Shakedown Your Summer Job Search
June 15, 2017 |
Finding a Job
Summer means graduation parties, weekend barbecues, and weeknight sporting events for your children (and if you’re lucky, maybe even yourself), but is also a time where businesses are revving up workflow and adding new projects in the pipeline.
Making sure that they can find qualified candidates, like you, can be a time-consuming process. If you already have a position, this might be the furthest thing from your mind, but, if not, working with a team of recruiters can allow you to kick back and relax while they do the heavy lifting.
At TAJ, it’s our aim to help candidates find the ideal role which meets their career goals with minimal stress, but we wanted to take it one step further. Account Managers and Recruiters for their best advice when it comes to tackling your summer job search. Here’s what they said.
Step 1. Take the Time to Reflect Upon Your Career Goals
Once you’ve decided to venture into contract work, it’s best to assess your motivations and use these motivations to determine the direction of your job search. Are you looking for a team-oriented work environment? A fortune 500 company? Looking for a remote work situation? Think through these questions and let the answers steer your search. It not only will be helpful to you but any Recruiters, Hiring Managers, and HR Representative who you meet along the way.
Step 2. Brush Up Your Resumes and Skills
When is the last time you took a look at your resume and any accompanying and online profiles? Set aside the time to update them - including your latest positions, skills, and achievements. Don’t be afraid to take to the internet for recent articles and content concerning industry trends, technical advancement, and resume layouts. Knowledge is power in these instances, and you deserve to have all the fact before making your decision.
Step 3. Connect with an All-Star Recruiter
You’re busy - we get it. Who isn’t this time of year? But that is no excuse to put off your job search.
Overcome the coulda, woulda, shoulda and take on a little extra help in the form of a recruiter. They can help guide you through the process of your job search and offer some clarity to your burning career questions. Although you’ll still need to do some of the legwork - i.e. examine your career goals and make updates to your resume - a recruiter can offer you well-honed industry insights as well as a broader network to help you find the right fit for your career.
Another valuable resource? LinkedIn. It’s the perfect mechanism to stay connected with your recruiter ( or even employers you’re interested in) allows you a glimpse into new job openings, as well as content and events which could assist in your search. Interested in taking it one step further? Remain active within your professional social networks. Nurturing relationships by posting relevant articles and content or messaging a connection every so often will help to keep you top of mind.
Step 4. Prep for the Interview, Prep for the Job
Not everyone enjoys interviewing, and even those who excel at it would agree it’s not always a walk in the park. However, there is never an excuse to be underprepared for an interview - especially since you’ve put in the time and effort to get there. Talk with your recruiter prior to the interview to ensure you have all information pertaining to the job and don’t be afraid to ask about previous candidate’s experience as well as common interview questions. Moreover, make sure you know the little details like dress code, where to park, and travel time before setting out, it will take the stress out of interview prep and allow you showcase your best self.
Oh, and of course, remember an interview is a conversation. Take the time to ask questions about the position, the team, your project, and the company to ensure it’s a good fit.