It has been reported that 4 out of 5 employers are looking to recruit in 2022 with high demand for tech sector professionals. That’s good news for those looking for a new job, but don’t be lulled into a false sense of security – the top jobs will still go to the top candidates, and the top candidates are those that can sell themselves the most effectively.
Matt Craven, Founder of The CV & Interview Advisors, provides his top tips to make 2022 your best year ever.
1. Personal Branding
Jeff Bezos explains that “your personal brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room”. Put another way, it’s how the external world sees you, and this includes recruiters and potential employers.
With 70% of employers now using social media to screen candidates, it’s crucial that you become your own PR Manager and start thinking about your ‘brand’. Everything you say and do forms your personal brand, so carefully managing this is crucial.
Your CV, LinkedIn profile and social media posts should be your starting point, making sure that everything you communicate is positive and aligned with how you want the world to see you.
2. Your CV
Possibly the most important document you will ever own but neglected by many job seekers.
Many people work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week and 47 weeks of the year until they retire. Their CV is their ticket to the job that occupies this time. To cut a long story short, your CV dictates what you do for a third of your life and is responsible for generating you £millions throughout your lifetime.
The best CVs include a value proposition and a description of key strengths; they are at least 30% focused on outcomes and achievements; they are optimised for recruitment software (ATS); they include social proof of one’s abilities; and the information architecture is aligned with recruiter psychology.
If you would like a free review of your CV, you can request one here.
3. LinkedIn
In 2022, your LinkedIn profile is as important as your CV. With three quarters of a billion members, it is THE pond that recruiters and employers fish for talent.
Your LinkedIn profile should be optimised for the LinkedIn algorithm and include the key words and search terms that a potential employer might be looking for. The About section is the most vital component, which allows you 2600 characters to describe how you can add value to a potential employer. This section should explain what you are, describe your key strengths, provide a couple of examples of your abilities, mention your work ethos, and list your key skills. We call this the WHO-S-E-E-S formula.
If you would like a free review of your LinkedIn profile, you can request one here.
4. Interviews
The number of times I hear people say that they are naturally good in interviews astounds me.
Not to put too fine a point on it, no one becomes good at anything without coaching and practice! The top performers in any arena including athletes, musicians or actors may have been born with talent, but to make it to the top required coaching and practice. The same can be said of interviews – you may have been born with the gift of the gab but being an elite performer in the interview room is much more than this.
My top tip is to write down all the key events that have happened in your career (we call this a Career Autobiography ©). These key events should be written in the STAR formula (Situation, Task, Actions and Results). You’ll end up with somewhere between 25 and 50 examples. You should then assign skills to these examples (a spreadsheet is a good idea here). You can then pick out the examples that demonstrate the skills you need when applying for each role and practice communicating them before each interview.
If you would like some information about interview coaching, here are some discounts specifically for Women in Tech readers.
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Looking for a new job in the new year? Find out more about job hunting in January.
