The beginning of the year is often a time for fresh starts. We typically see a spike in candidates looking for a new job during January. In my experience, once someone has decided to look for a new job, they have probably been unhappy for a little while. The decision to put out that first application, or to call a recruiter, comes when they are ready to go. But what many don’t realize is that the process can take a long time. The more senior you are, the longer it takes to find a new role. It is not uncommon for employees in senior roles to take over six months to find the perfect new position, maybe even longer. While some industries have such high demand that candidates can receive job offers within days or weeks, some can take time.
Candidates can increase their chances of a speedy hiring process this year with these five strategies:
1. Have a clear, concise resume.
Your resume needs to be easy to read and concise. Most hiring managers will scan your resume, looking first at job title, company and how long you have been there. If that is interesting, they will read more about what you actually did. Make your job title obvious. Some companies give their employers quite unique or ambiguous titles. As long as it is accurate, it’s fine to make your title easier to understand.
Keeping it concise is also important. Anything over 10 years old, unless particularly relevant, can be reduced to a job title, company and dates; you don’t need the detail about what you actually did. If an employer wants to know, they will ask.
2. Put achievements on your resume.
Instead of saying that you managed a $1 million budget, say what savings you made the business. Don’t say that you closed sales, give a value to the sales you closed. You need to stand out and show a prospective employer why you are better than anyone else.
3. Keep track of where you are applying.
Today, with so many job boards, recruitment firms and social media channels, it's easier than ever to make a large number of applications in a very short space of time. As an employer, there is nothing worse than responding to someone’s application, only to be met with someone who doesn’t remember making that application. I want to know you are excited to come and work for me, not that I’ve gotten lost in the shuffle.
It is also important to know where you have applied if you are working with a recruiter. The recruiter won’t be able to represent you to a company you have recently applied to on your own. And the recruiter’s clients are generally not that happy to receive a duplicated resume via a recruiter. It makes them question why you as a candidate needed to apply twice, potentially hurting your application.
4. Don’t apply to everything.
If you want to get hired quickly, it can seem sensible to apply to more jobs. But only apply to those where you meet the majority of the requirements. Otherwise, you will be spending a lot of time keeping track of where you have applied, or filling out application forms, for jobs where you are never going to be considered. Employers also don't tend to look kindly on a candidate telling them you have applied for a lot of different things. Far from making you look popular or in demand, it can make you look desperate for any old job.
If there is a role you really like the sound of but aren’t qualified for, give the hiring manager a call. It has never been easier to work out who a hiring manager is. LinkedIn is the obvious source for you to find out the name of a hiring manager, if they aren't listed on the job advert itself. You can always phone a company and ask. Making that personal effort to follow up on your application will really set you apart, and may even speed things up.
5. Don’t just look online.
In addition to virtual job boards, you can speak with recruiters, who will have roles that are typically quite urgent. Recruiters will also be able to give you good information on the employment market in your niche. Reaching out and letting your contacts know that you are looking to make a move can also be a really good way of getting hired quickly. They might have a role which hasn’t gone out to that market yet. Getting into the process at an early stage can speed things up as you won’t have to wait for them to interview other people. If you are looking to start a new role quickly, you need to vary the places you are looking.
Sometimes changing jobs quickly can mean you make a mistake on the role you accept. It is important to get the right role for you, for your happiness and your career development. However, there is no reason why you can’t find the right role in a short amount of time. By being proactive and focused on your job search, you should be able to speed the process up.
