In this article, I share foundational tips on how to successfully get a new job.
When I started my first “big girl job” in October of 2017, I was so excited! See, I went away to school for a semester about 1.5 hours away from home but ended up commuting after I decided to switch schools. I was moving to a new city, a big city! I was looking forward to a change of scenery and starting my new job.
I went in on my first day – after a fun new hire retreat in Maine – eager and excited! I was going to do great work, I just knew it. Then I asked what my first assignment was. And it was far from exciting. That’s the thing with corporate America. Sometimes you are just a paper pusher.
My internship was at a toxic company, but at least my coworkers were fun. At 21, we were running the business. It was exhilarating, but this job was the polar opposite.
So what’s a girl to do? Well after six months of the same old, same old, I did the only thing in my control. I looked for a new job of course.
I was massively applying everywhere, and anyone who would take me I was willing and able to take on an interview. I thought I had a great plan to fix up my resume, apply for jobs, nail the interview, and then be on to bigger and better things.
Two years later, I was still in the same job. I was convinced it was because I had barely any experience, or at least I told myself that, until eventually I got 2 job offers at once.
So looking back, where was I making mistakes? Here are the four steps I take and how I tell my siblings, closest friends, and peers to approach getting a new job.
How to Get a New Job – Company Selection:
Focus on the type of company you want to work for. This varies a lot by individual and is a critical component to job satisfaction. For example, if you are super type A and can’t deal without structure and organization, a start-up is probably not the right move for you.
How to select the right company:
- Understand Who You Are: Are you type A, do you thrive with organization and structure? Then a consulting gig or role in a big company is right for you. Do you prefer diverse environments where you have a lot to learn? Then maybe you should consider a start-up. Do you love to talk? Then maybe you should consider sales. When I worked at Deloitte, I was asked to take their business chemistry assessment. I highly recommend taking it if you are interested in finding more about yourself.
- Understand What You Are Looking For: Once you know what you want, it makes things that much easier. Research people you want to be like in 5-10 years. Look at a variety of different jobs until you find something that seems interesting.
- Understand Who You Want to Be: You can also reach out to people on LinkedIn and see if they are willing to help with your search. If someone has a background you are interested in reach out! If you do that, make sure you write a compelling email or message. You can leverage the information in our How to Host an Informational Interview article.
- Understand What You Need to Learn: Now that you’ve found someone on a path you are interested in, understand the gaps. What do you need to learn to get the job? What skills can you develop in other roles to get to that level?
All of these items help inform where you want to be and what you need to do to get there. Getting a new job is all about doing the prep work to excel and push yourself to get to the next level.
How to Get a New Job – Resume Building
The dreaded resume while it can be boring, getting it right is a critical step to getting a new job. I had no idea what I did or really what I wanted to do. I had no starting point. I had no guidance. All I did was the spray and pray method and it did not work. The resume is the foundation for getting a new job. Its the first thing potential employers see, even before they see YOU!
So when building a resume, how do you know what to write and how do you know what matters.
Catering Your Resume: Once I had found a potential career path or something that seemed interesting, I would have catered my resume to that role specifically. Go on LinkedIn and find the roles at the company you want to work at and create parallels to that and your resume. To understand how to craft your resume feel free to reference our Resume Dos and Don’ts article.
One thing I’ve noticed and understand when working with clients from college age to early in their careers is that they think everything is so permanent. Life changes so fast and going after one job that you think may be right for you, but ends up not won’t be the end of the work trust me.
Another thing on this topic is that I found clients have this limiting belief that you can’t add something on your resume that isn’t exactly true. The truth is it is all about taking what you’ve done and leveraging it. Crafting a story about who you are and who you want to be is essential.
How to Get a New Job – Interview Preparation:
Once I had an airtight resume, and knew the jobs I’d apply to. I would have focused my energy on the interview process. With interviewing, bringing your A-game is key. I always say that interviews are like a performance, and if you don’t nail it, you are likely out of the running. But don’t worry, I’ve interviewed A LOT, and here are my tips to nail the interview.
- Your performance during the interviews is all about what you do before the interview. Prep is key. Especially as you get more senior, higher-paying jobs you need to know your stuff. Research who is interviewing you and their background. Umm hello LinkedIn, LinkedIn makes it that much easier to find out everything you need to know about your interviewer. Make sure you have a solid understanding of what the interview will be about.
- Also remember, It’s not just what you say, it is how you say it. Tone matters. Even though it may be a bit odd, I recommend recording yourself on Zoom or asking a friend who will give you brutally honest advice. You need to be aware of how you come across. Being monotone or defeated is not going to get you a new job. Make sure you are being mindful of your posture as well.
- The last and arguably most important part is treating the interview as a two-way street. Ask questions. Critically think about what is important to you when joining a new company. What type of manager do you want? What type of team culture do you want to be a part of? Also, observe how the interviewer acts and appears. You want your interviewer to be excited and present, not exhausted. If they are exhausted, chances are you will be soon too.
For more detailed tips and tricks on how to interview, you can visit our behavioral interview guide. For example questions and how to prepare you can visit our list of 52 behavioral interview questions.
How to Get a New Job – Offer Negotiation
When trying to get a new job, it is essential that you don’t just accept an offer. It is like buying a car for the sticker price – who does that? Treat the offer stage as a negotiation. Not asking additional questions or negotiating on salary is a huge mistake. The ball is now in your court. You can use this as leverage.
- If you are uncertain about the role, ask to meet with more of the team. If you didn’t like a cross-functional partner, ask to have another conversation with the hiring manager to vet out your concerns. Do your due diligence.
- Whatever you do, don’t take the first offer you get. Even if you already told them a number, ask for more as long as it’s within reason. You can say you’ve received another offer, or just say that based on interviewing elsewhere you believe a reasonable compensation is X dollars. If that all fails, ask for a sign-on bonus.
Well that sums it up, follow my steps so you aren’t in a job you hate for two years. Remember, getting a new job is in your control. If your resume tells the right story for the job you are applying to, you choose the companies you want to work for, properly prepare for the interview, and advocate for yourself in offer negotiations, you will have a new job in no time.
If getting a new job is not enough, and you want to find your dream job. Read our article here.
