3 Steps to Take BEFORE You Start Looking for a New Job

by Cassie Hatcherin Job Searching, Military to Civilianon Posted on

#1-Ask yourself, why don’t I enjoy this job right now?
Just like a long-term relationship a job can go stale, especially when you start "going through the motions." We’ve all been there, sitting at our desk and wanted to do anything besides work. Take this time to reflect and determine why you’re ready for a change. Write a quick list of reason you like your job and reasons you don’t. I’m talking about the old fashioned positive and negative list, and here are some ideas:

#2-Search LinkedIn & Indeed to see what jobs are available
There are strong and slow hiring months. Typically hiring takes a steep drop in December when so many people (including HR) is out of the office. Hiring also slows down in July and picks back up at the end of August. So the summer is the best time to update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Next, make sure there are jobs available that you are interested in and qualified for. You might discover a position that is so perfect for you that it may motivate you to get ready for the next jump. I recommend spending 15-30 minutes a day on the top job search websites including:
Indeed.com – It’s the largest job search aggregator in the United States, and will pull the most positions from company websites.
LinkedIn.com – Since you likely already using LinkedIn if you’re reading this article, take advantage of the job search features and set-up your account to find positions within your interests, area, and experience level.
Glassdoor.com – This website is especially useful on many levels, #1- you can learn out a lot about the company you want to apply for including what employees within the same position your targeting think. You might see a few outliers that have only negative comments, but more likely you will find commonalities such as, "This company doesn’t offer much upward mobility," or "Work-life balance is a challenge." These comments can give you a lot of insight in making such an important decision.
ZipRecruiter.com – I particularly like ZipRecruiter because it’s set-it and forget-it. Once you upload your resume it is automatically available to thousands of employers and recruiters can search for your resume and contact you with job opportunities.
Dice.com – The leading job search website for tech job seekers, especially those in IT or engineering.
Job search websites to AVOID: Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, Craigslist.com these website used to be the best in the industry a few years ago, but more and more scammers are using these sites to post fake jobs used for phishing scams. With better options available, I recommend staying away from these shyster sites.
#3-Revamp your Resume & LinkedIn Profile
(and make sure both are ATS Friendly!)
Before you start looking for a new gig, make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile are up-to-date and are tailored towards the positions you are applying for. 90% of Fortune 500 companies filter job applicants and resumes through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before an actual human being reads it.
Applicant tracking systems scan and store resumes into a database. Human resources then search for keywords for the particular job opening. If your resume contains the keywords the employer wants, then the ATS will rank you higher in the search results.
The process by which job candidates tailor their resumes to get them noticed by ATS is similar to the process of search engine optimization, or SEO. The best way to get an ATS to notice your resume is to highlight keywords within the job description. I like using programs like Jobscan, which is essentially an ATS system that job seekers can use. It will analyze your resume compared to the job description in order to increase your ranking within an ATS, thereby increasing your chances of landing an interview.