7 Steps to Success in Your Job Search in 2023
In today’s job market, digital professionals are experiencing unique challenges to find work. Let’s face it, the economy isn’t in a great place, and AI has started to threaten digital jobs in the creative and technology sectors. The most sought-after roles can have hundreds, or even thousands, of applicants.
Consequently, whether a seasoned digital professional or just starting out, navigating the job market is a daunting proposition today. To be successful in your job search, you’ll need to understand the challenges you face, assess your skillsets, research which jobs best suit you, and brush up your resume and interviewing technique.
We’ve written this guide as a job search checklist for digital professionals searching for rewarding career progress in 2023.
Step #1: Assess Your Skills and Experience, and Define Your Goals
It’s crucial to take a long, hard look at your skills and experience, and to be honest in self-appraisal. Take the time to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, and identify transferrable skills and those you need to obtain or improve. This will help you to develop a personal brand to sell to potential employers.
Pursuing further qualifications and upgrading your existing skills demonstrates your ability to evolve as the market advances. It also makes you a more competitive candidate.
At this stage, you should also consider what it is you want from your career as a digital professional – work/life balance, a competitive salary, career advancement, challenging work, to work with a great team, etc. Your goals will be as unique as your experience and skillset.
Remember, hiring companies are interested in how you are likely to grow with them as well as what you can bring to the table today.
Step #2: Research the Jobs Market
With a better understanding of your personal value proposition, you can now search for jobs that align with your strengths and goals. The aim is to identify the types of jobs and employers to which you will be best suited and will help you achieve your near-term and long-term career goals.
There’s a lot of legwork to be done here. You’ll need to research current digital trends to identify in-demand roles, review jobs listings, research your preferred companies, and search through hiring companies’ online jobs pages. Networking is also crucial – this can provide valuable insight into the jobs market as well as help you to connect with potential employers.
Step #3: Craft Your Resume and Cover Letter
Yor resume is like a sales prospectus. Its job is to get you an interview. It’s got only a few seconds to do this job, too. Research shows that the average time that it takes for a recruiter to review a resume is only seven seconds.
To make your resume pop, you should tailor it to the role and company to which you are applying. There are various strategies to help you do this:
- Keywording is essential (match the words in your resume to those used in the job description)
- You should highlight relevant skills and experience
- Demonstrate achievements and career advancement
- Keep it concise and to the point, using bullet points to accentuate vital details
Finally, in your personal statement, make sure to show that you have the personality that will help you fit in with the team and the enthusiasm that will make you a good long-term hire.
Step #4: Navigate the Interview Process
Congratulations! All the effort you have put into your job search has paid dividends. You have a job interview. Now, you’ll need to prepare to pass the process with flying colors:
- Research the company and the interviewer ─this can help to develop tailored response to the questions you’ll be asked
- Prepare answers to common interview questions – the STAR method for interview answers will help you here
- Practice your answers, to ensure you deliver effectively (and in a human voice!)
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewer (and never about compensation)
At the interview, present professionally and dress appropriately – this includes if you’re attending a virtual interview.
Remember, the interview is not only about checking your qualifications and experience; it’s also about assessing your personality fit. So be yourself!
Step #5: Evaluate Your Job Offer
Your interview went well. You’ve been offered the job. But is the job offer right for you, and is it the best it could be?
Start by noting the key details:
- Salary
- Benefits and perks
- Responsibilities and duties
- Hours and location
- Culture
You’ll need to evaluate if the offer gives you what you want (or need) now, and offers potential to develop toward your long-term goals.
If you have multiple offers, you’ll need to compare them carefully.
It’s crucial that both you and the company are comfortable with the final terms agreed – and you should be prepared to negotiate for a better offer if the first offer doesn’t cut the mustard.
Step #6: Continue Your Professional Development
There is no time to stand still as a digital professional. You’ll need to stay tuned to developments and trends in the digital market. Continuing professional development (CPD) is critical to updating your skillset and remaining a key employee and competitive candidate for future career moves.
A tip here is to keep track of your CPD and continually update your resume and online branding (such as your LinkedIn profile). This will ensure that you are recognized as being dedicated in your field and willing to improve and grow.
Step #7: Streamline the Job Search Process
In the current jobs market, there are many unique challenges when searching for work as a digital professional. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be more strategic in your approach. This will help you to land your next rewarding career move.
However, for many, these steps can seem overwhelming. Which is why so many high-quality candidates work with a staffing agency. When you register with TECHEAD, you gain access to a highly regarded and deeply connected agency with specialist knowledge and experience of placing digital professionals in roles and companies that help to accelerate their careers.
We can provide guidance and support throughout the entire job search, and we have access to job vacancies that may not be advertised publicly. We’ll help you to define your experience and goals, prepare for interviews, and we can negotiate job offers for you (we understand how difficult the offer negotiation can be for many candidates).
Don’t get stuck with your job search in 2023. Submit your resume to TECHEAD and get a head start to the best jobs for digital professionals.