After months of wondering whether you were really at your end, months of stress and nerves and being short with people you care about, you’ve made a decision: It’s time for a change.
Luckily, you have no intent of just walking out and never looking back — no matter how temporarily satisfying that might feel! — but you want to do things right.
Here’s how to set yourself up for success and get organized before you start looking for a new job, one where you’ll be happier, more appreciated and less likely to feel dread first thing in the morning.
Update your resume.
This is a simple one but it’s important. Dust off the old resume and ensure your information is correct and up-to-date. Make sure you have all your current skills, certifications, abilities, experiences and tasks listed there. Keep in mind you might be applying to a few different kinds of jobs and, based on what kind of experience you have and the skills needed, you might need to have a few resumes available. You want to make sure your resume is accurate and doesn’t embellish your abilities, but you also don’t want to sell yourself short. Also? You can delete your home address on the top of your resume; that really isn’t needed and it takes up valuable real estate. Your phone number and email address can stay. Don’t forget to update your online resumes too!
Check your socials.
We’re deep into the 21st century now and hiring managers can be expected to take at least a glance at the social media profiles of any possible job candidates. Take a little time to scroll through your accounts and see if anything there might provide a less-than-stellar first impression for the person reviewing your resume. The alternative is to make your personal accounts private and then start a professional page, one in which you only talk about professional things — sharing articles from LinkedIn or items from your current company. You don’t need to live like a nun or a monk to be viewed as a responsible adult, of course, but you don’t want to come across as a party animal either (unless party planning is your job, in which case, your potential future employer wants to see that you enjoy your work).
Get your references ready and prepared.
If it’s been a while since you’ve looked for a job, you might want to go through your list of references and see who’s still appropriate to call. Some people might not be able to speak to your current work ethic and abilities; some new colleagues or associates might be better positioned to do so. Before you start sending out resumes, make sure your references are still ready and confident to speak on your behalf and give them the courtesy of letting them know you’ll be providing their contact information when asked.
Look into your retirement accounts.
If you have a 401(k) or other retirement account affiliated with the job you’re working to leave, find out what your options will be to transfer your savings to a new institution if needed. If nothing else, you want to make sure you have the correct contact information for the firm that handles such things in order to be able to call and provide the instructions and new information when you have a new position.
Look for new skills.
Before you start to apply to every relevant job in your field, look closely at what skills are listed under the requirements. Do you have them? Are you up-to-date on your certificates and training? If some things sound a little different or unfamiliar to you, try to find a way to at least familiarize yourself with what’s in demand in your industry these days. New skills often won’t be a deal breaker for a job, but it’s good to at least understand the overarching concepts you’ll need to learn. If you can find an online course or free tutorial, take the time to learn what you can. It’ll help you in the long run!
Ready to make a change in the new year? Sterling Personnel can help!
Looking for a new job can feel like an impossible task that takes entirely too long, especially if you’re unhappy in your current position. Luckily, you don’t have to do this alone! We’re ready to help you get your resume in the best shape possible and we can help you get in touch with great companies looking to fill a position that matches your skills and interests. Give us a call today and let’s get to work!
