When you want to find a new job, it may be tempting to hop directly into your search. However, it’s actually best to prepare a few items in advance, ensuring they are at the ready when you find a great opportunity.
By taking the time to address a few points ahead of time, you are making your search more organized and efficient. You won’t be left scrambling if you spot a vacancy with a fast closing date, as just a few minutes of tweaking will have you covered.
If you are wondering what items you need to prepare before your job search, here’s what you need to know.
What Do I Need Before Starting a Job Search?
1. Your Resume
First and foremost, you should always update your resume before you start searching for opportunities. This is especially true if you haven’t been on the market in a while and your resume is out-of-date or doesn’t reflect the trends and content that today’s hiring managers expect to see.
Begin by removing any antiquated information, such as an objective statement or old jobs that aren’t relevant to your current career. Next, adjust the content to be accomplishment-oriented, displaying your skills in the context of an achievement, and quantifying the details whenever possible. Then, examine the formatting to make sure it reflects current trends and that there is a reasonable amount of whitespace. Finally, spend some time reviewing the document for errors, fixing mistakes whenever you spot them.
At this point, don’t worry about the size of your resume. Instead, allow the document to be larger than what you may send to the hiring manager. This allows the document to function as a “master resume.” When you get ready to apply, you can target the content be removing details that aren’t as relevant to the role and rearranging the order of the achievements.
2. Your Social Media Profile
Employers do spend time reviewing candidate social media profiles. Additionally, some jobs allow candidates to submit their profile in place of a resume, so you want to make sure yours is up to the task.
Begin by making sure your LinkedIn profile is current and properly reflects your skills, achievements, and goals. If you want to use Facebook during your search as well, examine your profile to make sure it reflects well on you as a professional, removing any content that might not showcase you in the best light.
For any profile that you don’t want employers to review, consider making it private. That way, the hiring manager can’t see the content, allowing you to separate it a bit from your professional brand.
3. Your Reference List
It’s wise to create your reference list early. That way, you can take time reaching out to your contact and confirming they are open to being included. Additionally, you can make sure you have accurate phone numbers and email addresses in advance, ensuring your list is ready as soon as the hiring manager wants it.
Looking for a new job?
By handling the above items before you start your search, you can streamline your efforts. If you’d like to learn more, the staff at TRC Staffing Services can help. Contact us to discuss your questions with a member of our team today and see how our job search expertise can benefit you.
