Get Your House In Order
It has been reported that the US unemployment rate is at its lowest level in 50 years. -Bloomberg
It would seem that the retail sector has not followed this national trend.
Several retail organizations are currently in the midst of a reorganization. Which is another way of saying “layoffs”.
Layoffs, when not necessarily anticipated are stressful.
Lately, I have been having conversations with talented individuals living through their layoff nightmare. As an example, in the past 2 weeks, I have been advising 8 separate people who happen to have identical job responsibilities at different retailers and were informed that their services were no longer needed. One of them told me that their plan was simple. They get up early, make a pot of coffee and sit at their computer and apply for jobs for a few hours a day. When asked if there has been any interest or even acknowledgment from a hiring company, the response was a resounding “No!”
Your job search needs to follow a Structured Plan.
The idea to drop an application along with your resume on company websites for a few hours a day is not a good use of one's time. So before you do anything else, take a few steps back to take advantage of this opportunity to think as to what it's that you want to be doing and where you would like to be doing it. This piece of the search establishes a foundation for all that needs to follow.
What kind of job interests you?
What companies and sectors interest you?
What is important to you in your work life?
START HERE…
Has your LinkedIn Profile been recently updated?
Does it early on reflect your skills and accomplishments early on to catch attention?
Is the photo professional-looking?
Has your LinkedIn URL been shortened making it easier for someone to locate you? ( YouTube gives a simple tutorial.)
There are many other items to consider when reviewing which is why you should have another set of eyes reviewing the entire profile. Think of this profile as your own personal branding page. Ask yourself if the story being told is going to support your job search effort.
Resume
Similar to your LinkedIn profile, your resume needs to be a working document that requires regular updating.
When reviewing it, ask yourself what the reader learns about me and my unique capabilities.
Ensure that there are no typos or grammatical errors.
Shorter is better. The average resume is reviewed for less than 10 seconds with most closer to 5-7 seconds.
Is your resume noteworthy? A word about Applicant Tracking System (ATS). It is a software tool used by many organizations to analyze and filter candidates. This review results in about 2 out of 3 resumes never making it to a human for review. One step is to ensure words and terminology in the resume line up with the words and terminology in the posted job description. There are free scan services that check your resume for any issues which may cause your resume to be passed over. These services can be found through an online search.
Share the Word and Network
Organize your professional contacts as a target list and begin to schedule conversations to update them as to what you are looking to do.
Create a spreadsheet recording the date of the last conversation along with a follow-up date to connect again.
When telling your story, don't be embarrassed or ashamed, tell the truth and ask for suggestions, ideas, and introductions.
Also, don't wait for a job to be posted at a prospective company before reaching out to your contact at that company.
Referrals increase your chance of an interview and getting hired. So keep growing your network and stay active. It is a fact that most people want to help so don't be shy. You have to be the champion of your career.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Look to take each conversation as an opportunity to hone your story so when an actual interview comes along, you are prepared, confident, positive, and your best version of yourself.
Ask a friend to do a mock interview with you.
It is even better if you can video it and play it back focusing not only on your answers/questions but pay attention on the tone of voice and messages of your body language.
This covers some of the basics of the job search. There is more to do but if you commit to these steps you are in a position to move forward.
Our mission at GRN Lowcountry is to create meaningful relationships with clients and candidates through our world-class placement expertise. Please reach out if we can help you navigate your journey to the next chapter of your career.
