Do you feel that you’re not going anywhere with your current job? Do you lack the drive to go to work every day? Do you live only for the weekends, holidays and the occasional “sickie” leave? If you still can’t find your groove despite all your efforts, there’s a big chance that you’re not where you’re supposed to be. It’s time for you to seriously consider whether finding a better job is the solution to your situation.
Once you have decided that it’s time to find new work, the first thing you should do is to make sure that your next job hunt will be done in an ethical and respectful manner if you’re still working for your current company. Consult your employee handbook about the resignation process and start preparing all the necessary documents. Never use your current employer’s time and resources when submitting your job applications. And when the right time comes, personally approach the people you need to inform about your decision, keeping in mind that you should not burn bridges even when you’ve decided to leave.
Now that you’re ready for the hunt, make sure your tools are sharp and your skills are up to date. Most importantly, you need to review the winning principles that will make your job hunt successful, despite a tough job market. The following are proven steps to finding a new job that’s right for you:
Take the time to take a hard, honest look at yourself. What are your goals in life? What are you really good at? What makes you feel fulfilled? Your greatest interests and strengths will give you a clue about which career path will be most rewarding for you. Once you have made that clear, you can now embark on a job hunt that targets the companies and positions that will be most suitable for you.
Seek counsel. Finding a mentor is very crucial to your success, especially if you plan to switch to a new career path or start on a “clean” slate. And even if you are still bent on pursuing the path you have been following ever since the beginning, a mentor will give you the courage and perspective that will drive you to do the hard things that will finally help you obtain results.
Execute a brand refresh. If the last time you applied for a job was a long time ago, know that the resume should not be the only thing you should be focusing on if you want to stand out from the crowd. Clean up and polish your social media accounts because those are some of the first places recruiters check today. You might need to set up a blog or an online portfolio, if that’s a plus in your industry.
Network. Responding to random job ads will only give you a small window of opportunity in terms of finding a better job. The best leads will still come from your personal and professional contacts. Another way to spend your time in a meaningful way while job-seeking is to get involved in your community, through volunteer work or campaigns about issues that you feel strongly about.