January, the month with the highest number of job vacancies: get ready to stand out

Several keys to Job Orientation to know how to find the most suitable job for you.

Unfortunately, the current job situation is worrying, so it is more important than ever to be well prepared and stand out from the crowd. it is more important than ever to be well prepared and stand out from other candidates..

January and September are the months when more vacancies are published, so you are in time to prepare yourself and stand out among other candidates.

Preparing yourself to find a job

One of the problems that I usually see in most of the people I work with is the lack of clarity of their professional objective.; and sometimes, when they have it, there is a lack of connection between their career objective with their skills, resume, experience and accomplishments, as well as with their LinkedIn profile.

Although there are extreme situations, I like to help people think that a career change, even if it is sometimes forced, helps to change the course of work, so I always encourage people to make the most of this circumstance to re-confirm what is the professional goal they have.

The reality, unless you are lucky, is that we work all our lives, and it is a shame to see that up to almost 80% of people work in something they do not like or for which they have no talents.

This lack of connection between what you want, what you have talents for and your passion for, with what you are actually doing as a profession, is one of the biggest causes of job loss.is one of the biggest causes of frustration and stress.

Many of these cases are due to market situations, professionals who have no choice but to take any kind of position due to economic needs, and many times they are inclined to study a career or practice a profession not because of their own decisions.

If you find yourself in this situation, think that you have time until January to focus on what you can control and take the necessary actions to maximize the benefits of your career. and take the necessary actions to maximize your chances of success.

What can you do to find the job that fits you?

I'm sharing 10 suggestions for you to put into practice between now and January.

1. The importance of having a career goal

Regardless of whether you have more experience or not, it is crucial to be clear about your professional objective, as it will be the basis for your job search. will be the basis for an effective job search.. If you don't know where you want to go, how are you going to convince a recruiter.

It is important that you make an analysis of your skills, achievements, personal characteristics, talents, values. This will help you create your professional profile. Even if you want to change sector, country, industry, do not put it aside.. It will require more effort, but that does not mean it is not possible. If you like something and you are willing to work and be constant in your search, you will get it.

2. Self-evaluation

It is very important that you do a self-assessment of your knowledge, skills, values, talents and experience to see how to manage your job search. to see how to manage your job search and create a firm plan.

It is also critical to consider your accomplishments. This is a big mistake I see in most people. They work for years, but they are not aware and don't keep track of what their accomplishments have been in their previous jobs. And after several years it is very difficult to remember.

Pay attention to achievements that can be quantified.This is the best way to show the interviewer how you can contribute to the company. You help him/her see you in the job.

3. Productivity report

Once you are clear about your career goal, create an action plan that measures your productivity rate.. Your results will be proportional to your investment and your new job is to look for a job, so your success depends mostly on you.

Establish daily and weekly priorities, and keep track of the vacancies you apply for, who you have contacted and when you have to follow up. What you don't measure you can't improve, and this productivity report will help you see how you are managing your search.

4. Mentors

Be inspired by people who have the position you want to have.. Nowadays with social networks it is very easy to see their profiles, the terminology they use and how they describe themselves. They are a great source of inspiration to tweak your LinkedIn profile and to learn from them.

Dare to ask for advice. You will be surprised how willing people are to help and even mentor you.

5. It's not whether you know it, it's whether you do it.

Make decisions and take risks. It's the only way to learn, even when you're wrong.. It is important to plan and be clear about your professional goal, but the most important thing is to take action, otherwise the previous work will not have helped you at all.

Look for progress, not perfection, because perfection does not exist. If you can afford to wait until you find the perfect job, do it. For most, the current situation is not one to pass up opportunities, so don't hesitate to start in a job that is not ideal for you. The important thing is that, if possible, it somehow brings you new knowledge, and that you always keep your final destination in mind.. Your goal. There are many ways to get to your destination, and sometimes the straight line is not the shortest way.

Sometimes you have to take a step back or sideways in order to take three steps forward.

6. Be an eternal student

Many people are of the opinion that you have to change jobs every 5 years. That depends on the country and culture, but the most important thing is to change functions and continue to develop as a professional. Don't stagnate. Because you never know when you will need to change jobs voluntarily or involuntarily.

You can have a very enriching career within a company. The important thing is not to stay in your comfort zone..

7. Resume and cover letter

Did you know that most of the time your resume is read by a robot? This is one of the biggest mistakes I see people make. They use the same resume and cover letter for all the openings they apply to and that's what keeps them from getting filtered out.

You should customize your resume and cover letter using the keywords of the vacancy. It is non-negotiable. Or you will get frustrated applying without getting results.

Annually, review your career objective, your resume and LinkedIn profile.. If you leave them, they will become obsolete right away and then you will have a hard time updating them. In addition, this allows you to take stock of your situation and know if it is still aligned with your long-term professional goal.

8. Be a lifelong learner

It is very important to keep up to date with the needs of the market and your profession in order to stay competitive. It is important to be up to date in terms of direct job-related knowledge, such as new technologies, skills and languages.

Try to allocate time, and if you can budget, for regular training sessions.. Today, thanks to the digital age, it is easy and inexpensive to stay educated and aware of market trends.

We are currently seeing the importance of globalization, mergers and business collaborations between companies, and the quest for international expansion, which requires having resilient, agile employees with the ability to speak languages and adapt to different cultures. Languages can be your added value.

The labor market is going to be very competitive, which is why technology, language skills and specialization are added values, but always keeping the agility of the company's employees.but always keeping the agility to learn new areas.

9. Networking

Did you know that almost 80% of vacancies are not advertised and that 80% of vacancies are filled thanks to networking? Networking is the most important is the most important source of job opportunities and should be included in your Career Plan.

Make a network of contacts: current clients, colleagues, former bosses, peers, clients, fellow students, fathers and mothers of your children's friends, relatives... do not underestimate your contacts, because many times you will receive help from whom you least expect.

Have career conversations with them (don't ask for a job) so that they know where you are in your know what process of changing your career path you are in and what your industries and companies of choice are. and what your target industries and companies are, in case they know of a project or can introduce you to someone.

The same is true with social networks, especially LinkedIn. Contact all of these people, but it's important to do it when you already have your profile updated, as you want them to see the best version of you.

When you apply for a vacancy, always try to contact recruiters before and after the interview. It will make you stand out from other candidates.

10. Your professional brand

Throughout this process, your professional objective, your conversations and your interventions in social networks must be aligned. Remember that your brand is what people think of you when you are not present..

If you want to be a sales manager, communicate as a sales manager and share articles that are of interest to a sales manager. If you want to be a photographer, get into the role and align your resume, LinkedIn profile, your cover letter and conversations, and speak like a photographer.

Summarizing

Take charge of your professional future. The key to success is planning and a long term vision and consistency in implementation.

Create your personal brand: professional objective, resume, cover letter, career conversations and LinkedIn profile.

In addition, the confidence and assurance you show when talking about your career path will be a magnet in your career conversations.. And don't worry if you are changing direction, sector or position, as this is natural and healthy. The important thing is that it leads you to the job you want and above all that you know how to explain it in the interview. Security is attractive, so if you are clear about your professional direction and you know how to explain it, you will convince them.

And always remember that the future is in your hands. If at any time you feel like you are begging a company, that job is probably not for you. Allow yourself to design your life and let no one else design it for you.

Author: Nieves Rodríguez, Career Coach; offers Career Coaching sessions as well as her online course "Get the job you want, without getting frustrated and in 3 simple steps"..