New Year, New Career - 5 things every jobseeker needs in the modern job market

The start of a new year is often associated with resolutions, fresh beginnings, and a chance to make positive changes in our lives. One popular resolution that many people make is to advance their careers or embark on a new professional journey. The term, "New Year, New Career", is a reflection of our innate desire for personal growth and advancement.

If you haven’t had to look for a new role for a significant period of time, you may be surprised by how the modern job market has changed. However, having clarity on how to navigate the modern job market and an understanding of what is expected of you as a jobseeker, will increase your chances of securing your next opportunity.

Here are 5 things jobseekers will need in a modern job market

An ATS compliant CV

Having an ATS compliant CV is crucial in the modern job application process. ATS is software used by employers and recruiters to manage and streamline the hiring process. Whilst it is important to have a master copy CV, tailoring your CV based on the job description can significantly improve your chances of getting through the ATS screening process. Why? Because the ATS software scans your CV for relevant keywords related to the job description. You will also need to have incorporated industry-specific keywords, soft skills and phrases that align with the job description making it more likely to be ranked higher in the ATS search results.

An Optimised LinkedIn Profile

It is estimated over 70% of jobseekers are securing jobs through their network or via LinkedIn. Therefore, having a strong LinkedIn presence and optimised profile is crucial if you are looking for your next career move. Your LinkedIn profile is your online CV and a way to showcase your skills and experience to potential employers, clients and business partners which forms your personal brand. Having an active and up-to-date LinkedIn profile can increase your visibility online and make it easier for people to find you and learn more about your professional background and experience and consider you for roles. The more complete your profile is with keyword rich content; the higher you will rank in search results and receive more job matches from LinkedIn.

A job search strategy

Job searching can be a time-consuming process but creating a strategy will streamline your search, organise your time and help you achieve your career goals and ambitions. Make the most out of your job search by planning your search on a day-to-day basis. Creating a timetable will keep your days varied and put you in control of your search. Using a variety of job searching methods will lead to success. Online job boards, recruitment agencies, LinkedIn, networking and speculative approaches are the main ways to job search. So, consider which methods you are currently using and how effective they are. Rather than scrolling job boards aimlessly, time block windows into your timetable for each job search method to use your time more effectively. Make sure you allow time for following up applications, factor in exercise, ways to keep you motivated and time for some fresh air too!

Strong Organisational Skills

The job market can be fast and feel quite transactional, so you will need to be organised and keep on top of your applications. Use a spreadsheet, document or app to track the jobs you have applied for, including the company name, position title, application date and any relevant notes. This will help you keep a clear record of your applications and follow-ups. Many job search platforms and apps allow you to save jobs, set up alerts for new postings and track your applications.

Resilience

Resilience is defined by most as the ‘ability to recover from setbacks, adapt well to change, and to keep going in the face of adversity’ - you will need resilience in today’s job market and to be prepared for setbacks. Applying for jobs can be a time-consuming process and naturally it takes a lot of personal investment. The job searching process comes with its fair share of peaks and troughs. Not every job you apply for will lead to an interview, and not every interview will result in a job. You may even find some of your applications will not be acknowledged or that you receive specific feedback from interviews. Therefore it’s important to maintain a hopeful outlook and think about what you can and can’t control in your job search and adopt a growth mindset, you may not have not found that role YET.