What You Need to Get a Job in 2020
For every piece of solid job advice that’s out there, there is some that’s outdated, and unhelpful.
There are certain things that you absolutely need if you want to survive in the 2020 job market, and we decided to compile a list of 10 of them.
If you want to land a job in this modern job market or at the very least get a leg-up on your competition, make sure you have these tools on your belt.
Blog/Portfolio
One thing that will become apparent as you apply for jobs is that many people are looking for things beyond the average resume and cover letter. Many hiring managers want to see some examples of your work
This is where the online portfolio and blogs come in handy. If you have physical examples of your work, or links to examples of your work, compile them all in an online portfolio, which you can send out to hiring managers. If it’s a bit more difficult for you to compile examples of your work, consider writing a blog where you can go over your work and your history in the industry.
A Plan of Attack
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
Although this question is a bit of a cliché’, it is still one that you should consider during some of the crossroads of your life.
Before you just blindly send out applications, ask yourself what kind of work you want to be doing, and what type of company you want to work with. This will keep you from wasting time, and from getting a job that you end up not wanting.
References That Make a Difference
Take a look at some of the places where you have worked and asked yourself which of your past supervisors you would want potential new supervisors to speak with about you. Reach out to some of your former supervisors and ask if they would be willing to be listed as references on your applications.
Remember, you should always ask permission to list someone as a reference rather than just throwing them on an application willy-nilly. A few years ago, a former employee of mine asked me if I would be willing to be used as a reference. This employee often lied about the number of hours that they worked, and often slacked off on the job. I told them that I did NOT want to be listed as a reference as I had no intention of speaking ill of them to a potential new employer or lie and say their performance was exemplary. It turns out that they assumed that I was going to say yes and listed me anyways.
Luckily for this person, I was not contacted by their prospective company. If I had been, I would have told the truth about my former employee’s performance.
Proper Use of Business Cards
We often forget the magic of business cards. They’re a wonderful piece of cardboard that people tend to forget to throw away. Consider spending a few bucks on business cards that you can hand out to hiring managers.
Even if you are not hired for the job you applied for, you might get lucky down the line when they find your business card cluttering their wallet.
Also, make sure that you ask for business cards from everyone who interviews you. This is a good way to remember to send “thank you” messages after interviews, and a good way to build your own professional rolodex.
Resilience
You’re going to hear “No…” a lot.
You are going to apply for a ton of positions that are never going to get back to you.
You are going to get to the final stages of the application process on numerous occasions and still not get the job.
It’s important to realize that these situations do not reflect on you as a professional. Pretty much everyone is going through similar situations right now. You need to be resilient to being turned down, and stick with it.
Networking
You need to have a network of industry professionals that you interact with on a regular basis. Keep in contact with professional from previous jobs, and work on building connections with other professionals in your industry.
Manners/Professionalism
You catch a lot more flies with honey than vinegar!
Whenever you talk to anybody, you are representing yourself as if you were your own brand. That means that you need to be on your best behavior and act as a professional with everyone you speak with.
Give firm handshakes, look people in the eye when talking with them and say “Thank you” often.
A Powerful LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn profile is essentially the front page of your professional life. Because of that you need to put some real effort into building your LinkedIn page.
Regularly post articles on your LinkedIn page, ask people in your network to endorse your skills and write a solid bio about yourself that will attract hiring managers who stumble upon your profile.
Persistence
Never forget that you deserve to hear back from hiring managers. If nobody is responding to your applications, reach out to the hiring managers directly by calling or email them.
You shouldn’t be persistent to the point that you’re sending multiple emails or making multiple calls every single day, but make sure that you are being persistent and are working to hear back from the company!
A Professional Resume
When it comes to finding a job, nothing matters as much as your resume. You need to make sure that you have a professionally crafted resume that can get through applicant tracking systems and into the hands of hiring managers.
That journey starts with hiring a professional resume writer. A professional resume writer can maximize your chances of getting your resume into the hands of a hiring manager. Click here to schedule a free consultation with a professional resume writer.