It is time to do a reset on your strategy before we get busier in September with new jobs being posted.
Last week in the Career Transition Club we went around the room and dived into everyone's strategy to see what we can do differently as we head into September.
Take advantage of the fact that it is quieter at the moment.
This means you can dive deep into what you need to change right now, rather than waiting to see the jobs in September and starting from scratch.
I want to share the key themes that came out of that conversation.
Hopefully, this will help you pivot and do something highly effective with your own strategy.
Job Search Tactics and the Hidden Market
First, let us look at your daily tactics and how to tap into the hidden market.
Stop chasing recruiters when you have not had a response to a basic application.
If you have had a screening call or an interview, it makes sense to follow up directly.
But there are far better things you could be doing with your time if you have only just applied.
Try searching for jobs based on your skills rather than just job titles.
A lot of people get caught up on specific titles and limit their options.
If you have a niche skill, search for that and see what interesting roles come up.
Have a think about whether you are scrutinising yourself a little bit too much.
If a job has a couple of desirable skills you lack, do not rule yourself out.
Start applying for those roles and see if it changes things up a bit.
Make sure you sign up for niche job boards.
If you are in tech, look at Welcome to the Jungle, or eFinancialCareers for financial services.
The quality of applicants tends to be better on these platforms.
Have a look through your LinkedIn contacts.
Is there anyone you have not spoken to recently who works somewhere you want to be?
Reach out, send a direct message, and see if they might refer you in.
Whenever you are sending your CV, make sure you are tailoring it for every single opportunity.
Ensure your CV template allows you to easily reshuffle your skills and experience.
When applying, check that your salary expectations are in line with location and industry standards.
If you put in a salary that is too high, the system might reject you immediately.
Do not rule yourself out at the application stage.
Give yourself a chance to blow their socks off in the interview, and then you can negotiate at the offer stage.
Finally, stop using Easy Apply.
If you are still using it, you are throwing your CV into a black hole that leads nowhere.
Taking the extra time to apply directly gives you a much better chance of getting hired.
Interview Preparation
Try not to focus solely on competency based questions.
Remember to research the role, research the organisation, and clearly define your motivations for joining.
Take the opportunity to understand what gaps you might have and what your true superpower is.
Be prepared to talk about both of these things openly.
If you tell them how you handle your gaps and remind them why they need your superpower, they will select you.
Make sure you stand out at the end by asking unique, memorable questions.
The quality of your questions is the last part of your interview, so make them count.
LinkedIn Optimisation
Let us think about LinkedIn for a second and how you can optimise your profile.
First, be cautious about what you lean into on the platform.
Recruiters and hiring managers can see your activity, including your likes and comments.
If you constantly lean into the negativity of the job market, that is what people will see.
I understand completely that the job search is frustrating, but it is not what you want to be known for.
Consider posting content that positions you as a subject matter expert instead.
Next, take a hard look at your headline.
If your headline says "currently looking for a role", it is time to change it.
You want to highlight the skills and the specific roles you are seeking.
This ensures that when recruiters are searching for people, they can easily find you.
Wellbeing and Mindset
Let us take a step back to think about your wellbeing.
Financials might be heavily on your mind, especially if you have been made redundant.
Before you compromise and start looking at junior roles, look at how many months of settlement you have remaining.
Determine whether or not you can stretch that runway a bit longer.
If you get down to your final two months, that is the time to start compromising.
If you are not at that stage yet, put your time and focus into the roles you actually want.
Let me reframe this for you: getting rejected for roles because you are overqualified does not help your mindset in this market.
Finally, if you are feeling burnt out, take a break.
We have a couple of weeks before the September rush begins.
Take advantage of this quieter time and step back to recharge yourself.
Let me know in the comments what you are going to do with your time off.
Inspire a few others to do something nice for themselves.
If you are interested in getting some extra support ahead of September, book a free consultation with me.
We can have a chat and work out exactly how I can help you reach your goals.
Good luck with your job search, and I hope we speak soon.
