The Best And Worst Times To Search For A New Job

Originally published at Forbes.com by 

Jack Kelly

Not all times of the year are equal when it comes to seeking out a new job. The most opportune times are when you’re happy and succeeding at work, during the first few weeks of September and the start of the new year. Avoid embarking upon a job search during the holiday season and summer, especially in the month of August.

Look For A New Job When You’re Feeling Positive

Although this may run counter to what you might think, individuals should look for a new job when they are at peace and flourishing in their current role.

In addition to possessing all the requisite skills required for a job function, hiring managers want self-assured, positive and motivated candidates.

You'll perform better in the interview process when you are confident and feel good about yourself. Since you already hold a job, the pressure is less intense than being in between roles. Your mindset will be, “If I get this new job, that’s great. If not, I have a perfectly fine job to return to.”

Most people strike out when interviewing because they are nervous, lack confidence and come across as afraid or even angry and resentful that they were forced back into the job market. The interviewers pick up on their negative vibe. When the job market is tough, it’s easy for the hiring manager to take a hard pass on the applicant with a poor attitude and move on to the next candidate.

January And February Are The Top Months To Apply For Jobs

A week or so into January and February are two of the best times to engage in a job search. The beginning of a new year is a joyous time when people feel like they are starting fresh with a clean slate.

People make their New Year's resolutions of losing weight, going to the gym or finding a new job. The holiday season is over, and you revert to that back-to-work mentality. From a practical standpoint, companies set their yearly budgets and headcount, so they are ready to interview candidates and make hires. Businesses have given their yearly reviews and performance evaluations at the end of December. Based on the outcomes, workers decide to stay or feel the pressure to leave of their own volition rather than suffer the fate of waiting to get the ax.

Search For A New Job After The Summer Is Over

Like January, September is an ideal time to get into search mode. The summer is over, and workers experience the equivalent of the back-to-school mindset when they were kids. They’ve enjoyed the leisurely feel of three-day weekends, taking vacations, enjoying the nice weather and coasting, as there’s an unspoken mutual understanding that we can slow down the pace and enjoy life in the summer. The wheels start turning again in September; jobs are posted online, and the hiring cycle kicks into gear.

The summer and holiday season, starting around Thanksgiving, are the most difficult to interview since most companies slow down during those periods. Most people take their vacations and paid time off in July and August. The turnstile of workers coming and going away makes it hard to interview. The human resources person is on a family vacation at Disney World. When they return, the hiring manager is out at the beach and can’t make the interview. Then, the candidate will be traveling abroad for the rest of the summer, so the interviews must be postponed to September.

The Best Days To Submit Your Résumé For A Job

The best days to submit a résumé are mid-week or later. The “Sunday scaries” push people to send their résumés out to employers, as the dread of Monday looming forces them to reevaluate their jobs and lives.

The challenge is that too many people feel this way, and your résumé could get lost in the growing pile. Due to the high volume, HR and managers may not immediately see the résumé. Therefore, you may want to time sending out your résumé on late Tuesday or Wednesday after the initial burst of résumés subside.

Toward the end of the week, the résumé submittals dwindle. It might be worthwhile to send in your résumé on Thursday or Friday, as there will be less competition, and your résumé will stick out in a less-crowded field.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here. 

Jack Kelly

8 Steps To Getting Your Dream Job—Without Submitting A Resume

 

Originally published by Forbes.com

Douglas Karr

Forbes Councils Member

Recognized leader in digital transformation, partner at Highbridge, founder of Martech Zone, public speaker, author, podcaster & consultant.

Five years ago, I wrote an article on what to do when you get fired. One piece of advice I offered was to forget resume submissions and get off the couch. Fast forward to today, where tens of thousands are losing their jobs through layoffs, especially in the marketing and technology industries. Throughout my family and my personal and social media networks, I'm seeing the frustration of good people as they complain about finding a job, submitting their resumes and going through the interview process—all online.

I've been a business owner for almost 15 years. Before that, I was on the leadership team of several large companies and startups, and I want to provide some advice for you. The most fantastic jobs I've ever had and the best employees I've ever hired never came through a recruiter, a human resources department or from an application. They were found either through my network or through cold introductions.

Hired

While working at my office one day, a young gentleman knocked on our office door and asked if I had a few minutes to speak with him. He'd recently graduated with a graphic design degree and brought his physical portfolio. He told me he was researching agencies in the area, was impressed with our work and wanted to help us with our graphic design efforts.

We sat down and he asked several questions. After carefully listening, he started to provide feedback on our client work and our own branding, all of which had been outsourced. He opened his portfolio and even showed me some rough logo designs for my company. I was blown away by his personality, politeness, presentation, and the fact that he dared to show me how I might improve our visual designs. I hired him, despite never having a job opening. Months later, we rebranded with his designs. Today, he does package designs for one of Silicon Valley's top virtual reality companies.

Landing Your Dream Job In 2023

I can assure you this isn't just anecdotal. I'd encourage you to speak to successful entrepreneurs and leaders at organizations and ask how they got to where they are and how they found their best employees. Outside of a few industries, I'd argue they did not come from job applicants.

I believe submitting a job application in the marketing industry today is minimizing—not maximizing—your chances of finding an amazing position. Many talented people with solid experience at strong brands are now competing for the position you want—and will likely be at the top of the selection list by recruiters, human resource directors and other teams scouring resumes. So, here's my advice for you to land your next dream job:

• Build your value. Take the time while you're not working to dive into new technologies within your industry. Take courses and get certifications—there are hundreds of free resources online. Learn jobs that are adjacent to yours. For example, if you're a public relations person, learn search engine optimization (SEO) or how to craft advertising campaigns.

• Update your online profile. Update your LinkedIn profile, ask colleagues for written recommendations, and, if it's relevant to your work, build a portfolio site for yourself. The first thing any good organization does when they meet a prospective employee is to research them online, so ensure you're present. You don't need to hire anyone to rewrite your content—tools like ChatGPT or Google Bard can be fantastic in helping you to personalize and craft engaging content.

• Build your clout. There are thousands of publications online where you can contribute articles about your industry. Take the time to craft articles you think would be impactful to leaders in your industry, and include that you're open to employment opportunities. These articles can reach the right people and be used to bump up your resume and online presence.

• Research regional companies and leaders. Using regional news organizations and LinkedIn, find local companies that are getting accolades for their work, have announced growth plans or are a cultural fit for you. Dive into LinkedIn to identify who works in the departments you're interested in and whether or not you have mutual colleagues that could introduce you.

• Attend networking events. Once you have a targeted list of companies and people you'd like to meet, attend regional networking events where they are speaking, sponsoring or may be in attendance. Walking up to someone and telling them you've read a lot about their company and want to introduce yourself isn't creepy; it's assertive and exactly what networking is about.

• Listen. Any great salesperson will tell you that the key to selling isn't talking; it's listening. As you ask questions about them and their organization, you can better craft personalized responses that showcase your value and how you can help them and their organization.

• Ask and give permission. Be honest about your motivation to meet them and let them know it's absolutely okay to tell you there isn't any opportunity. If they tell you there's not, ask them for one or two colleagues at other companies or departments that may be worth speaking to.

• Ask for advice. If there is no opportunity, ask them what steps they would take if they were in your shoes to improve their chances of finding a great position with their company or the next. You may be surprised that you already have the qualifications or certifications they discuss.

This Is Your Job

There isn't anyone that's going to reach out to help you or reach out and stop you. If you're unemployed, it's now your job to take these steps to attack this busy job market and pursue the job of your dreams. Go get 'em, tiger!

I’ve helped thousands of people land high-paying jobs—here’s the truth about who really gets hired at job interviews

originally published by cncbc.com   

 Sho Dewan, Contributor

Too many people believe that their resume and skills alone are enough to ace the job interview. But the hiring process is actually a lot more subjective than you think.

I spent over five years working in human resources and recruitment before becoming a CEO and starting Workhap, my career coaching business that has helped thousands of people land high-paying jobs.

And here’s the hard truth about who really gets hired: It’s often less about your experience, and more about how you make the hiring manager feel during — and after — the interview.

The personal compatibility and connection you build can make or break your chances. So if you constantly get interviews but no job offers, here’s my best advice:

1. Don’t treat the job interview like a job interview.

Yes, you should take the meeting seriously and be professional. But remember that job interviews can be stressful for employers, too. To make it easier on the both of you, focus on developing a good rapport.

Employers want someone who can do the job, but they also want a team member who makes them feel comfortable. Ultimately, they’d rather go with someone they think they’d enjoy being around for eight hours a day over a candidate with more experience.

To lessen your nerves, try to see the interview as a regular everyday interaction, like you’re talking to a new friend. Find the balance between feeling confident and feeling arrogant.

2. Don’t go for boilerplate answers.

Not all interviews start with “Tell me about yourself.” Lots of them begin with “How’s your day going?” or “How are you?” This is your chance to showcase your personality.

Most people will respond with a nod and say “I’m doing well, thank you.” But I encourage you to really share about your day. Maybe you hit the gym this morning and are preparing for your first marathon. Or you just listened to an informative podcast you enjoyed (bonus points: send them the link after the interview; it will make you more memorable!).

How you speak matters, too. If you emit positivity and enthusiasm, that good energy will transfer over to the interviewer. This is often the secret sauce to standing out.

3. Don’t underestimate the power of a ‘thank you’ note.

Always send a “thank you” email after the interview, ideally the day of or the following day. Keep it positive and brief: Remind them of what you discussed and reiterate your interest in the role. 

If you’re struggling to come up with something, refer back to the job description. Look at the key terms in the responsibilities and required skills section, and weave them into your note organically.

Here’s an example template that has worked for many of my clients:

“Hi [hiring manager’s name],

Thank you so much for your time earlier today. I learned so much about [X company], and I’m excited to see where you and the team take [X project you talked about] next!

As I mentioned, I believe my background from [X previous jobs] and [X skills] will be valuable to this role because [X reasons]. I look forward to continuing the conversation with your team.

Let me know you have more questions for me. Again, I appreciate your time and consideration!

Best, 

[Your name]”

This gesture personalizes your interaction with the hiring manager. Not only does it show your appreciation for the opportunity, but it also reinforces your interest in the job and company.

Sho Dewan is the founder and CEO of Workhap, where he has helped thousands of people land their dream jobs. He’s been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice for job search and careers and posts career advice daily on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

What To Say In An Interview So You Get The Job

 

Originally published on Forbes.com by Tracy Brower, PhDContributor

Despite high-profile layoffs and concerns about the economy, the job market is strong and now is a great time to advance your career—and interviewing skills will be critical to your success.

Interviewing can be tough because even if you change jobs frequently, it’s not something you do very regularly. In addition, interviewing is fraught with emotion—the nerves that come from presenting yourself or seeking to impress the interviewer and the pressure based on how much you want the job.

But you can rock the interview. Beyond how you design your resume, what you wear or how you show up—perhaps most important is what you say and how you communicate the potential match between your contribution and the role.

A big part of interviewing is confidence, and it may be helpful to know the odds are in your favor. Overall, trends for hiring are positive, and among those who were laid off, more than 70% found a job within three months, according to a poll by to Revelio Labs.

In addition, 85% of companies reported they are hiring people in short timeframes—less than four weeks on average—based on data from Employ Inc. HR professionals are also reporting they’re struggling to find people with 81% saying is challenging and 33% saying it’s very challenging to find the talent they require.

All this is very good if you’re looking for your next opportunity (and who isn’t?).

One of the challenges in the interview process is the bulk of what you want to communicate—about your capability, your brilliance and the match you perceive to the job and the company. But with so much to cover, here’s what you should prioritize in the time you have—and how to make the biggest impact.

Show a Track Record of Success

One of the first things you’ll want to communicate is your previous success. In today’s climate, hiring managers want to bet on people who have had great accomplishments to-date. Be ready to share examples of what you’ve done and how you’ve had impact. Avoid talking just about your job titles which are typically less meaningful. In addition, be sure to share what you’ve achieved in your roles. If you can quantify your impact, that’s even better.

Even if your experience has been limited, you can talk about what you’ve done. Perhaps you’ve only had one or two jobs, but you expanded the influence of the brand in your social media efforts, you improved the connectedness of the department with your internal networking and you jumped into help with a high-profile problem which required teamwork to solve. Think in terms of the outcomes you’ve created, not just the constraints of the job title or description.

Be specific, rather than general in how you communicate your results. Share the situation you faced, the task you were responsible for, the action you took and the result you drove. Also reinforce the ways you worked effectively with others. You want to emphasize your individual results, but also demonstrate how you collaborate, communicate and build strong relationships. Remember storytelling will be more memorable (think: sticky) for interviewers.

Talk about Future Value

In addition to articulating your previous experience, you will also want to talk about your future value to the organization. Leaders want to hire someone who can hit the ground running in terms of the skills they already possess, but they also want to invest in someone who will add value over time. In today’s world, that means people who can learn, grow, adapt and adjust.

You’ll want to balance talking about your enthusiasm for the role you’re pursuing along with the growth you’re interested in. Share why you’re excited about the job and also your passions and interests for the future. Be clear about your desire to contribute now and in expanding ways over time—adapting with the needs of the role and the company as markets, customers and competition shift.

Plenty of companies are struggling to keep great people, so interviewers will be happy to hear about how you want to commit to a career with the company. They also know career development and learning are key to individual satisfaction and performance—so they’ll be listening for your desire to grow, learn and develop yourself.

Show Interest in the Position

A red flag for an interviewer is the person who talks too much about their interest in the company and not enough about their interest in the job. You want to be sure and do both. Managers don’t want to hire someone who is just looking for a foot in the door or a stepping stone to another role. They want to know you’re genuinely interested in the job they’re looking to fill.

Talk about what you understand about the job and your potential fit. Also ask questions about the role so you’re not being presumptuous that you already understand it perfectly. As you learn about it, be conversational in responding about what makes it especially interesting to you and how you could have positive impact.

Also show you’re interested in the company and in growing with the organization. Avoid simply saying “I admire your company.” Instead, show you’ve done your homework on the company through the questions you ask and the references you make to the culture, the products, the customers or the markets.

Again, strike a good balance—between indicating interest in the role and also in the organization.

Talk Up Your Skills

Also be ready to talk about your skills. You’ll want to do this not by listing them, but by telling stories which demonstrate your talents and how you put them into practice. Employers will be listening for both “soft skills” such as communication or teamwork as well as “hard skills” such as negotiation or foreign language skills. While the descriptions of “soft” and “hard” skills are less helpful—after all, soft skills are hard to come by and they certainly create measurable results—they are still helpful in clarifying what you want to share.

Give examples which demonstrate a mix of skills. Tell about how you listened to a customer need, identified a tough problem, led the team, applied your data analysis or design thinking skills and sold a new solution, resulting in increases in customer satisfaction. Talk about how your critical thinking skills or your creativity helped move your project team along and helped accomplish a breakthrough for the result you’d been working toward for months.

Give an example about how your flexibility, resilience and openness to new learning allowed your boss to shift your responsibilities when the organization faced a tough problem and needed more people allocated to develop a new innovation. Talk about how you demonstrated emotional intelligence and empathy as you asked questions, listened and supported a team member though a challenging issue.

Overall, some of the hottest skills today—those employers are looking for most—are critical thinking, design thinking, curiosity, creativity and problem-solving skills. They also include communication, empathy, listening, resilience and flexibility. In addition, hiring leaders want organizational and project management skills as well as attention to detail. Also consider how you can demonstrate your digital, design or analytical skills as well as your skills in negotiating, writing and foreign languages.

Plan for the stories you’ll tell, ensuring each concise example embeds these key skills.

Come Across Professionally

As you’re communicating plenty of content about yourself and your interest in the role and the company, you’ll also want to establish rapport with the interviewer. Be confident but also curious. Prepare questions and listen to the answers. Give your full attention to the interviewer. Take a professional tone, but an easy manner in which you communicate your authenticity.

You’re putting your best foot forward, but also be yourself. Hiring leaders will be discerning your fit, and you should be too. Because your greatest success and your greatest contribution will result when you find the best match between you, the job, the leader and the company.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here. 

Tracy Brower, PhD