Are you looking for a job?

Have you heard the news Reader?

The September jobs report shows a record 336,000 jobs were created last month. This is a great sign that the job market is improving! However, the unemployment rate remains unchanged, and about 6.4M people are looking for a job. Finding a job can be an arduous process. Furthermore, finding the right company is like finding the right house.

Here are some tips to help you if you’re hunting for the right job. 👇🏾

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF 🤔

Before you put your time and energy into interviews, online research, and applications, you must first define what type of job you’re looking for. Many of us spend more than 50% of our time working. You might as well enjoy what you do (if that’s one of your goals). Here are a few questions I encourage my clients to ask themselves before they dive into the job search process.

• What industry do you want to work in?

• Do you want to go global (work for a global company) or stay national (work for a U.S.-based company)?

• What was your previous role? What worked (Think: things you loved) and what didn’t work for you (things you’d rather not do)?

• What type of hours do you want to work? Is work-life balance a goal? (I’ll talk more about this later. Keep reading).

Remember, you're elevating even if you apply for a lateral position. It’s all about how you leverage the new experience and opportunities.

DO YOUR RESEARCH! FIND THE RED FLAGS 🚩 🚩🚩

You want to research their HR practices, their leadership, the work they do, work environment etc. You may only find some of this information online, but Glassdoor and Indeed reviews could be helpful. If you’re looking for a tech job, check out ​Levels.fyi​.

Also, hitting up current or previous employees on LinkedIn can prove helpful. I always encourage my clients to create an Excel sheet that lists out the companies they’re interested in or applying to, the contact person (recruiter), the status of the application, and the notes section (which includes why they like this company). This tracker is useful in seeing your progress, helps prioritize the companies you’re the most interested in, and gives you an opportunity to see where you could improve in the search.

CHECK OUT THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS (What do they want me to do again?!) 😬

Let’s talk about the infamous JD and how some of them are simply not well-written. As someone who does career consulting and ​has hired a team​, I’ve invested hours into drafting a strong job description. The purpose is for me to be clear about my expectations so I attract the right candidates.

Many job descriptions don’t give a true insight into how the applicant can benefit from the job. Think about when you applied to college. You could select your school based on the programs, the professors, the activities, and the path to post-graduate success. When reading a job description, it should be 50% what skills and qualifications are required and 50% company perks, company culture, benefits, and growth opportunities.

In many cases, job descriptions are your first interaction with a company. They shouldn’t be long and disengaging. They should be clear and concise. The company should sound interesting, like a place you’d want to work. You should be able to answer the question: Is this a place I could see myself working? You may need to learn more about the company before fully answering this question, but the JD should spark your interest enough to start answering the question.

One of my biggest critiques of a poorly written job description is that they straight-up lie. They will add requirements that are not actual requirements, i.e., this role doesn’t require ten years or more experience. One way to work through that is by comparing the same role at different companies and seeing which job descriptions are better and feel more interesting.

NETWORKING IS CRITICAL

Let’s keep it a buck. Networking is a skill many of us lack. Going up to someone at an event or messaging someone on LinkedIn can feel weird and uncomfortable. While this is true, it’s still a necessary part of the game. Networking is a strategic way to learn about potential job opportunities and helps you get a sense of a company’s culture.

The good news is even if you suck at networking today, this is a skill you can develop and improve with practice. Here are some tips on how to improve your networking skills:

1. Set goals: Before you start networking, set specific goals for what you want to achieve. This could be attending a certain number of events, meeting a specific number of people, or making a certain number of follow-up calls or emails.

2. Listen actively: When you are meeting someone new, be present and engaged in the conversation. Listen actively and ask thoughtful questions. This will help you build rapport and establish a connection.

3. Be prepared: Prepare a concise elevator pitch highlighting your skills, experience, and goals. Also, bring business cards (digital or physical) and be ready to share them.

4. Follow up: After meeting someone new, be sure to follow up with a thank-you note or email. This helps reinforce the connection and shows that you value the relationship.

5. Join professional organizations: Join professional organizations in your industry to meet like-minded professionals and stay up-to-date on industry trends.

6. Offer value: Networking is a two-way street, so be sure to offer value to your contacts. Share your knowledge and experience, offer to help with their projects, and introduce them to other professionals in your network.

7. Practice: Like any skill, networking takes practice. Attend events regularly and try to meet new people. The more you network, the more comfortable you will become.

Remember, networking is about building relationships, so focus on building genuine connections with people. Be yourself, be authentic, and be interested in the people you meet. You can improve your networking skills and build a strong professional network with time and practice.

DO IT FOR THE (COMPANY) CULTURE

One thing to pay attention to is the company culture.​ Company culture​ is the personality of a company. It includes everything from the environment, the values, the mission, and the organization's overall goals. Your goal is to look for a company that aligns with who you are. It’ll make showing up for work that much easier.

One way to research company culture is to start from the beginning: the company website. Maybe you don’t work for an organization where the C-Suite is all white men. You’ve been there and done that. Next, head to their social media pages. How do they advertise themselves to the public? Are they interesting and modern, or do they seem like they don’t know how to work an IG post? I liken job searching to modern dating. Do as much research as possible to see if this is someone you’d go out with. Look, Reader if you’re looking for a job, it’s most likely because you need a new job, but remember, only you can determine what’s best for you. Interview the company the same way they’ll be interviewing you. Where you work will take a huge amount of your time; it’s best that you’re using it wisely.

BE READY FOR SHOW TIME–THE INTERVIEW STAGE 🤩

If you get an interview with a company you like based on research, this is the moment you also interview them. I know it’s hard to make it to the interview stage, and often, when we do, we hope it lands in a job offer. Just remember this is where you’ll be spending a lot of your time, so leave desperation at home and remember your goal: Is this company right for me? The interview is an opportunity to get intel you couldn’t from LinkedIn. It’s a chance to ask the interviewee, aka your potential boss, questions to help you decide if this is the place for you.

​Glassdoor​ and ​Levels.fyi​ encourages asking questions like:

• Does the company give back to the community?

• What activities do you offer for employees?

• What’s the dress code?

Based on my own experience, I’d like to add a few more to the list.

Determine what you want for your life

• Money / Salary Goal

• Travel vs. No travel vs. Some travel

• Company culture

• Stability (location)

• Remote/Hybrid/In the office

• Challenging work

• Easy work

• Leadership role

• Lateral position

So, Reader where are you applying first? The goal is to find employment at a place you really enjoy or, at the very least, don’t hate. The reality is it’s hard for many of us to approach the job search without this looming concern that you might not like the company, your boss, your team, or even the role. But you can’t find the perfect job if you don’t start the search.

-Damien “Career Coach” Peters