Prepare to Find a New Job in 5 Steps

Absolutely everyone has been there before or will be there at some point in their career- figuring out what to do to change to a new job. Either because you want to grow, you want to reinvent yourself or because you don’t actually have a job today.

I’ve changed my job around 8 times for the last 18 years and I kind of developed a playbook of key steps to follow and prepare which I believe are basic ones to increase your employability.

This lesson aims to give you some tips about my learnings which, depending in your industry and position, will be more or less relevant and I hope they can help you today or at any point in the future.

1. Develop your skills by turning time in your favour.

Most people get nervous when time passes since it somehow feels that time reduces our chances of finding a good opportunity. But, in reality, there is another angle to consider.

The more time it takes for you, the more room you have to improve your skills, which will increase your employability. Use your time well. Take online courses about topics that matter. There are a lot of short-term courses for free to develop concrete skills. Each of them will get you closer to your goals. Also, use the time to continue improving your English level.

Everything counts and, if you make an effort, the amount of skills you can build up and learn in a matter of 3 to 6 months is very substantial. 

2. Train and prepare for the interviews to come.

Interviews are exams. They are evaluations. Did you know that 80% of the questions you will be asked are exactly the same in all jobs and interview processes? Therefore, you should properly research it, preparing your answers for the questions you know you will be asked. Write them, read them, test them with friends and improve them. The more time you pratice, the more prepared you will be. 

Do role plays with friends who can give you honest feedback about your skills. 

3. Put yourself on the market

From Social Media profiles and pictures, to your resume and CV, as well as your profile page on job seeking websites- they all matter. Update your Linkedin profile by ensuring you check best practices for how to do so. Make a proper introduction of yourself making sure that everything is sharp, short and shiny. The majority of companies search for profiles looking at keywords that they care about. For example, if you are an online marketer, there are terms your profile should include such as “CPC (cost per click), “Inbound” and other likely terms to be searched that you want to be correlated with.

Finally, be original, approach potential employers in a proper manner by email, letter or at social events. Get their attention. Offer yourself without hesitation and think how you can be very creative to generate interest.

4. Your colleagues and contacts will bring your next job.

Use and maximize your network. The people you know well from past experiences are the ones who are most likely to think about you and give an endorsement to help you find a new job. 

• Get written referrals from them and put them on your online profiles and CV.
• Make sure key people you know are aware that you are actively looking to change, Otherwise, they will not know when an opportunity comes to them.