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HOW TO RIDE THE SEPTEMBER SURGE WAVE
Now that we’ve set the stage, let’s get to the heart of the matter. Yes, we’re having a conversation here, and it’s intentional that this guide reads like a dialogue. So, how can you ride the wave successfully?
1. First and foremost, define your goals clearly. While this might seem like common sense, it’s crucial. You can’t make the most of the wave if you don’t have a clear understanding of your objectives and the path to reach them. Set specific career goals, including the job role and industry you’re targeting. Create a comprehensive list of companies you aspire to work with. This strategic approach will allow you to target your applications more effectively, rather than sending your CV blindly to any company or job opening. I’ll explain why shortly. As a bonus, this list will help you focus on positions that truly align with your skills.
2. Optimize Your Resumes: The idea of a generic, one-size-fits-all CV is a fallacy. Recruiters are continually searching for applications that closely match their requirements. How can your generic CV effectively communicate what they’re looking for? It’s crucial to tailor your CV to each specific job opportunity you pursue. Always customize your career achievements and CV to emphasize experiences relevant to the role.
If you’ve held your current role for an extended period and your CV has gathered dust, consider enlisting a professional CV writer’s help. Collaborate closely with the professional to revamp your CV, with a focus on highlighting your accomplishments. Don’t be bashful about showcasing your achievements; they’re meant to be celebrated (so go ahead and trumpet your successes!).
3. Create Your Portfolio: This might sound unconventional, but developing a portfolio is a valuable step, especially as a project manager and business analyst. Your portfolio should provide insights into the projects you’ve been involved in and serve as your personal and professional pitch deck. Think about how you’d present yourself to your desired organizations and your target role. It can give you a competitive edge, trust me!
4. Apply For As Many Relevant Jobs As Possible, provided you genuinely believe you’re a strong fit. Avoid haphazard applications; don’t be the person who brags about sending out applications to 1,001 firms, receiving 999 rejections, and securing 2 offers. To put it delicately, some of those situations may reveal desperation-driven, haphazard applications.
Picture your CV and job application strategy as those of a sharpshooter with a sniper. You have a limited number of bullets and limited time for reloads. You must strategically aim your shots (applications) with precision and intention. Don’t behave like someone wielding a machine gun. You get what I mean?
5. Network, network, and expand your network within your field of interest. Networking goes beyond online connections, so don’t hesitate to initiate conversations with former colleagues, managers, HR professionals, friends, and others. Let them know about your career transition goals, and ask them to keep you informed about any job openings in their organization or any leads they may have.
You can also leverage your network to obtain referrals for specific opportunities and introductions to decision-makers.
6. Check company websites: Take the time to explore the career pages of the firms you aspire to work with. You may discover job openings that haven’t been widely advertised on mainstream job sites. Quick fact: Some job opportunities take time to surface and be widely publicized on the public job boards. Some companies even provide their recruitment team’s email contacts for you to directly send your application to on their website. Others offer talent pool options where you can submit your CV for future job opportunities. Leverage them.
7. Join niche-focused career communities aligned with your career path. This will not only allow you to network with professionals already in your desired field but also grant you exclusive access to job openings that organizations prefer not to publicize widely. Sometimes, to spare their HR teams the task of sifting through a multitude of CVs, organizations rely on employee referrals.
8. Cold Mail, still effective since 1971: Side gist, that was the actual year when emails were invented. Anyway, cold emails are still effective. Pitch yourself to the firms you aspire to work for; you may be pleasantly surprised.
9. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile: Ensure your LinkedIn profile is well optimized. Recruiters use keywords daily to search for potential employees on LinkedIn. Your profile should be packed with the right keywords and contain sufficient details to rank well. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, you’re missing out. In case you didn’t know, your LinkedIn profile is likely the first result in a random Google search of your email.
Furthermore, LinkedIn serves as an effective gateway for connecting and conversing with decision-makers and potential employers. Approach this strategically: request informational interviews, initiate the conversation by sending messages or InMails (LinkedIn’s version of emails) after doing your initial research, and position yourself. Another secret (it seems I share a lot with you) is for you to create content around your niche and strategically comment on the posts of those that you are trying to establish connections with.
10. Prepare for Your Interviews: You don’t want to be the person who invests more time in one aspect of the job search process and neglects one of the most critical elements—interviews. Your ability to communicate effectively with interviewers, demonstrating why you’re a perfect fit for the company, is paramount. There’s an abundance of resources available to guide and prepare you; make use of them.
11. Don’t Give Up: I’m not aiming to be a motivational speaker, but this message is important—don’t give up. While there may be a surge in job openings and applications during this season, there may also be an increase in rejection emails. Armor up and keep moving forward; you’re on the right path to your destination. There’s not much more to say, but I believe you understand what I’m getting at.
REERENCES
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