New Year, New Career: Unleash Your Potential in 2024! Get Ahead in Your Job Hunt with Insider Tips & Strategies
With a new year around the bend, a lot of people are getting ready to launch a search for a new job. As a recruiter for many years, I always expect things to get busy in January. But now’s the time to start thinking ahead. In this month’s newsletter, how to start thinking about your plans, goals, and career strategies for the year ahead.
Finding a new job before you leave the old one
One of the hardest juggling acts — and one of the reasons people stay in jobs they don’t like for way too long — is the conundrum of trying to find time to prep and look for a new job while you’re still at your old one.
“Just redo your resume!” they tell you. But when?
One piece of advice I can offer: Carve out a half hour in your calendar every day to work on your job search. Then, fill it up with things like:
💡 Reworking your resume
💡 Updating your LinkedIn profile
💡 Reaching out to other professionals
💡 Practicing your Zoom skills
Maybe you do this over coffee in the morning, or you sacrifice an hour of Netflix at night. The point is to discipline yourself around time, every day, to work on your goal of finding a new job.
Tips for changing industries mid-career
Thinking of changing not just jobs but industries? I have 3 high-level pieces of advice for you.
Connect the dots in your skills. A lot of professional skills are quite transferrable, particularly when it comes to soft skills like leadership, communication and the ability to project manage. Going into any potential application or interview process, be able to explain how the skills you’ve gained so far in your career apply to this new field.
Do your research. A healthy amount of skepticism will accompany your efforts to change industries. Knowledge is power here, and the more you know about the industry you are entering, the more confidence you can project.
Be able to explain why you are making this shift. People will invariably ask, and you want to be able to provide a solid answer that just rolls off your tongue.
With the right approach, changing industries mid-career should be not only realistic but rewarding.
Recommended reading
On Fast Company: 5 power principles to create the life you want in just one year
On LinkedIn: How To Define and Communicate Your Value in An Interview (And Words You Should Never Use)
On the New York Times: Let’s Stop Pretending College Degrees Don’t Matter
If you want a new job in 2024, the time to start is now
While the turn of a new year might seem like the ideal time to start looking for a job, there’s an argument to be made for getting a head start on your job search.
For one thing, a lot of companies have year-end money left in their budgets they’re eager to spend on a new hire, so this could be your chance to get quickly inducted into the organization of your dreams.
For another, December is indeed typically a slower time for hiring, so there are fewer candidates competing for viable roles.
As a recruiter, I work with people looking for new and better jobs, and I’m here to chat when you’re ready to launch a bold, creative, curious new job search in 2024.