Spring has arrived and the sights and sounds of renewal and growth are everywhere. Even the latest economic report offers a ray of sunshine given the recent increase in production and hiring. To that end, below are a few tips for those searching for a new position or career opportunity as the economy begins to show signs of improving.
Focus on growing industries. Given the recent uptick in hiring, identify which industries or sectors are accounting for this growth and target organizations that operate in these markets. For example, in the Philadelphia area, higher education and healthcare companies have accounted for much of the increase in hiring in addition to other types of organizations that support these sectors and also benefiting from the growth (e.g. suppliers and service providers).
Share details about your work experience. Whether it is on your resume, in an interview or other venue, provide details about your work experience that include the type of clients you have served, industries you have worked, the culture of your work environment and other relevant aspects. Hiring managers typically look for candidates that have worked in similar industries and/or work environments so specifying such experience will give you an edge in finding suitable employment that matches your experience. Many job seekers frequently omit such information which can be detrimental especially if they have worked for organizations not well-known by others.
Diversify your sources for job openings. Many times job seekers rely on only a few sources in their efforts to find a new opportunity and then become increasingly frustrated on their lack of success. It’s important in today’s competitive job market to utilize multiple sources including job fairs, referrals, networking, direct mail/contact and general and specialty job websites. Such websites include professional/trade association, interest/user group, location specific or other specialty sites. For example, jobs seekers in finance can search specialty sites such as www.efinancialcareers.com or www.jobsinthemoney.com, in addition, to more general job sites such as Monster or Careerbuilder.
Get the word out. As most openings are filled through referrals and networks, its important job seekers share their interest in obtaining a new position with others as much as possible. Sharing this information will engage others to assist you in your search and provide you with contacts and job leads. Happy hunting!
Comments