3 Ways To Land Your Next Job In The Current Job Market

by EdgeLink on Dec 08, 2021 in Candidate Job Search, Job Market

At almost every corner, you’ve seen the sign: “We Are Hiring.” As articles and publications show, the job market has more openings than workers. While that doesn’t mean getting a new position will automatically be a cinch, you have more options at your fingertips for your next career. What’s fueling all the hiring? And how do you use that to your advantage to land your next job? Let’s start with a quick snapshot of the market.

THE CURRENT CRAZE IN THE JOB MARKET

It’s no secret that people are leaving their jobs – you might even be one of them. The introspection caused by the pandemic has led way to the Great Resignation. Since April of 2021, more than 19 million U.S. workers have quit their positions. In fact, the tech industry has recently felt the full impact of these changes as resignations increased 4.5%.  People are contemplating what they truly want out of their jobs and are willing to take the risk to find it.

HOW TO LAND YOUR NEXT JOB

If you recently resigned or are strongly considering that option, you are in the market for something better, and that entails more than a salary compensation. You are not alone in that longing.

“The pandemic in many ways has pushed more workers to look for job opportunities that have better working conditions than their prior jobs,” said Kathryn Zickuhr, a labor-market policy analyst at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. “It’s wages, schedule, the number of hours, benefits, location.”

So, this begs the all-important question: How do you land your ideal job? We are glad you asked.

1.  CEVALUATE WHY YOU’RE DISCONTENT

You may feel ready for a change, but before you dive into a brand-new opportunity, consider isolating the aspects of your current position that don’t work for you. If you gloss over this step, you’ll just be adding another layer of wallpaper instead of repairing the rotting studs underneath.

What specifically do you dislike about your current role? Write a list and highlight the key contributors, aspects like:

• Unsuitable hours or lack of remote options
• Zero opportunities for professional development
• No clear direction for the future
• Lack of enjoyment in responsibilities

The more you understand what roles you want to avoid, the better you can search for your quintessential career. Now you may not be able to be a Senior Software Engineer or CISO by tomorrow, but you can pinpoint tangible steps to reach your endgame. Sign up for classes that will propel you further in your degree, volunteer for pilot programs using new technology, or explore interdisciplinary opportunities to expand your training into new industries.

As you cross off goals, you propel your career to new possibilities. That was certainly the case for Michael Norris, a C-suite leader at Youtech. “You don’t necessarily need a degree in a field to get a job in that field. Certifications, internships, and side projects of your own are better ways to get in front of an employer than a degree with no experience. I majored in Philosophy, now I’m a CMO.” Forge a new framework for your future, and you might experience surprising breakthroughs.

2.  KNOW WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

After you gain a better understanding of what you want, focus on your current professional skills, both hard and soft. If you’ve earned certifications, implemented successful new software, or led a growing team, communicate these attributes in your resumes and interview conversations. How do you follow that advice without bragging? Great question! A recent article explains how “brag bites” are the perfect blend of confidence and humility:

Brag bites are short little sound bites and brief marketing monologues about yourself that you can use in a moment’s notice in any situation without coming off as pushy or disingenuous. They’re kind of like mini “elevator pitches” about yourself.

Here are a few options of what brag bites could sound like:

• I have been lucky enough to take the lead with an incredibly talented team of DevOps Engineers. With their passion for optimizing and automating systems functions, we were able to identify redundancies and reduce operational costs by ~$3,000 each month.
• Last year, I helped spearhead an application launch in a hybrid development environment that was a success for end users across operating systems. I had a chance to ensure the product development remained on schedule and that continuous improvements were made throughout the entire process, but I’m grateful to have worked with a team that made the final product so rewarding.

Now that’s the technical aspect, but what about the more personable side? How will you as an individual add to the success of the company? If you are a gifted communicator, share stories of how you led and encouraged colleagues in the past. If you cherish your work ethic, speak to why you are more concerned with doing the job right than just crossing a task off your list. Demonstrate how your character will not only fit into the company culture but enhance it.

3.  SEARCH PROACTIVELY UNTIL YOU FIND IT

Where do you connect with potential employers to showcase what you have to offer? First, grow your network. You can connect with IT professionals and even gain more work experience with resources like GitHub. And you can broaden your professional network by connecting with industry leaders on LinkedIn. The more you highlight the breadth and depth of your experience and intertwine those accomplishments in conversations, the more you show potential employers why you should be their next hire.

Second, make connections with a recruiter (we know a few good ones here at Edgelink). This process, however, is more than simply dropping a resume in their inbox. A recent CNBC article highlighted a few important details they gleaned from seasoned recruiters. “The best way to reach out to a recruiter is to express what specific job title or role you’re looking for first. Then, provide one or two sentences about why you’re qualified for that work. The most important factors are that you’re clear in your intent and to the point.” The more particulars you provide about your professional goals, the better recruiters will match your skills with the right company.

A world of opportunities awaits as you evaluate your experiences and grow your professional network. By gaining a solid grasp on your abilities and future ambitions, you are well on your way to landing your ideal job in this market.

IF YOU’RE SEARCHING FOR A TECH JOB, FILL OUT OUR SIMPLE APPLICATION, AND ONE OF OUR RECRUITERS WILL FOLLOW UP AND TELL YOU MORE ABOUT OUR CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES.