With COVID-19 looking like it’s going to stick around for a while, you, like many other professionals, may be reevaluating your current career path. Making the effort to reflect on your career goals and priorities is always a good thing to do. But in these uncertain times, it has taken on even more significance– especially when so many industries have been disrupted by the pandemic and so many professionals with “stable” jobs are suddenly out of work.
Successfully navigating today’s job market, however, requires much more clarity and know how than it did a mere few months ago. So, if you are seriously considering switching your career, you should pay attention to the following four points below. You can think of these ideas as your compass that will help to keep you moving in the right direct.
1. Realize that hiring has changed. Long before anyone even knew what corona was, the practice of hiring has been going through a major transformation. So, before you can get to strategy, you first have to be aware of how job search process has evolved over the past few years.
Once upon a time the most successful job seekers were those who knew how to discover and take advantage of the best opportunities. Tremendous effort was directed at perfecting the resume, the business card and the elevator pitch and reaching out to the most influential people…
Today, success as a job seeker means making yourself findable and searchable to future employers. According to a recent report by Aptitude Research, the majority of HR and Talent Acquisition teams are applying data-driven strategies, content, and technology to the recruiting and hiring process in order to “meet the needs of the business and the changing expectations of candidates, recruiters, and hiring managers.” Moreover, nearly three-quarters of the businesses surveyed reported they plan on bringing in automation to the recruiting process in 2020.
What this means is that you now need to view yourself from the eyes of recruiters and their automated bots when seeking a job. So, for example, you’ll need to make sure that both your resume and your online presence reflects your expertise and personality and is also optimized for recruiting search.
2. Determine where you are trying to go. Simply applying to any position that even remotely fits what you are looking for or sending your resume to recruiters, just won’t cut it these days. In many corners of the world, business is not happening as usual.
Instead, you need to be crystal clear about the realities that exist in your current industry as well as the one(s) you’re thinking of moving to. What positions are currently in demand that would make sense for you? What skills or experiences do you have that would help you to succeed in these roles? And, who are the decision-makers in the hiring process?
3. Decide how to express yourself. Giving expression to your unique qualities, such as your expertise, passion and personality, is the foundation of your personal brand. If you get this part right, you’ll already be ahead of the pack. Consider that a recent survey of out-of-work professionals conducted by LiveCareer discovered that 57 percent of job seekers are unable list the skills that will land them their next job.
Ouch.
So, make sure you build a physical list of your skills, abilities, achievements, interests, ambitions and values. The very act of writing these things down will help you recognize the unique qualities that make you stand out. This in turn will help you stay on message whenever you update your resume or create compelling content to be shared online.
4. Build out your network. With so much noise and distraction in our always-on world, even the most qualified job seekers can sometimes feel insignificant. But if you don’t tell people what you do, then they will never know. If you want to get anywhere in your career, then you need to get people’s attention and that will only happen when you make the effort to meet and even collaborate with others. This could mean joining a professional online group, forum or mastermind.
Social networking plaforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn offer the easiest way to connect with people and build up your professional network. Just remember to be pleasant, respectful and helpful. If you’ve gotten your personal brand down, then you can share your work or other content where appropriate, and your personality, skills and talent will speak for themselves.
Bottom line: switching careers can be a challenge in even the best of times. But, in the current environment you’ve got to up your game if you really want to get your foot in the door.
