3 Things To Consider When Job Hunting
If you are currently on the job hunt, or about to start looking for a new job, there are several things you will want to consider before you start. The job landscape is ever-evolving – and new technology can help or hinder your search. Even the way you interview will be different from in the past.
Our CEO and Founder, Jessica Chen, recently hosted a Soulcast Media | LIVE event on LinkedIn. She interviewed the Head of Marketing at Hirect, Stephanie Lovell, Eric Chen – Founder of Sabobatage, Fernando Campos – Co-Founder of MarketplaceOps, and Linden Lehner – Marketing Director at Komae.
They shared tips and personal stories about what to consider when job hunting. This Soulcast Media | LIVE event is brought to you by our amazing sponsors at Hirect
Hirect focuses on top tech startup hiring. Using our own proprietary algorithm, we match job seekers and recruiters instantly. Hirect is the one stop shop for matching with candidates, instant chatting, and video interviewing. No more emailing back and forth and waiting for responses.
1. Your Network
Even if you have recently joined the job market, your network can be a powerful tool to help you land a job. There are several ways to use your network to your advantage. During the Soulcast Media | LIVE, the panelists gave insight into leveraging your network and why it is important.
Consider the following:
- Former Employers – Most people use former employers as references. However, using your former employers as a sounding board is a great way to build your resume or portfolio. This is because most of us have difficulty figuring out what areas we excel in. For example, ask your former employers what you did really well. You can also ask them what you did that exceeded their expectations. As you get answers, use their responses for your resume.
- Ask Your Network First – Before looking at job postings, ask your network if they know anyone who is hiring. Your network already knows you, which is a huge advantage when applying for a job. For example, if you know someone who works at the company you are applying for, you can ask them about the company and what to expect. This will give you an advantage when it comes to the interview process. Your network expands your net when it comes to job hunting.
- Find Opportunities – During the Soulcast Media | LIVE, Stephanie shared that your network can help you find opportunities you didn’t know existed, especially when using their app. For example, smaller companies that don’t have the budget to promote their openings aren’t able to reach a lot of job seekers. However, your network can find those smaller businesses looking for your skillset. You can also use an app like Hirect to find job opportunities.
Your network is valuable. As you begin to look for a new job, reach out to your network first.
2. Internet Presence
Social media, love it or hate it, never forgets. Before you begin your job hunt, look through your internet presence. According to Legal Jobs, 76% of resumes are rejected because of an unprofessional email address. During the Soulcast Media | LIVE, Eric shared that he often will research his job candidates on social media and the internet.
Consider the following:
- Social Profiles – Your social profiles are easy to find for almost any hiring manager. And, as Stephanie pointed out, what you put on the internet often lives there forever. Because of this, you will want to dedicate some time making sure your social profiles don’t show anything unprofessional. For example, if there is anything you wouldn’t want an employer to read, you may want to delete it. Even sharing a negative article about a company can hinder your chances of getting hired.
- Images/Videos – During the Soulcast Media | LIVE, Stephanie said a new trend with younger job seekers putting their resumes on TikTok. And while this is not necessarily bad, Stephanie pointed out that the hiring managers can still see all of your videos on TikTok, not just your resume. Like your social profiles, you will want to consider any videos or images you are tagged in carefully. For example, do a quick image search of your name on Google. Look through the images to see if there are any you wouldn’t want seen. If possible, remove the tag or delete these images.
- Old Content – Most people only think about social media regarding their internet presence. But often, people forget about old websites, podcasts, or articles. Clean up any old content you may have on the internet. For example, maybe you had an old WordPress blog. If you are no longer actively writing on it, consider deleting it altogether.
As much as you can, clean up any internet presence you wouldn’t want a potential employer viewing.
3. Reaching Out To Hiring Managers
Technology is evolving daily, and technology has given job seekers the ability to find out exactly who the hiring manager is at almost any company. This is especially true on LinkedIn. During the Soulcast Media | LIVE, an audience member asked whether or not hiring managers appreciated being messaged on LinkedIn. The answer was surprising!
Everyone on the panel said yes, reach out. However, there are several things to keep in mind if you decide to do this.
- Clear Communication – When reaching out to the hiring manager, your communication needs to be clear. You only get one shot at a first impression. For example, as you craft your message, make sure you use clear language. Check your message for grammar and clarity.
- Keep It Short – You most likely don’t know the hiring manager personally, so you need to keep your message short. You also want to avoid looking like spam. For example, you can say something like, “Hello, Courtney. I recently applied for the Creative Copywriter position. I am very excited about XYZ company and this position. I look forward to hearing from you.” You don’t want to launch into your experience or be too aggressive. A simple hello is enough to keep you top of mind.
- Be Professional – You only get one first impression; you must keep it professional if you decide to reach out to the hiring manager. This means you need to avoid making jokes, or launching into anything super personal. The hiring manager doesn’t know you or your personality. It is always best to keep any messages professional.
Reaching out to the hiring manager may feel like a no-no. However, according to our panelists, they appreciate a short professional message.
If you are about to look for a new job, consider your network, internet presence, and how reaching out to a hiring manager can impact your opportunities.
If you want to see the full LIVE version of the roundtable, check out Jessica’s Youtube Channel.
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