As the year gets into full swing, it’s a great time to reflect back on 2018 and how you’re tracking with your career goals.

If ‘find a new job’ is at the top of your list of resolutions, here are our top tips for preparing for your New Year job search and scoring your dream job in 2019.

Reassess your career aims

If you’re taking a short or extended break from work over the upcoming public holidays, such as Australia Day and the Easter break, use some of that spare time to reassess what it is you want out of your career this year. Perhaps you’ve been doing a good job in your current position and want to start working towards a promotion. Or maybe you’ve assessed your values and realised it’s time for a complete career change. Whatever the case may be, it’s beneficial to have a clear set of goals in mind for 2019, so you can put a plan in place, and get a head start on finding and applying for jobs.

Spruce up your resume

When you start applying for new jobs, you want to make sure that your resume is up-to-date and that it showcases your professional value. Go over your current resume with a fine-tooth comb to ensure all details are current, and make sure to add any achievements you’ve made or additional experience you’ve gained this year.

It’s also a good idea to tailor your resume to the types of jobs you’ll be applying for. If you’re going through a major career change, you may want to create an entirely new resume with an objective statement.

Get your LinkedIn profile job search-ready

These days, LinkedIn is one of the first places many recruiters and hiring managers go to scope out potential candidates so it’s important to make sure your profile is up to scratch before you start applying for new jobs. With that in mind, your profile should include:

·       A clear, current profile photo

·       Plenty of keywords that are relevant to your desired job/s

·       A succinct, engaging headline

·       Recommendations from others wherever possible

It’s also a good idea to use LinkedIn Pulse to share your thought leadership in the form of blog posts. This helps create better connections with your existing network and also helps grow your network, as these posts may get you noticed from new contacts.

Reach out to your network

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is a cliché adage for good reason. It’s estimated at least 60 per cent of new jobs are found through existing contacts, so it pays to reach out to key contacts in your network and let them know what you’re looking for.

RELATED: 10 networking tips that will work for anyone

Get professional help with your job search

Professional recruiters are not only well-connected with some of Australia’s top employers in a variety of sectors, but they can also help you secure the highest salary when starting a new job. It’s worth having a chat with a recruiter and letting them know what you’re looking for in a new role. Even if they don’t have any appropriate open roles at the time, they can keep you on file for the next time that perfect job opportunity comes up.

 

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