New year, new job? Tips for success

It goes unsaid that Australia has had a rocky start to the new decade, with bushfires, floods, hail and dust storms dragging our attention from our New Year’s resolutions, professionally and personally. Many of us may not even feel reinvigorated after our holidays.

However, it’s now February. For those wanting a new job in 2020, it’s time to get moving.

Here’s what you need to know about securing a career change this year.

Remember this saying

Author Spencer Johnson, in his book Who Moved My Cheese: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life, said “The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese.”

This is so true. Old cheese is a stale job. New cheese is a fresh opportunity.

Have a cuppa

There’s no better way to kickstart your job search than registering with a reputable, professional recruitment company and meeting an experienced recruiter (do it with face2face now—it only takes a minute).

All you need to commit to is a cuppa (so you can’t lose). You’ll learn heaps about how recruitment companies work, how most offer their services to candidates for free (we do), and how the recruitment process unfolds.

Read about the many benefits for using a dedicated recruiter and why you should use an award-winning one.

Be honest

A great recruiter will invest considerable effort in getting to know your story—where you’ve been, what your talents are, what your ambitions are and where you want to go with your career. It’s important to be honest so the recruiter can paint a full picture and really target their support. This enables them to tackle any issues upfront for a smooth start in your new job.

Update and upgrade your resume

To be an effective jobseeker you need to invest a bit of time to get your house in order. That includes sprucing up your resume, making sure it’s up-to-date, modern looking, the right length and emphasises your strengths and experience.

Remember that you’re not alone—our expert recruiters will help you tailor your resume to the jobs you’re applying for. Our recruiters will also point you to the free tools and resources we’ve developed for jobseekers.

Learn more:

How to write a winning resume (one of our most popular expert articles)

Your resume: photo or no photo?

Get the rest of your house in order

If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, create one. If you have one, review it out to make sure it’s up-to-date and relevant. Approximately 93% of recruiters will look at your profile.

Sanitise your social media profile (digital footprint). Recruiters and employers check social media all the time. Don’t let them find photos or content that puts you in a bad light or promotes you as a party animal. Here’s how to get this right.

Be open to new ideas

Fantastic, motivated recruiters often see your skills differently than you do. They can think laterally about how your skills can work in positions and sectors you may not have even thought about. Hear them out when they have new ideas and have a serious think about their suggestions.

Upskill

If you feel you need to upskill (or if your recruiter recommends you do), get going. It’s easy these days with so many online courses you can complete on your own time and in the comfort of your home. Short, economical courses are a fantastic way to enhance your hard and soft skills to gain a competitive edge.

There are thousands of such courses out there, on virtually every topic, including leadership, time management, developing budgets and communicating.

Prepare for interview

Prepare for interviews well. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Remember to develop scenarios that illustrate your talents and experience. Our recruiters will help coach you.

You can also read our expert articles on interview techniques:

22 most frequently asked interview questions (our most popular expert article)

Questions to ask (and not ask) at your interview

Career objective statement? Yes or no?

What not to do during interview

The panel interview: How to ace it

Apply and then apply again

In a tight job market, you can’t expect to get the first job you apply for (although this sometimes happens!). See each application and each interview as a way to build experience and confidence.

Remember, you might not love your current job but at least you have one. Persist and you’ll land a dream career change.

Don’t stop

Don’t become overwhelmed with your job search. Take a slow but steady approach. Tick one item off your ‘find a new job’ list at a time. Keep the momentum going and keep your spirits up by remembering two things:

• Finding a new job can take time—it’s not necessarily you; it can be the market.
• There is a dream job for everyone, yourself included.

Learn more …

Stages of the recruitment process

Are all recruitment agencies equal?

What’s the best time to look for work?

Tips for writing a cracker cover letter

How to dress for a job interview