If you’ve been working for more than a decade and are embarking on a job search this year – because you’ve been laid off or you just want to move on – don’t get consumed by discouraging job market data or the perceived threats posed by AI.
Yes, job growth has been fairly anemic overall. But you’re not looking for a job overall.
Your prospects depend on your talents and transferrable skills, your contacts, the industries in which you’re looking and where you live. And, just as critically, they will depend on how you approach your job search.
That search may take longer than you expect. But you have more agency than you think over whether you get that interview or eventually get hired.
The first and most important step
Career experts CNN spoke to said the same thing: Before doing anything, clarify for yourself – even in broad strokes – what you want and what you have to offer.
“Get clear on what you bring to the table. Inventory your skills. And get clear on what you want to do next,” said Hannah Morgan, a job search strategist who runs Career Sherpa.
For instance, what kind of role would you like? Would you prefer to work at a large or small company, or at a startup? Do you have a preliminary list of employers you want to pursue? What transferrable skills do you have that can be applied in several industries?
Having a rough roadmap makes it easier to align what you’re communicating in all your job-related documents (eg, resume, LinkedIn profile, cover letters, etc.). And it makes it easier to clearly convey what you want to others, who may provide valuable information or introductions to people who are hiring. (More on that below.)
Be clear, too, on what you really don’t want to do in your next role, said Lisa Rangel, CEO of Chameleon Resumes, a job-search services firm for mid-to-senior-level executives.
Even if you’ve had great success with certain tasks or assignments but you never want to do them again, don’t emphasize them in your job materials and conversations. “You can talk about it if asked,” Rangel said. But your goal is to attract what you want.
So highlight first the skills and experiences you’ve had that speak to what you’re pursuing. Say you want a leadership role. If you’ve managed people in the past, lead with that fact, even if the titles you’ve held don’t indicate managerial experience, Rangel said.
What to know about AI
Recruiters and employers are increasingly using AI to sort through incoming resumes and other organizational functions in the hiring process. But it’s not calling the shots.
“People are still making the decisions,” said Rangel, who is an advisory board member and investor in a company creating agentic AI for recruiters.
But you can use AI to your advantage to figure out if your experience and skills are a good fit for a new role, and to lower the chance that your resume gets tossed due to a technicality like the words you use.
An AI tool can call up a variety of job descriptions for the type of role you’re seeking. So take note if there is a similarity in terms used. Also, closely read the listings for specific jobs you plan to apply for.
“Use the same language,” Morgan said. “If a posting says we need someone with ‘Power BI’ skills and your resume doesn’t list that, you’re not a match” – even if your resume notes you have experience using “business intelligence tools.”
AI can also help you prepare for potential interview questions, said Priya Rathod, workplace trends editor at jobs site Indeed. Just don’t rely on it solely, and don’t parrot what it offers up. Anything you present about yourself needs to be authentic to your skills and experience, Rathod said.
Highlight your human skills
Organizations may want employees who are technically proficient.
But they need candidates with human skills like critical thinking, empathy and a track record of collaboration, Rathod said. “Lean in to your human skills. … Those are the differentials for employers now.”
If you work well collaboratively, for example, highlight how. Perhaps doing so led to a given project being completed two weeks ahead of schedule.
“Talk about soft skills, but use quantifiable results,” she said.
Full article @ https://edition.cnn.com/business/job-search-tips