New year, new job? Strategically prepare NOW for a 2024 change. (+ free Templates!)
Get ahead of the game by preparing NOW.
Changing jobs or careers in 2024?
Don’t wait until January 1st to start preparing! Get ahead of the game by building a strong foundation NOW, so when the new year rolls around, you will be ready to hit the ground running.
While updating your resume and LinkedIn profile are obvious and important steps to take when preparing for a job or career change, the bulk of this article will focus on the more strategic components of your job search: your network. Before we move on to those, let’s first give a quick overview of resumes and LinkedIn:
- Resume: make sure your resume is up-to-date and positioned toward the types of positions and industries you are targeting. Grab a few job postings for roles that interest you (the posting will be a handy tool as you update your resume and prepare for job interviews), and highlight important keywords, the core responsibilities and requirements, and then match your experience accordingly. Provide concrete examples of your experience for each responsibility/requirement and add this information to your resume. Be concise yet impactful with your language.
- LinkedIn: incorporate info from your updated resume to your LinkedIn page. This starts with an attractive banner, headshot, and an engaging headline. Polish up the ‘About’, ‘Experience’, and ‘Skills’ sections so that they reflect your relevant experience and accomplishments. Incorporate important keywords and hashtags (hashtags are a feature in ‘Creator Mode’). Make sure skills listed in the ‘Skills’ section are ordered by relevance/importance.
Pro Tip: Canva is a free and easy tool to use for creating a LinkedIn banner.
After your resume and LinkedIn profile are in place, it’s time to focus your time and attention on your NETWORK. Prior to launching your job search, this is where you should focus your time and energy.
1. Start recruiting your advocates (i.e. your extra set of eyes and ears). These should be people you regularly stay in touch with and with whom you can faithfully share the news of your job/career change. Let them know you are planning to change jobs/careers in the new year, and kindly ask for their support. Ask them to keep an eye out for open positions and/or to connect you to people that work in, or are affiliated with, the types of roles and companies you are targeting.
Make it easy for them. Include a short bio (or ‘career snapshot’) and a brief description of the types of positions you are looking for. A good place to turn to is your Professional Summary on your resume. Make sure it can be easily copied and pasted in an email or LinkedIn message. You’ll also want to share your updated resume and LinkedIn profile URL.
Conclude your message by offering to help or support them. Make this a reciprocal and supportive exchange; avoid making it all about you.
Here’s a template to get you started:
Hi <First Name>,
I hope this message finds you well! As you may or may not know, I have decided to [brief statement describing the direction you are taking your career] in 2024, and I am taking strides now to proactively prepare for the transition.
I am reaching out to kindly ask for your support as I seek my next opportunity. I would appreciate if you could keep an eye out for people I should connect with or open positions that might be a fit for me. I’ve included a brief professional bio below that you are welcome to share with your network. Thank you in advance for your consideration, and please let me know if there is anything I can do to support you.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Email]
[LinkedIn profile URL]
**************************
[Your Full Name] Professional Bio
With [# years’] experience in [list your top 3 skills or areas of expertise and industry], I am seeking [job titles and levels of roles you are seeking, company names, full or part-time, location/remote/hybrid]. I am passionate about [state what your passion is and make sure it is relevant to the jobs you are targeting] and in my career I have [mention 1 or 2 relevant-to-the-job accomplishments here].
I would appreciate your support in sharing this email with individuals in your network who are currently (or will be) hiring. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Email and phone]
[LinkedIn profile URL]
[Your website or links to other media]
2. Cultivate your network. Send connection requests to individuals that work for or are connected to companies and industries you are interested in – this includes recruiters and hiring managers. Start building relationships now!
Customize the invitation request by including a few sentences about your reasons for wanting to connect and include a commonality such as having a mutual connection or attending the same university. Remember: make it a reciprocal exchange.
Here’s a template for you to use:
Requesting a LinkedIn connection
Hi [Person’s Name],
My name is [Your Name]. I see that we have several mutual connections <you may mention a specific name here>, and I am reaching out to invite you to connect. I enjoy expanding my network with engaging and interesting professionals in this space, and I would welcome the opportunity to learn more about you and your work.
Thank you for your consideration! Have a wonderful day.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
If your connection request is accepted, follow up with a ‘thank you’ and express your desire to stay in touch. Touch base with them again in the new year, especially if you are connecting with recruiters and hiring managers (your next touchpoint to recruiters/hiring managers should be more strategic in nature and will include your job/career change as well as your relevant skills and qualifications. Tip: you can use language from your Professional Summary/Bio).
Remember: it’s all about building and nurturing your network. This will eventually lead you to more conversations and more opportunities.
3. Ask for recommendations from clients/colleagues via LinkedIn. These should be individuals who can speak to your skills, qualifications, and experience. If there is something you would like the individual to share specifically about you, clarify that in your request. Thank them for their time and consideration and offer to help or support them in return.
4. Lastly, set up job alerts on LinkedIn if you haven’t already. Be sure to set the job posting filter to 24 hours, so you will be alerted to newly posted roles (it can be a game changer when you are one of the first to apply). You can also create job alerts for specific companies you are interested in.
By implementing these tips NOW you will be ahead of the game when 2024 arrives.
Best wishes for a fruitful and successful transition, friends!
Words to ponder:
“We cannot solve problems with the kind of thinking we employed when we came up with them.” — Albert Einstein
If you like what you’re reading here, would you please consider sharing this publication with someone today? I APPRECIATE your support, friends!
Excellent advice, thank you Brooke!