You’ve been working at your current position for a while now, and you think it’s time to start looking elsewhere. It’s not that you hate your job — it’s that you can’t see yourself flourishing at this company years down the line.
You might be surprised to find that you’re not the only one. Plenty of workers have decided they want to hand in their two weeks’ notice and move on to a more lucrative position. So many workers have done this that experts are calling the phenomenon the Great Resignation. Droves of people are upgrading their work life with higher salaries, better employee benefits and more opportunities for growth.
So, are you ready to upgrade your job? Follow these tips for your upcoming job search.
Update Your Resume
Before you start looking at job listings, you should update your resume. Check to see that all of your contact information, job information and skill lists are current and correct. You don’t want to send out a resume with the wrong phone number.
Most job applications are run through an applicant tracking system (ATS). An ATS might have trouble scanning a resume with complex formatting (this means lots of headers, titles, bullet points, graphs, columns and images). If your resume has complex formatting, you could be automatically sending your application into the rejection pile. Simplify your resume’s format, just in case.
Get Help
Getting your resume out there can be a difficult task. You’ll want a helping hand to speed up your job search.
Where can you go for help? Start with your personal network of friends, family members and previous colleagues to ask if they know of any opportunities that would fit your skill sets and interests. They could find an opening for you!
You could also go to a professional recruitment agency for help. Recruiters can look at your credentials and give you direct access to job opportunities that match your qualifications and needs.
Be sure to look for an agency that focuses on your location and your line of work. For instance, are you in sales? You can find plenty of sales positions in New York City with the help of elite sales recruiters. They will make it much easier to get your foot into some impressive doors.
Ask About Perks
Discussing salary and perks may feel intimidating or rude to do during the interview, but it’s not. Remember: you are interviewing the company, too. You want to make sure that you’re impressed with what they have to offer.
So, don’t be nervous to inquire about the advantages the company has to offer its prospective employees. Here are some questions you can ask:
- What is the salary range?
- What are the employee benefits?
- What opportunities are there to grow?
- Does the company offer learning opportunities or training in order to attain different positions?
- Does the company offer full-time remote work or a hybrid schedule?
These are questions you can bring up at the end of your first screening interview (usually conducted over the phone). This will help both parties determine whether you should move forward in the interview process.
Aspire Higher
You don’t have to meet every single qualification in a job listing to apply. Being this picky will make it difficult for you to apply for any job whatsoever! If you meet most of the qualifications, then consider yourself a viable candidate and apply.
Don’t undersell your experience. You shouldn’t be applying for entry-level positions when you’ve been in the field for years. Set your sights on higher positions — this will lead to better pay and benefits.
It’s time to follow these tips and upgrade your job. You’re ready!