Job Search Requires Wearing New Hats

Job Search Requires Wearing New Hats Job Search Requires Wearing New Hats Throughout your job search youll have to  wear new  hats- some may not feel very comfortable.  Companies are looking for candidates differently than they used to and in order to get found and stand out, you will need to learn new skills and  take on many different roles. Long ago, when looking  for a job, all you needed to do was search the Help Wanted section of the newspaper, type your cover letter and envelope, insert one of your copies of your typeset resumes, buy a stamp and mail it  to the company. Today, you have the convenience of online job boards, word processing and email. Dont let this fool you. Easy isnt always the best shortcut. Theres more competition for jobs and some employers are attempting to source candidates through new avenues. This means youll have to do more than search the job boards and post and pray! Self promotion isnt easy for most of us. But, it will become a necessary evil for you to master- not just during job search, but in your new role as well. Most people possess skills and attributes that make them successful in their jobs. But job search requires a different set of skills. Job Search Requires Wearing New Hats Business owner.  Manage your career like a business. Assume responsibility and careful oversight to ensure profitable operation. Youll need to re-invent, adapt and try new things as well. Graphic artist.  Visuals and  multimedia are becoming more popular across social media. Using visuals also increase the time people spend on your page and increases comprehension. Get more eyes on your social media profiles and the marketing materials you create to showcase your career and skills by developing visual content (infographics, photos, logos,  etc.). This is becoming increasingly important to your online reputation. Public relations specialist. Managing your online reputation  should be as important to you as it is to a company. This includes developing publicity campaigns for  your job  search, making announcements about milestones or  dissolving any negative information about you. Marketing manager. Creating unique branding and recognition  and strategies for growing your visibility will enhance your career. Sales representative.  Sales is not a dirty word. In fact, we have to sell ideas all the time. Learning and using consultative selling will  help you to manage your career at all times. Copywriter. Writing convincing material; creating compelling  copy; and preparing interesting bios, profiles, and persuasive  e-mails all fall under your responsibility now. Photographer.  Social media, blogs and your online portfolio pop when you add photos. You need to know enough about photography to  take good photos and make sure good photos are taken of you. Website designer. Laying out readable, visually enticing web  content will improve the popularity of your own site, and knowing  the tools and resources available gives you the bells and whistles  of the big-time designers. Social media manager. Social media is used to communicate, promote, inform, educate, build community, share ideas, and so much more. Understanding how to use social media  for your job search will increase the reach of your message and build stronger ties to people you know. Employers are using it to tap into talent, so dont overlook the importance or power of social media. Search engine optimization. Getting found online happens when the words in your online profiles, personal website and any content you publish to the web matches the words recruiters are searching for. Knowledge of search engine optimization  ensures that anything you post or create online will  maximize the right tags and keywords to make it easily found  when someone is searching the Internet. Business consultant. Every business needs a consultant to help solve problems. Whatever occupation you pursue, consider  yourself a consultant in that area. Stay up on trends  and provide solutions; you are more than just an employee, and  you must deliver results. Hiring manager. What goes through the mind of someone who needs to hire a new employee? When you try to think like a hiring manager, the person whom you will  ultimately report to, youll present your qualifications in terms they will relate to and appreciate. As you can see, job search is a complex process. Try on as many of these new hats as you can to improve how you communicate and manage your search! This post is an excerpt from The Infographic Resume.