Job Hunting 101
So, you’re looking for a job huh? Here are my tips and tricks for your upcoming job hunt, don’t forget to track them with my Job Application Tracker! There is probably a lot on your mind right now like pay, benefits, the role itself and what it entails. My questions to you are, what do you want to be when you grow up? What do you see yourself doing in the next 5 years? What is your dream job? If you can’t think of a specific title, what is your dream company? What would your dream job entail, what would the role be?
If you can’t think of anything, here’s where I recommend you start: LinkedIn, are you on it yet? Is your profile up to date with all your work experience and skills? Have friends, family, and colleagues past and current affirm your skills on your profile. Lastly, make sure your profile is marked as “open to opportunities” this let’s recruiters, companies, and individuals alike to know you’re openly looking for jobs or are open to talking with them about job opportunities. You can set this so only recruiters can see it or for anyone on LinkedIn to see it.
With LinkedIn you can also see what people are talking about or what openings companies have listed and if any of your connections are with that company (can you say “reference” or “referral?!” It can’t hurt to have help getting your foot in the door, after all that’s one of the benefits and goals of networking anyways, to utilize the people you know! I was always taught that you want to use your network to help you get a job! LinkedIn is also helpful with showing how you compare with other candidates based on skills and experience. LinkedIn has several other features based on what premium level you’re willing to pay for.
Next, you’ll want to set up job alert notifications on LinkedIn, Indeed and Glassdoor reviews. Did you know you can find salaries AND company reviews? Highly recommend finding companies you like and setting company alerts. Then you’ll want to set up alerts for general phrases or words like “sales” and/or “communications.” Then if you know specific titles, you’d be interested in go ahead and create an alert for it like “inside sales” or “membership development specialist,” “social media manager” and so on. Make sure you’re setting what kind of job you want full or part-time, the location and all the other filters.
Reviews - If you have a company in mind, make sure to go and check out the company reviews on Glassdoor or Indeed. Just keep in mind one thing, people don’t usually give a review unless they had a horrible experience or an amazing experience. Try to find the 2-3 star reviews they will be the most honest and least biased negative or positive reviews. Also, if you know someone at the company or someone in your LinkedIn network works there, reach out to them and see what they think of the company’s culture and their jobs etc. What kind of people are they looking for? If you have a good relationship, it could be worth having them look over your resume as long as they aren’t one of the potential interviewers or hiring managers!
Resume - There are few things I hate in this world more than working on my resume, but it’s something you need to do if you want to get a job. Make sure you have one generic resume, one that you can use or adjust for any potential job you may be applying for. For each job you apply for, you’ll want to read the job description and add to or adjust your skills and experience accordingly. Pay attention to their phrasing of what they’re looking for! For example: If they post “seeking a self-starter who can work independently;” you’ll want to note any independent projects you worked on/completed.
Cover Letter- If the application requires a cover letter, be sure to do some research on the company and know your stuff! Think beyond the fact that you need a job, why do you want THIS job and why do you want to work for THIS company? What do you bring to the table that other candidates might not. Try to keep it short, sweet and to the point. Keep it professional but don’t be afraid to show your writing style or personality a little bit too! As I said in the resume section, try to use pay attention to their phrasing in what they’re looking for and be sure to address it in your cover letter too!
Interview - How to dress, better to be over dressed than under dress, but also dress for the job. You can’t go wrong with a suit for a more professional interview or if you know the company is more business casual go for a mis-matched look like black or khaki/navy dress pants, a white blouse/button up and a navy blazer or sports coat and some dress shoes.
How to interview- be sure to give clear and concise answers. Don’t forget to smile! Try not to fidget too much or spin in your chair, shake your legs etc. Interviewers understand that you’ll be nervous (we’ve literally ALL been there before!). Try to minimize your “um” and “uhs” as much as you can! Make sure you understand the question they’re asking and if you don’t ask them to repeat or rephrase the question so you can understand better! Make sure you circle back to the question at the end of your answer, so they know you understood the question. Also, at the end of the interview be sure to have at least 3-5 questions ready to ask! They can be about the company, the job, ANYTHING just gives them SOMETHING so it’s not an awkwardly cut off interview. One of my favorite post-interview questions is what do you like the most about your job and/or the company? I also like asking how long they’ve been with the company; this will help you get a good idea of how long people in the department usually stick around. Another good one that’s my red or green flag for a company “what’s your turnover rate like?” If a company refuses to answer or says they “don’t discuss personnel matters” run the other way! That’s almost always a sign that they have a high turnover rate they don’t want to disclose!
My red flags for a company -
“We’re like family here” - if they say this, pay attention to offices and desks if you walk past, are any decorated or have family photos or are they bland and essentially blank?
If they don’t discuss or answer your question about turnover rate - that usually means, it’s high and there’s a reason for it. If they comment on it and say it’s something we’re actively looking into and working on, it shows growth and potential.
If they are semi-rude or condescending at any point in the interview. Some interviewers don’t have a poker face and will give you all the ques that it’s time to leave and you’re definitely not getting a call back, don’t take it personally, take it as a sign it wasn’t meant to be (yet!). But also, do you really want to work with or for someone who’s rude and condescending to a potential new employee?
If they are comfortable complaining around you, do you really want to work in a company where employees are openly complaining to interviewees? What’s it going to be like when you get the job?
If they have anything other than a 3-4 on Glassdoor, if it’s less than 3, it’s probably a toxic work environment and if it’s higher than a 4, they likely paid current employees to go and leave a positive review for some kind of reward and that shows they’re hiding something and it’s probably a toxic work environment.
If employees don’t have decorated offices or cubicles. It means either they have a strict policy against it, or they don’t feel comfortable and confident enough to show their families and personality and I just personally don’t like that!
If there aren’t any staff development opportunities- companies should want what’s best for their employees and want their employees to continue to develop and expand their horizons beyond who they are or were when they first started. I am a strong believer in professional development.
Team bonding - if the departments or company (depending on size) don’t have some kind of team bonding experiences or stories to discuss. I want to know the people I work with and be able to know about who they are outside of the office. I want to be able to have a relationship with my co-workers outside of the office.
They won’t tell you about the benefits they offer at your interview. Its 2023, people aren’t only working for paychecks anymore, at least not in America, healthcare is expensive, and people want to know they’ll be able to retire. I want to know what I get out of working for you, I already know what you get out of me.
No paid holidays for your first year - I know this is a super common policy, but after my current job it’s a deal breaker for me moving forward. I want to be able to celebrate the holidays without worrying about missing out on a paycheck.
