If you’re trying to find a new job, you’ve probably already updated your resume and LinkedIn, signed up for continuing education courses, and reached out to friends of friends inquiring about possible positions.
While these are some of the best ways to land a new role, getting your foot in the door isn’t easy. The competition is fierce, so you need a way to stand out against your competition and be the one your dream job hires.
Join Industry-Specific Groups
Long gone are the days of only networking on LinkedIn. These days, you can join industury-specific groups on Slack. These groups are home to those just like you and others who’ve been in the field and are looking for new recruits. Once you join, you need to consistently network while doing some social listening. Take note of the conversations many are having. Ask appropriate questions when necessary and be sure to share your insight when applicable. Recruiters want to see that the people they’re considering know what they’re talking about. Just make sure you don’t come off as a know-it-all. Instead, you need to speak from an experience point of view.
Skill and Reskill
You consider yourself an expert in your field, however, it’s never not a good time to go back to school. When you’re in hot pursuit of a new job, you need to give it all you’ve got. So, if that means you need to earn another degree, heading back to campus might be the right thing to do. That said, you also need to consider how much it’s going to cost. Find out whether you can transfer pre-existing credits into the new program, or if you’re allowed to use work experience for credit.
Some colleges do allow both situations, which ultimately lowers the cost of attendance. Having Earnest private student loans available are one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to gain the skills you need without having to work double time to pay for it. You’ll also have options in terms of how much you borrow. Some only borrow enough to cover tuition, whereas others borrow a little extra to help cover the cost of school supplies as well.
Pitch to the Right People
When you’re determined to land a new position, you need to pitch to the right people. If you want to work as a beauty editor, the first step is finding out who does the hiring. Head over to the company’s social media accounts and see if you can find out who runs their HR department. Alternatively, it might be a lead editor who decides who is hired. Send the social media manager a DM and ask them if they can put you in touch with the right person.
More times than not, they’ll give you the contact information of who you need to speak with. If you do go this route, make sure your social media account is active and in exemplifies the role you’re hoping to get. If you have any unsavory pictures or ones that don’t really show you in a reputable light, clean up your account before you DM.
Ask For a Raise
Sometimes, it’s not a matter of wanting a new job; it’s more about wanting to earn more money. If so, now’s the time to ask for a raise. But before you march in your boss’s office, take the time to write why you deserve more money. Think about how long you’ve worked for the company and all the projects you’ve successfully completed.
Create a list of the reasons why, with dates if possible, so he or she can clearly identify why you’re asking for more money. You can also inquire about other positions within the same company. Ask if there’s any new positions opening, or if there’s a way for you to take on more responsibility for a higher salary.
Make Your Own Job
If you’ve done all the right things and still aren’t getting a call back, you could start your business. Yes, it’s not the path you choose, however, it’s not uncommon for certain niches to be oversaturated with applicants wanting the same job as you. What does that mean for you? While working your current job, you could start something on the side.
Use your free time to create a business strategy first. So many entrepreneurs started out this way, simply because they couldn’t get hired. Starting out as a side hustle also gives you the financial security of having a salary while building your company. If things don’t work out as planned, you still have a job to fall back on.
