5 Quick Tips To Transform Your Job Search

Let’s be honest, job searching is exhausting. There are countless job postings to sift through, all while cautiously thinking “I could do that” rather than “I want to do that!”. Couple this with working full-time and fitting job searching into evenings and weekends, and one can quickly lose hope. The truth is, I did lose hope. It took me quitting my job with nothing lined up to see what was going wrong in my search. Here are my top five tips on how to get clear on what you want and go after the right opportunities.

1.  Figure out your values.

Maybe you did this years ago, or maybe you’ve never taken the time but this is one of the most important tools for self-reflection. Once done, you can have for a quick review of a job description or company about us page to look for alignment. I listened to a great podcast recently on this by Career Contessa and there are lots of helpful guided exercises and even assessments to help you discover your values. It took me turning down a job with a lot of “pros” on paper to realize my hesitation stemmed from misalignment with my values. Think of this as a more impactful (and enjoyable) reflection process than setting New Year’s resolutions.

2.  Discern between your must-have’s and nice to have’s.

We’ve all gotten lost at one time or another in the countless perks listed in a job description, from gym membership reimbursement to free snacks (most conflicting benefits ever might I add). Suddenly you find you’re being offered a job with a lot of perks yet glaring gaps on what is most important to you. I recommend sitting down or hopping on a Zoom with a friend and having them jot down everything you want in your next opportunity. If they know you well, they’ll likely have other things to add or helpful questions to get you started. From there you can divide into the must-have and nice-to-have columns. Bonus points, if you rank in importance. This will help you to judge opportunities against your non-negotiable criteria so you can stay true to your needs. Plus, you will be better equipped to confidently answer the “what are you looking for in a job” question - guaranteed.

3.  Focus on companies you want to work for rather than roles.

If you take the time to research companies that would meet your must-have criteria and align with your values, you’ll quickly find yourself just wanting to get a foot in the door. Don’t get hung up on seniority and titles, if you can find interest, growth and relevant experience in the role being offered. I started my job search by researching top workplace culture award winners and nominees and instantly learned of organizations I’d never heard of before in sectors I wouldn’t have initially considered. If you work hard, a good company will see your potential and help you find the right role once you’re hired. Don’t be afraid to proactively approach your dream companies if they aren’t hiring as well. (TIP: Check out this WORTH read on the Parachute Job Search Method for more details on this approach) 

4.  Understand what lights you up and what you’re wanting less of.

This is so hard to do when you’re completely immersed in work, but the truth is, you wouldn’t be staying if there weren’t parts of your job you liked or loved at one point. Looking back on all your previous roles, what themes pop up for you on the most fulfilling parts of your experience? When did you feel you were truly thriving and operating in your “zone of genius”? What caused you the most stress, resistance or frustration that you’d enjoy less of in the future? You can very easily slip into the same pain points elsewhere when this step is omitted. I’ve seen countless colleagues unhappy at work slip into ill-fitted roles assuming any move will make them happier. Needless to say, the roles are typically short-lived, and they are surprised when they find themselves quickly unfulfilled.

5.  Be ambitious and believe in your WORTH.

You’ve heard it before, research shows men apply for jobs when they meet 60% or more of the noted criteria, while women and other marginalized groups look to meet 100%. How can you be expected to grow if you’ve already done everything in a job description? Where is the fun in that? This approach puts you not only at a disadvantage but also means overall you’re applying for up to 20% less jobs than your male counterparts. I’ve recently seen several Vancouver organizations encouraging women and BIPOC candidates to apply who don’t meet all of the criteria and reminding them of this stat, which really confirms a job description is only ever a wish list. Next time you read a description, ask yourself do I meet 60% of the criteria?

If reading through these tips to transform your job search, you can see even one or two areas you’ve been neglecting then consider that a win.  While I was privileged to be in a place to quit my job without another one lined up and I recognize not everyone is. If you’re working and job searching, chip away at these ideas and get friends who are also job searching to share in the process. It can make it much more fun, self-reflective and collaborative when you have an accountability buddy. There will be plenty of time for writing countless cover letters and resumes, but rest assured you will be giving your energy to the right opportunities when you’ve taken a step back to move forward.