With January 1 just around the corner, maybe it'll be on your list of New Year's resolutions: find a new, better, and more fulfilling job. Instead of waiting until the New Year arrives to make up your mind to get a new job, start preparing for the next step from now. That way, you'll feel like you're on the marathon of your job search in January – not just at the starting line. Here are five steps that might help you.
Determine what you want to do
And not just what you can do
We all have skills and experience that can translate into a variety of job types. However, in order to be more in control of your career changes, you should first align your work with your values. You have to figure out what is important to you, because when your values are realized, you are also fulfilled yourself.
First, you have to ask yourself the following threeQuestion:
What do I like to do, or what gives me energy, and why?
What kind of environment do I want to work in?Why?
What kind of interaction do I want to have at work?Why?
People often see honesty, transparent communication, and mutual respect as values that they value. However, things like working on challenging tasks, completing tasks strategically, and solving big problems to be recognized can be seen as valuable. In fact, you should be curious about every action and experience that gives you energy or pleasure, and in doing so, it can lead you to realize your own value.
For example, maybe you realize that you like to organize your pantry, your kids' room, and your wardrobe because you love the process. You will feel a sense of calm when everything is in its place. You also like to check your to-do list. If you think of this seemingly simple "organizing" action from a workplace perspective, then you will see that kinesthetic or tactical work, structure, short-term projects, and diversity may all be work-related values.
Once you've identified your own values and defined each one in terms of your job, the next step is to determine what skills you'll need to achieve each one. For example:
Value: Organizational Structure
My definition:
Create structure and order with a clear process.
Hard Skills Required:
Six Sigma Lean**, Data Analysis, Process Mapping, Process Improvement, Continuous Improvement, Project Management.
Required Soft Skills:
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Attention to Detail, Agility, Change Management.
If you identify all of your values and then go for a position that requires skills that align with them, your next career will undoubtedly be more satisfying.
Update your resume
Your resume is not meant to list every one of your accomplishments;They should only show the skills you possess that are relevant to the job or career you are pursuing.
Once you've decided on the type of role you want, you'll need to focus on 10 job descriptions. If you can't find 10, you can use an AI program to generate the job description you want, such as the prompt: "Generate a job description for the Director of Business Operations." Then identify the keywords and topics that are common to these descriptions. For example, most business operations job descriptions will include the following responsibilities:
Develop and implement process streamlining to optimize global operational efficiency
Collect and analyze operational data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
Develop and implement quality control measures to ensure that products or services meet the company's standards.
Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders through effective communication to execute strategic plans that create efficiency.
Plan, prioritize, and execute a variety of projects to achieve business goals.
Now think about how you can use the language of a job description to express your personal experienceFor example, someone with experience as a sales director might explain their accomplishments and skills like this:
Optimized international operations in four countries and improved sales operations efficiency by 28% by streamlining the go-to-market (GTM) process, aligning sales marketing with strategic objectives, and influencing technology improvements.
Prepare information that is consistent with the content of the interview
Now that your resume is ready, you can start preparing for the interview.
You'll want to identify five accomplishments that demonstrate skills that meet the demands of the job and demonstrate the unique value you will bring. The presentation of each achievement should be limited to two minutes or less, and should be completed with:star(t)Methods for locating——Situation, task, action, result- Add a tStands for takeaways
For example, a common interview question would be something like, "Tell me about an experience where you had to prioritize multiple projects." In response to this question, you can prepare it like this:
Situation:Through the analysis of processes and technology, we learned that HR needed a new talent management system to scale;The sales team needed to upgrade Salesforce, a customer relationship management platform, to better generate leadsThe manufacturing department needed a new quality management system to comply with regulations.
Task:All of these projects are very important to the company, but my team doesn't have the bandwidth to work on all three at the same time, so we have to prioritize certain projects.
Action:I draw on my extensive financial background (unique value) to conduct business value assessments, create metrics to ensure the company achieves the expected return on investment for each technology, and align each solution to meet stakeholder expectations and broader business objectives. I previewed the data with each leader, so there were no surprises.
result:When I lay out the business case and data in front of the three leaders, it was easy to see which project needed to be moved forward first, and they agreed with my suggestion to prioritize.
Takeaways:While everything was going well, I realized that I could preview the data with the CFO first so she wouldn't get caught up in the conversation.
This story showcases the candidate's unique abilities, executive impact and stakeholder management skills, and finally the humility shown through learning.
Be mentally prepared for a long search
The number of layoffs has increased repeatedly, and the labor market is full of talent, so finding a new opportunity may take longer. You need to adjust your mindset, which means making a realistic plan:It's not just about how to go about your job search, but also when and how to do self-soothing to stay refreshed in the event of a long job search cycle.
A negative mindset can lower your energy, motivation, and confidence, which recruiters can feel. So, you can take some time each day to set an achievable job search goal: whether it's finding three interesting jobs to apply for, contacting one person, or applying for two job openings. You should also set an achievable personal goal each day, such as exercising for 20 minutes, walking the dog, or reading a book for half an hour. Setting achievable goals and personal goals can eliminate the "have I done enough?""This anxious thought. When you've accomplished your goals for each day, you've redefined the day as a successful one.
Activate and develop your network
Because business has been sluggish recently, the holidays can make people feel happy, and you should reach out to the people around you more often. When you're at a holiday party, going on vacation, visiting family and friends, or even playing in the park with your kids, you can try to meet at least one new friend and discuss your career interests with them. You can prepare a presentation that you can use in any situation to expand your network. For example: "I am a business operations executive with more than 10 years of experience in business transformation. I was laid off in the last round of layoffs at a struggling company, but I see this as a blessing because it's time for me to look for the next challenge, and it's hard to have time to find a job when you're working. If you know a COO or VP, I'd appreciate it if I could meet them and expand my network. ”
You need to figure out exactly what you want and align your resume and network with your career goals, which will help you find a job faster in the new year. The hardest thing to remember is that it's not just a matter of finding a job – every part of the process is a step towards your personal and professional growth and ultimately achievement.
Keywords:Workplace
Marlo Lyons |Wen.
Marlowe Lyons is a professional manager and team coach who won the award for writing "Wanted a New Career: The Definitive Playbook for Transitioning to a New Career or Finding Your Dream Job."
Zhang Zhentao |Translated by Zhou Qiang |Redaction.
Someone tells you to defy your fears and face them, but that's misleading."
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