What are you doing in the holiday season? Relaxing? Are you priming a turkey? Are you watching football?
How about preparing your job search? No?
You see, many job seekers think the holiday season is a time to ‘refrigerate’ their job search campaign. They are mistaken. The holiday season is the perfect time for you to thaw your job search tools, prep, dial up the heat, and get cooking!
While most job seekers will join you in re-launching their job search around…January 1st, with our holiday job search recipe, you will stay ahead of your competition--because you are just that smart!
So, leave the turkey roasting to your significant other (help just a little) and work on your dish this holiday season. Here is what you will need for your holiday job search preparation…
If you are not going to hire an executive resume writing service, here is what you can do.
Ingredients:
Two cups of branding: Define what is unique about you. What do you offer employers over other job seekers who are highly qualified? Then, connect that uniqueness to what employer’s need. Identifying your (UVP) unique value proposition will set the foundation for your entire job search entrée!
A branded resume leaf: Write or rewrite your resume, ensuring your brand is sprinkled across the entire document. Avoid job descriptions; instead, focus on what challenges you faced at each corporation and how you solved those challenges. If you recently started a new job, contemplate what you are positioning yourself to accomplish for this corporation?
Note: Important to blend your triumphs with your personal brand.
One LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn has become the most important social networking site to generate job leads. Don’t discard this tool because you are too afraid to try something new or because you don’t have time to network. Now, during the holidays, as you have downtime—learn how to leverage this dynamic tool.
One stick of job search planning. So, where do you go after you prepared you’ve defined your brand, created your resume, and developed your online profile? Start planning. Luck favors the prepared. Explore online job boards and make a list of corporations in your area you’d like to work for. What do they need? Whom can you contact at that company? What is the HR email?
A tablespoon of moxie. Having the confidence to sell your brand is crucial. Without the right attitude or ‘I deserve it’ mentality, your efforts will be futile--no matter the ingredients.
Serve your job search ‘dish’ with confidence, professional packaging, distinction, and your guest (employer) will be thrilled they ‘ate’ what you had to dish out!
If you need help with your executive resume, check out our blog.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Rosa Elizabeth Vargas
www.careersteering.com
