5 Ways To Stand Out In a Crowded Job Market
If you’re an avid follower and Meghan Houle Method blog lover, you’ve already performed a self-assessment in order to gain career clarity. You’ve got your values and beliefs written down and aren’t accepting anything that doesn’t meet your standards. (If you’re new around here or need to catch up, check out my previous blog post to do that now!)
And, you’ve made a big decision it is time to leave your current job and pivot with purpose… (no wonder that is such a great title for my podcast!)
At the same time, you know that the current job market is extremely competitive.
And you’ve been at your job for long enough to feel like you may be a little out of touch. The pressure is real, and you’ve got a lot on the line.
Take a deep breath! I’m here to help you out.
Here’s the thing. Those feelings that made you make that choice to leave - burnout, feeling unmotivated, unchallenged, or underpaid - are all very valid feelings. And you aren’t alone by any means.
Ninety-six percent of workers are looking for a new position in 2023, largely in search of better pay, according to a report by Monster.com. Here are a few more eye-opening statistics pulled from the report, from workers who were asked why they were on the job hunt:
34% say there’s no room to grow in their current job
25% say they are in a toxic workplace
When it comes to the hunt, job seekers are certainly making major decisions about their career. 2022 saw major dips in the number of jobs available across numerous markets and industries but, interestingly, the number of people quitting kept growing. It seems like employees are taking a stand for themselves once and for all, huh? I love it!
Now that you’re ready to get back out there and find the perfect role at the company that matches your values, you’re wondering how to stand out from other candidates.
Here are five things you can start working on right now:
1. Know what you want.
This phase of the job search requires patience and persistence. It could take anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months to land your dream job (especially if this is a DIY search.) So I advise that you stay focused on your goals and practice persistence. And, when you feel like your drive is wavering just a bit, remember that you CAN have it all if you set your expectations up right from the start.
There’s a lot of talk about “work/life balance” but in reality, “balance” can mean something very different to you than it does to me. Maybe you need something that allows you to drop off and pick up your kids from school or you need a fully remote role instead. The most important thing is that you flush all of these requirements out first before you jump into the interview process.
And those salary concerns? I’ve witnessed salary increases even with some pretty hefty scheduling tasks. You simply have to know what you want before starting your job search.
2. . It’s time for an upgrade.
Technology advances pretty quickly so, depending on how long you’ve been in your current position and how long those textbooks have been covered in dust, it’s extremely realistic to start thinking about brushing up on your skills.
Take time to research what new technology, programs, or skills are required for positions within your industry. And, if you have a dream job in mind, checking out what the person within the current position does each day or finding an open job description can help you align your skills and understand exactly what goodness you need to bring to the table.
3. . Researching company culture is key.
Speaking about that dream role, let’s keep it real. You may have had your eyes on it before you made the decision to quit. Realistically, especially due to the overcrowded market, you may have to expand your horizons just a bit by widening your preferences in a way that does not interfere with your beliefs or values.
The best way to do this is to research the company culture of the roles you are after. Run to social media, especially Instagram and LinkedIn, to check out what the company is up to. You’ll probably get a chance to peek into what everyday life looks like inside and see what your potential future co-workers are up to.
And, if the company isn’t posting to social media, well, that’s a big red flag. It’s 2023. Brands that celebrate their employees and acknowledge humanitarian efforts (especially efforts like diversity, equity, and inclusion) are the brands that will win, every time.
4. . Network with PURPOSE.
You may not think you have a network, but if you have a few LinkedIn followers and some working friends, then you’ve got yourself one right there. Tell them you’re looking for a new role! If you don’t tell anyone you’re looking, how will they know to look out for you?
Do not be afraid to reach out to former colleagues and professional mentors and ask for help if they can introduce you to a hiring manager in a brand you want to work for or help provide you with an email for someone to reach out to and introduce yourself, DIRECTLY. It is a HUGE factor in getting hired in this way by someone saying your name in a room of opportunity beyond advocating for yourself during this process.
You need to hand all your information to someone on a silver platter these days and your introduction email template and resume better be ready to go,
Update your LinkedIn profile by listing all of your responsibilities and achieved KPIs. But be careful not to make anything public about your job search until you officially quit (like using “Open to Work”, for example!)
Follow hashtags on LinkedIn that match your industry, save job searches for companies you want to work with along with job titles you want to align to and stay in the know!
Remember, not all jobs are always posted as openings on LinkedIn. Even if you do not see something available in a brand you want to work with, reach out anyway and make the connection.
5. Work with a career coach (that’s me!)
Let me cut through the fog and keep this simple. A career coach will not help you get recruited. While I am an executive recruiter that’s been in the luxury retail industry for over 20 years, the career coaching that I offer is something totally different from my objective as a recruiter.
A recruiter, I’m hired by a company to find the best match for their open roles. That means my loyalty is to the company first (someone has to pay for my Aperol spritz-fix on the weekends!)
As your career coach, it’s my job to work with you 1:1 to develop a strategy that not only gets you hired, but that creates a solid roadmap to achieving all of your career goals. I’m going to be both your added perspective angel and your devil's advocate since it’s my job to keep it real and make sure you have everything in order to help you reach your full potential. We’ll talk about things like career planning and strategy and major industry pivots and I’ll provide you with advice, guidance, and support every step of the way.
I can help you do things like:
Figure out what you’re doing wrong when it comes to the job search and why you aren’t getting any bites.
Help you translate your skills on paper and social to make you present yourself as even more marketable and of higher value to each company you apply to.
Pinpoint keywords that need to be included on your resume so you do not just show up on the ATS system, you BEAT it.
Save you tons of time when it comes to figuring out how to even get started on your job search.
Interested in hiring me as your career coach? Click here to get started now!
Let’s work together to create the career of your dreams.
SPREAD THE LOVE. SHARE THE PODCAST.
A NEW PIVOT WITH PURPOSE SEASON DROPPED FEBRUARY 14
Learn how to show up as your best self and change your direction while changing your entire life.
You’re going to love this NEW episode of Pivot with Purpose with my special guest husband and wife dynamic duo, Alyssa and Mike Pannozzi!
It’s all about trusting the process and letting go of the “I should’ s” and trailblazing YOUR path to greatness when it comes to your life, not living life through the opinions of others.
