Job Search Tips
In good or bad job markets, if you’re looking for a new role, it’s always a good idea to refer to job search tips to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward. While technology has changed how we search for jobs, the fundamentals remain the same.
Some job search tips we wanted to share are focused on soft skills. As you progress in your career to leadership roles, soft skills become just as important as traditional skills. Below are four soft skills to keep in mind as you search for a new role.
Be Kind to Yourself
It’s easy to get down on yourself when searching for a new job, mainly if you were laid off. Being your own worst critic is both unproductive and self-defeating. Everyone will look for work multiple times in their professional career. Today’s tenures are becoming shorter and shorter, and the reasons for letting people go are often out of your control.
Instead of getting caught up in negative self-talk, imagine a close friend or family member who was going through a job change. What would you tell them? That is how you should talk to yourself. Job searches are temporary and often lead to better situations.
Don’t Take Rejection Personally
You’ll often find a job that is perfect for you, where all your experience aligns perfectly with the job description. You apply, and you don’t hear back. Or perhaps you’ve made it through several rounds of interviews and feel good about the process, and then you’re suddenly told you are no longer under consideration.
It’s difficult to be objective when this happens, but it’s important to understand that it’s not you who caused the rejection. Circumstances often change during a job search. The position may have evolved, an internal candidate could have had the inside track, or any number of other scenarios could have affected the decision-making process. Don’t dwell on why you didn’t get the role, accept that it didn’t go your way, and move on.
Ask For Help
Some people feel embarrassed that they are out of work and tend to keep it a secret. This can backfire as a lot of good leads on new jobs, especially those that aren’t posted publicly, can come from friends and peers.
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. You never know where a promising lead will come from, and your network will be more than happy to help. You never know when the shoe will be on the other foot, and one of your colleagues will reach out to you when they’re looking.
Be Patient
Some job searches will move along quickly, while others will drag out over weeks or months. The latter is far more common, especially for leadership roles. Companies want to be sure they have done their due diligence, and as we noted earlier, changes can often occur during the process. If you’re working with a recruiter, they will be able to keep you apprised of what is happening behind the scenes. You can check in periodically if you’re a candidate working directly with the hiring company’s HR team.
For additional job search tips, Simply Law Jobs has a great site post highlighting eight more tips. And for more workplace articles, visit our blog.