10 logical steps towards finding your next landing spot
Perhaps you were laid off. Perhaps you quit. Perhaps it’s time for a pivot. Regardless, you’re likely no more than 10 steps away from landing where you want to be. You got this!
1. Build some momentum by making an announcement to your network.
Put your situation on your network’s radar. An opportunity could open up simply by posting, someone seeing it, leaving a comment, and a conversation starts. Be specific about the work you do and the roles you’re looking for. This will help your network know how to introduce you. Consider using LinkedIn’s Open to Work banner as a signal to recruiters and hiring managers that you’re taking your job search seriously.
2. Take a breather and grieve whatever situation put you in job search.
You probably haven’t had a vacation in awhile. Consider taking one if you have the budget. Or a more affordable stay-cation perhaps. Book yourself a local weekend getaway even. Retreat. Escape. Reset. You’ll feel refreshed, energized, and ready to take next steps.
3. Start looking around and research the job market.
Using the channels you’re familiar with, start to engage with your own network and others in your industry. See what people are saying. Like, comment on, and share content. Well-crafted comments often get more impressions than posts! These actions train the algorithm to your intentions and the content you want to see moving forward. Also, consider your competition. Who are you competing against for open jobs? How are they positioning themselves? What can you do to differentiate yourself?
4. Jot down all the things you’re really good at, then alphabetize it.
Spend some time on this. Think hard skills and soft skills. I guarantee you will start to see interesting groupings, themes, and common threads. These keywords are the building blocks of your messaging—how you present yourself on paper, in person, and online.
5. Get really clear on your goals so you know what you’re working towards.
Are you looking to pivot, launch, consult, freelance, or work fractionally? Do you want to stay/leave a specific industry? Or perhaps you are looking to land a job ASAP. Get as clear on your goal(s) as you can, knowing that things might shift quickly, such as a new opportunity. Defining goals upfront helps you plan and track performance better. And you’ll know when to reward yourself!
6. Decide on how you want to position yourself in the market and the roles to target.
Depending on your goals, decide what you want to say about yourself. What’s your story and how to do you want to tell it in different situations? Consider building a messaging suite for yourself and then just plug in the content when needed. Based on your positioning, decide on 1-5 or so job titles to target in your job search.
7. Update your materials and organize them for easy distribution.
Use the snippets from your messaging suite to craft a resume, cover letter, interview answers, and an online presence that you’re confident in. Everything should reflect your career story; leaning into your successes, failures, specialization, and differentiation. For your resume, consider crafting a 2-page ATS-friendly version for online applications and perhaps a more beautifully designed concise 1-pager for those direct opportunities that arise.
8. Start applying and putting your message out into the world.
Focus on the job titles you’re targeting and apply with the best-fit version of your resume. You won’t have to shy away from applications that ask/expect a cover letter because now you have one that tells your story and what sets you apart. Consider setting up alerts for the roles you’re targeting so you have a steady flow of opportunities to look into. And from a content/thought leadership standpoint, open the flood gates to all the interesting things you have to say about the work you do!
9. Go direct with your message to skip to the front of the line.
You might have already sent announcements out by posting on social networks like LinkedIn, but don’t put faith in the algorithm to deliver your message. Take matters into your own hands and direct message people in your network. Start with your inner circle and work outwards as needed. Ask for support, feedback, or introductions. These are the opportunities that will move you to the front of the line for an interview.
10. Check your progress against your goals and adapt as needed.
Set up a cadence of checking in on how things are going. Are you getting interviews? How are the interviews going? Consider a dedicated weekly or bi-weekly check in and adapt your plan based on the opportunities in front of you.
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