94 days until Christmas. I’m not mentioning this for you to start creating your Christmas list. I’m writing about it to remind you that if you are considering looking for a new job, start now so you can avoid getting stuck in the “we don’t interview during the holidays” time that is quickly approaching. What a great present! A new job, so now you can relax and enjoy your holidays. And go shopping since you got a huge pay increase with the new job from the awesome recruiter you worked with. The job search process can be daunting and difficult, but I’m here to help you make the process just a little easier with a few suggestions: Start with your resume. Your resume is the first impression a company or a recruiter sees of you, so make it a good impression. First and foremost, make sure your resume is current and up to date. Proof your resume each and every time you send it out and make sure there are no typos. You may have inserted an extra letter or space the last time you updated it, so take the extra time to look at it. There are a “few” people out there who don’t mind typos (my boss) but most people cringe when they see a typo on a resume. Make sure there are no grammatical errors. Your present position should be in present tense (sell enterprise software), but all previous positions should be in past tense (sold enterprise software). Don’t use “I” in your resume. Spell out the dates and be consistent throughout the resume (September 2013 – January 2014) not 9/13 or Sept. 2013. Include your college education and the degree you received. If you went to college but didn’t quite finish, do not say you have a degree if you don’t! That’s lying. List the college and your major. You can discuss how many credits you have left to get your degree once you get an interview. Add your LinkedIn profile link to your resume and make sure your profile matches your resume. It is a huge red flag when someone goes to view your LinkedIn profile and there are positions on your profile that aren’t on your resume. Take the time to update both and make sure they are in sync. Create a unique cover letter for each job that you apply for and identify your strengths for the position. Tell them in your letter how you will be an asset to their organization. Don’t simply copy the job requirements in your letter. Be descriptive and sell yourself to them. Identify your accomplishments; for example if you’re a sales guy identify each year you attained quota, how many new accounts you landed and write about your successes. People recruiting for sales people want to know you can sell. Search the web for companies or jobs you’re interested in and get your resume submitted. Procrastination will only keep you in the same job. Happy hunting and let me know if I can help you!
Get a Job Before Christmas
