The ways in which we go job hunting has changed drastically over the years. The internet has impacted the way we find jobs, how employers find us, and how we network and make professional connections. Instead of getting overwhelmed with your job search, use these 4 steps to help make finding your next job in 2023 easy!

Be proactive

Finding a job becomes a lot easier when you start before there’s any added pressure to find something immediately. Be proactive in your job search, and start looking even if you are happy with your current role – over half of the working population still look for new jobs even when they’re happy in their current role. 

Starting your job hunt while you’re ahead of the game is great time to experiment and do your research on what companies you’d like to work for, what type of specialities skills future employers might be looking for in their candidates, and give you a leg up knowing you have the stability of a solid job in place already. 

Update your resume on a regular basis

Keep your resume and cover letter up to date, and you’ll gain confidence knowing your skills are ever evolving, and insight on what type of skills you could utilize in the next steps of your career.

Try to update your resume consistently with any new tasks that are added to your workload that might not have been outlined or specified in your job description before you were hired. Just because it’s not part of your job description, doesn’t mean it doesn hold any value.

By visualizing all of the tasks you’re capable of helps reframe your thinking to a place of thankfulness for those new opportunities, taking them as an outlet to grow.

Reputation911 Tip: Save exemplary work examples regularly, and tailor your resume and cover letter with information that is up to date. 

Clean up your social media profiles

Job seekers should always keep their online reputation in check by doing a quick analysis of their social media profiles every so often. 

“According to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey, 70 percent of employers use social media to screen candidates during the hiring process, and about 43 percent of employers use social media to check on current employees.” – Business News Daily

Remove any negative search results 

Hiring managers look at social media profiles as a research reference for possible candidates. Likes, tweets, comments, shares – any type of engagement you partake in on social media can be tracked and taken into account into a new employer’s ability to trust you. This is also referred to as your digital footprint, or online reputation. 

Take a look at your social media profiles and try to look at everything you’ve published through the eyes of a hiring manager. Are there any recent pictures that might not be very beneficial to your image? Maybe a comment or a photo on Instagram that might be questionable for an outside source who doesn’t know you personally? It’s in your best interest to clean up any negative content to help you in your job hunt. 

Be cautious when publishing posts 

Only post things you’d be okay with your future employer seeing. When you hit the ‘publish’ button, you give that site the okay to share that content to the internet, handing it over to others and out of your hands. THis can be great for sharing information that is directed to gain awareness, but not always great for sharing very personal information about our lives. 

Reputation911 Tip: Always make sure your accounts are set to private, and only accept followers and friends you know personally. 

Network more effectively 

Ever heard of the saying “work smarter, not harder”? That’s especially important when it comes to networking more effectively. 

Find opportunity within your community 

Networking events and job boards are actually something that most local cities use as a social gathering tool to boost economic and entrepreneurial activity. Odds are there are events going on that are specifically designed for networking and bringing like minded people together. 

Utilizing those opportunities could be your chance to speak with people who could share ideas, information and connections with you that could greatly impact your success. You never know where opportunity lies, and the right people will be funneled directly to you! 

Reputation911 Tip: Try contacting your city hall and ask if there are any types of professional networking opportunities or workshops to attend. 

Utilize Linkedin 

Job applicants should also utilize LinkedIn profiles are a great place to bring all of your efforts together in one place. You have the ability to update your professional resume and make updates easily, add a tailored cover letter showcasing your personality and help you stand out from the rest, and even allows you to link to outside work examples! 

One great thing about LinkedIn is that it’s a professional networking platform that allows you to see exactly who is viewing your profile. This is great for keeping tabs on what businesses or employers are interested in your work, and will give you more insightful information going forward and taking control of your job hunt. With 1 in 20 Linkedin profiles belonging to recruiters, it’s in your best interest to use Linkedin to your advantage!

Search for companies, not jobs

There’s so much more to look for than just a simple job posting online. Try to look for best employers instead of specific jobs that you think might suit you. Do research on companies and reviews from past and present employees. 

Sometimes it’s better to focus on a company that resonates with who you are and what direction you’re looking to take your career in, rather than trying to find a needle in a haystack on online job listings.