1. Do not bounce from job to job
As a job seeker, be aware that an inverse relationship exists between the number of jobs you have had in the past few years and the likely amount of your next job offer. Bouncing from job to job is a serious red flag to employers….
This is regardless of whether the job hopping is a true representation of your professional reliability. Although it looks better if you left the jobs rather than if you got fired, either is still a clear negative on your CV.
The best advice I can give to those who have had a few jobs in the past few years is to be upfront about the issue on either your resume (in the objective section) or within your cover letter.
Remember to be candid, clearly state that you want a job within an organization that you can grow with for the years to come and do not make excessive excuses for your failure to be at each company for longer time periods.
2. Continue to hit quotas or receiving professional awards
This is much easier said than done as there are many uncontrollable variables for the job seeker when it comes to this arena. To maintain hitting your quotas as a sales professional, come to an agreement with your current employers as to what fair numbers are...though, do it after being at the company for a little bit.
You'd be surprised as to how firms are willing to negotiate this aspect of your sales job and how lucrative meeting those numbers will prove to be at future jobs.
3. Do not have gaps in your resume
Although logic would say that someone unemployed for an extended period of time is much more eager to get back to work than somebody who has had 10 jobs in the past 12 years, 'tis is not the case. We all want what others have and prolonged unemployment on one's resume turns employers off.
Although logic would say that someone unemployed for an extended period of time is much more eager to get back to work than somebody who has had 10 jobs in the past 12 years, 'tis is not the case. We all want what others have and prolonged unemployment on one's resume turns employers off.
As a job seeker who has been unemployed for a period of time, what do you do to fill any gap of unemployment?
I recommend doing some sort of charity work if you can't find the job right for you. Not only will this show the employer that you have been active, but the charity may hit home in the HR rep's heart and you can slide in for an easy interview.
4. Leave jobs on a positive note
Regardless of how much of a pain your boss is, always do your best to leave your current company with a smile on your face and remain in good terms with the individuals at your now prior firm.
Remember that those who are smart enough not to get the last word in, are less likely to receive a bad recommendation killing a lucrative job offer last minute. When angry, people can be irrational, vindictive and immature; don't give your now ex-manager reason to act in manners as such.
5. Try to stay in no more than 2 or 3 industries
In any industry, to get over a certain point in salary range, you must be considered an expert in your respective field. The more niche this field is, the more lucrative your future job offers are going to be.
For instance, being in media is not likely to warrant as high as job offer as someone who has the same amount of years in something more specific such as social media.
After 2 or 3 jobs, you should find an industry that you truly love and shine in it. Not only will this increase future compensation, but it will also increase your career longevity as well as the contacts you make within the vertical and the ability to continuously leverage those relationships.
Additionally, if you're ever looking to relocate, your chances will be higher possessing a niche expertise.
Your first bullet Jennifer caught my eye ("1. Do not bounce from job to job...As a job seeker, be aware that an inverse relationship exists between the number of jobs you have had in the past few years and the likely amount of your next job offer"). While I agree fully with your other 4 ways to maintain (and hopefully continuously increase) value in the job market, staying too long in the same job, even with the same employer, is, I have found personally and seen for others, a likely way to "maintain your value" such that your value measured in terms of financial salary will simply "maintain" without substantial or even without reasonable increase. Not changing employers translate for far too many people only the employer's standard few percent annual increase, whereas moving rather frequently between employers translates into nice salary increase with each successive move. Sadly, employers do not particularily value loyalty and, furthermore, if a person is able to move between employers it must be, it would seem, because she/he is valuable (due maybe likely to achieving your other four ways stated in regard to value/financial salary value).
ReplyDeleteGordon
Jennifer,in theory what you have said is a fairly accurate summation and good advice for people who seek 'safety first' mentality. In real life you will often find that people who take risk moving from job to job are people who like a challenge, substantially improve their salaries and most importantly gain their independance to chose what they want do. By being constantly exposed to new work cultures one just learns how to survive better and handle stress much better as well. My eg. may be in the minority which I acknowledge.
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