimum time.
The app is $2.99 for Android phones, Blackberry phones, and all Apple products.
This is a guest post by Sam Peters, a blogger who enjoys writing about career development.
The graphic design field is much broader than most think. It incorporates more than just logo design, branding and the design of advertisement and marketing materials. Graphic designers also handle things, such as the design of street signs, designing the words on the outside of airplanes, billboard design and so much more.
With the help of new technology and the internet, this field has been completely transformed. New educational programs and degrees have become available. No longer do you see a creative director or another type of graphic designer sketch anything on actual paper. They use programs, such as Cartography, CAD or computer-aided-design, multimedia software, web design programs and many others. The modern graphic designer must understand these programs and with graphic design courses in Miami, it’s possible to learn all the necessary software used within the field.
Why Choose a Graphic Design Degree?
A love of art is one of the major reasons students decide to pursue a degree in graphic design, but there’s more to it than just loving art. It’s certainly a creative job, combining art, entertainment and business, but many students see more than just the love of their job in this decision. Many graphic designers love that no two jobs or projects are the same and it’s certainly a field for those with a creative mind.
Many companies allow graphic designers to work from home part of the week, if not all of the week. They may need to go into the office for meetings, but most of the work they perform can be done from home. Companies will also hire freelance graphic designers, allowing someone in this field to not only work from home, but also work for themselves. This will help you save money on gas and provides a rewarding career you don’t even need to leave home for.
Twenty-five percent of those entering the filed are self-employed, which gives them a large amount of freedom. Imagine choosing the projects you want to work on and being your own boss. You won’t just be a graphic designer anymore, but also a media consultant ready to help others with many different tasks.
Working Towards a Graphic Design Degree
One of the most popular areas of the country for graphic design degree programs is Miami, Florida. Taking a CBT college graphic design course will not only allow you to work towards a degree, but graphic design courses in Miami also allow you to enjoy a warm climate with plenty of activities to fill your down time. In addition, Miami has some of the best programs for graphic design and many top firms looking to hire new graduates.
This field is unique in offering more than just Bachelor’s degree programs. Of course, a Bachelor’s degree is the best choice, but you can start with an Associate’s degree program or one of the many graphic design certificate or diploma programs. You will find many different specialties within the field and many students find it easy to achieve a degree or certificate in a shorter amount of time, find a job and continue with their education, while working for a design or marketing firm.
Whether you want to enter the field because you’re a creative person or you really want the freedom of working from home, it all starts with the right degree program. Take your time and make sure you choose the degree or certificate program right for you.
Recently it was announced that Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!, planned to ban all employees from working from home, starting this June. This news is surprising, given that Silicon Valley has had such high adoption of virtual and telecommute teams, including at Yahoo!
While we’ve heard plenty of statistics stating that not only is telecommuting cost-effective for companies, it’s also boosting productivity levels. Mayer doesn’t seem to think so. And while Yahoo! has had plenty of negative press in the last few years, many don’t feel that its problems stem from whether or not all employees are physically on Yahoo! grounds for work.
Sara Sutton Fell, CEO of FlexJobs, thinks Mayer’s stance might reveal the other shortfalls of the company even faster:
“Management, collaboration, and communication problems will often show up as a problem faster with telecommuters than it will in the office, where people can hide behind “face time” as “evidence” of their commitment and presence, Fell says, “Unfortunately, Marissa Mayer seems to be endorsing that type of ‘head in the sand’ approach, and turning her back on all the many advancements that technology has to offer in terms of remote work — which is strange, because they’re a technology company.”
Will Employees Run Away?
Given that Yahoo! was once among the forerunners of flexibility in working from home, this change may turn off many who need — or simply want — to work from home. Parents who work from home to have more flexible schedules to pick up their children, for example, might have a hard time finding childcare for the new situation. And with so many other top companies in the Valley, many may simply choose to go elsewhere to keep the perk of working from home.
What About Those Benefits?
In Mayer’s private memo that was leaked, she rallies around the benefits of being in the same work environment:
“Some of the best decisions and insights come from hallway and cafeteria discussions, meeting new people, and impromptu team meetings. Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home. We need to be one Yahoo!, and that starts with physically being together.”
Sutton Fell says, “Pointing the finger at working from home as being the culprit to the inefficiencies and lack of cohesiveness at Yahoo! is missing a big opportunity, and unfortunately doing it in a way that not only hurts the people who were promised this work arrangement, but it hurts the morale of the whole company. “
Mayer seems to be ignoring the benefits others tout in favor of working from home, or at least focusing on the benefits the company could gain, in her mind, by working in the office.
But maybe she’s right. Maybe we’ve put too much focus on the idea of working from home and not enough attention on how much better companies would be if they were having those impromptu meetings and brainstorming on new ideas face to face. Maybe we need a back-to-basics approach, and Mayer is the leader of this movement. Or maybe she’s just trying to cut costs easily by making remote employees quit with a new policy. At any rate, we’ll see what happens at Yahoo!, and we’ll see if other companies follow suit.
Having worked in recruiting for 15 years, I’ve become passionate about helping people find their ideal role, and helping companies create amazing teams. In honor of Valentine’s Day, here are six things I love about my work.
1. I help people achieve their goals and make life changing decisions. Changing jobs is one of the most important choices a person makes. The reasons people want to change jobs varies: sometimes people are actively looking and really need a job, while others are stuck in their comfort zone, and wouldn’t make a move if it weren’t for the little nudge from a recruiter. Whatever the reason, moving on to something better often helps people thrive, and I find that helping people tap into their talents and get that dream job is very rewarding.
2. I help companies build awesome teams. It’s also very rewarding when you can see how your work has helped a company grow. While I might them hire the first PR Manager, it often blossoms into a long-lasting relationship, and sometimes I get the fun of staffing out an entire agency team for a new group.
3. I get to learn the ins and outs about a business, its industry, and its management team. One of the things I truly love about my work is seeing what makes a successful employee at a given company, and helping both the new hire and the company grow. Without a recruiter on its side, the company may have a very limited reach to find the best candidate for the job. I pride myself on making great connections.
4. It’s different every day. Some people call recruiting a roller coaster, and there are days and months that it certainly is just that. Every person has his individual idiosyncrasies, so it’s challenging because there is not a single recipe for dealing with every situation. Every placement is a celebration for me, because it was hard work to get there.
5. I meet new people every day. And this leads to lifelong networks, friendships, and career development. Every conversation I have is an opportunity to learn something new. As a respected recruiter, candidates and hiring managers trust my judgment and come to me for career advice. But helping is a two-way street, because I learn something from every person I’m in contact with, and that helps me do better – professionally and personally. Some candidates become personal friends over time, our kids have played together, we share sewing tips, we’ve turned our conversations into new business partners and rolled around product/service ideas.
6. Recruiting satisfies my need to fix things. I’ve always liked to fix things. I’m the person in the house who can install a new electrical outlet or hem a pair of jeans. In recruiting, both parties have something that needs to be fixed. The company has a problem to solved: they have a position that needs to be filled so they can operate at full steam ahead. I’m fixing something for the candidate too – helping them find a better career opportunity, career advancement, a better work environment. And when it all works out, everyone is happy and their problems are solved.
This Valentine’s Day I’m considering this a professional love letter to what I enjoy most: recruiting! Happy Valentine’s Day!
It’s a new year and a fresh start. Whether you’re looking for your next career move or are angling for a promotion at your current job, take a moment to create resolutions for what you want to accomplish professionally in 2013.
Take Stock of Where You Are
Are you where you want to be professionally right now? Do you feel like you’re churning your wheels and are ready for the next thing? Do you think you’ve outgrown your current role? These are all important to take stock of when creating your professional resolutions at the start of a year.
Write down all your major professional accomplishments over the past year. Include any new skills you gained, promotions granted or new job secured. It can be beneficial to start by looking at all the great things you’ve done.
Now consider what you want to accomplish this year. Be Realistic If you just got a job promotion or a raise, you might not realistically be able to expect another one this year.
And if you’ve been angling for a Director position, you might need to come down to Earth and realize your resume doesn’t yet stand up to the job requirements.
When creating goals for yourself, it’s important to have a realistic view of what you can feasibly do in the coming year. That being said, you also need to make your goals just painful enough that you have to work hard to achieve them.
Consider Your Options
If you’re unhappy in your current role, consider the possibilities. You could: ask your boss for more responsibilities in an area you’re more interested in present your case for a promotion apply for another job in your company apply for another job outside of your company It’s not enough to say “I hate my job.” You need to then determine what you will do to change the situation.
Once you do this, create action steps to make your resolution a reality. For example, if you think you deserve a promotion, find out what the role you want to take on requires in terms of experience and skills. Then assess your experiences and be honest with yourself about where you fall short. Find the opportunity over the next few months to develop those areas.
Once you feel you’re ready to present yourself as a qualified candidate for the role to your boss, set up a meeting. Discuss the achievements you’ve made in the past few years and pitch him on how you’ve worked hard to get the necessary skills and your accomplishments.
That Being Said…Write it Down on Paper and Share!
Studies show that writing down goals can help increase the chances that you achieve them. Sharing them with someone else can help you keep on track. So give yourself every opportunity to make them become a reality.
Keep your list of resolutions on your desk or refrigerator where you can see them every day, where they will serve of a reminder of what you are working toward. Then when you achieve them one by one, you can mark them off your list!
I’ve come up with a few of my own resolutions – particularly around productivity.
As a mother of a toddler and a baby, this is the spot in my personal and professional life where I need to find more harmony and less guilt.
- Spend more time talking with professional contacts and colleagues, and less on email, Facebook, and other places where interaction is limited by “likes”, retweets, and send buttons. Relationships are the key to my business. While social media definitely enhances the relationships and keeps me connected, more one-on-one time with individuals will pay off in the long run.
- Focus on specific tasks without interruptions. Stop wasting time by “multi-tasking”, disconnect from the internet and focus on the given task. I know I will be 100% more productive if I minimize the distractions, shut off email and the cell phone, while working on projects.
- In addition to expanding Paradigm Staffing, I want to branch out our public relations job board, Hoojobs, into other geographical markets outside the United States and launch at least one new job portal for other industries. What are some of your professional goals for 2013?
Rather than overdosing on eggnog this time of year, you’d be better off dusting off your resume and positioning yourself to find your dream job. Many people think now isn’t a good time to find a job, but that’s not the case. In fact, 32% of employers hiring administrative and commercial roles plan to do so for the fourth quarter this year. If you’re looking for your next job, now is still a good time to do it.
1. Look at your resume with fresh eyes
It’s easy to glaze over when you look at your resume, but if you haven’t updated it in a while, there are likely spots where you can add new skills or polish up your writing. Have a friend look at it and make suggestions for improvement.
2. Get a party strategy
Looking for a job during the holidays doesn’t mean you have to forego the annual office Christmas party. You simply have to come up with a strategy for what you want to get out of the event. If you’d consider moving to a different department at your company, now’s your chance to cozy up to decision-makers in that department. Just keep it professional; office parties can sometimes toe the line of impropriety, and you want to be the level-headed partygoer in this situation. Your career might depend on it.
3. Tap your recruiter network
If you’ve worked with recruiters in the past, now is the time to let them know you’re on the hunt. Even if you’re not seeing a lot of jobs on job boards, a recruiter will have better insight into who’s hiring at the end of the year.
4. Tap your social network
While you don’t want to update your Facebook status to “hungry and looking for another job,” you can use social media to see who’s hiring. Don’t be shy about sending a private message on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn to a contact who works for a company you’re interested in. Gauge her knowledge of the hiring situation and see what advice she can provide.
5. Update your online profiles
Because many recruiters and hiring managers Google you before even reaching out for an interview, you want to make sure what they find in those search results is what you want them to see. That means sharing links on your industry, writing blog posts about your field, and overall making sure that your profile is 100% professional, and that any personal tidbits or photos you don’t want potential employers to see are hidden.
6. Make coffee dates
Workloads tend to be a little lighter this time of year, so that might create opportunities for you to network with people you’ve met that might have a lead on a job. Invite a contact a week out for coffee or lunch and pick his brain.
7. Assess your career goals
Ask yourself why you’re looking for a job. Is it that you’re unhappy at your current position? Or maybe you’re looking for a promotion. The end of the year is a fantastic time to evaluate where you are professionally, as well as take direction on where you’d like to go in your next role.
8. Apply for jobs
This should be a no-brainer, but don’t overlook jobs you find online that aren’t ideal, especially if they’re in a company you really want to work for. Even if you’re not a good fit, the hiring manager can keep your information on file. At the very least, you get your foot in the door.
9. Make time for interviews
It can be tricky, taking time off from your current job to interview for another. But with a more laid-back schedule at work, you might find more time to fit in interviews. Just do it wisely so you don’t tip off your boss.
This blog is to share my recruiting experiences and discuss thoughts on the job market, PR industry and technology.
Alison Kenney is an independent PR practitioner with more than 15 years of PR consulting experience.
