Ready for a new job?
You’ve outgrown your company and no longer see a future there anymore. Or perhaps you were laid off recently. Either way, you are ready for a new job.
This process can be equally liberating and nerve-wracking. Often, I see people scramble, in an attempt to calm their nerves by reacting and looking for the next thing as quickly as possible.
Before you start mass applying to every company that is hiring and saying yes to all potential opportunities, consider a few important things to ensure that you find your next job with confidence, and more importantly, on your terms.
Stop and listen to yourself.
Most of us live in a bit of a trance, rarely ever allowing ourselves to slow down to practice mindfulness. We have a tendency to follow what others are doing, rather than lead because it’s easier to go with the flow. Quickly jumping into the next job without reflecting on what really matters to you and WHY will lead you down the same path of discontent. In a few months or years, you will feel as if you have outgrown the company. You will not see a future for yourself and will want the next thing. This cycle will start to repeat itself.
Know your superpowers.
Think about what your unique strengths are. Take inventory of all your contributions and understand the impact you have made in helping the business. What are your colleagues or contacts coming to you specifically for? What are you the go-to person for? Identify it and own it. And let it be known across your LinkedIn profile, resume, cover letter, and every conversation.
I was taught from an early age that bragging is bad so self-promotion did not come naturally to me for a long time. It took years for me to reframe it as being informative to others. Doing this will allow you to position yourself as THE perfect solution to help tackle your next company’s biggest challenges.
Adopt a winning mindset.
The energy you give off is what will set the tone for this entire process. If you’re nervous and worried, this is what hiring managers will see. Instead, you’d want to appear cool and confident. Here are a few ways to shift to a winning mindset:
Notice your limiting beliefs. Are you disqualifying yourself for a job because the job description asks for 5 years of experience and you have 4 (but everything else checks)? Are you telling yourself that you will not have enough time to work a full-time job and interview for a new job at the same time? These are beliefs, not truths. Noticing your thought patterns will open up other options.
Visualize your future. Manifestation is intentional planning and can be so powerful. Perhaps you’re aiming for a VP title, with a 35% pay increase in your next role. Picture yourself with a VP title now. How would you conduct yourself? Visualize what you’d do with 35% more money. How will your life change? Doing this will lead you to make core decisions that will inch you closer to this reality.
Let go of your pride. Our ego is what makes us feel good and can be our biggest enemy. It will do everything it can to keep you right where you are because it’s designed to protect you. It will make up all sorts of excuses as to why you are not good enough to go for that job. Acknowledge your ego (it’s doing its job!) then try to ignore it.
It is who you know.
Yes, what you know is important too. However, most hiring managers would rather hire an internal referral than someone random. There are exceptions of course, especially for outstanding candidates, but why apply cold with a high chance of rejection if you can go through a referral?
What to do next.
Now that you are clear on your values, strengths, and what companies to go after, here are some practical steps to take:
Do your research. Find out more about each company’s mission, leaders, investors, what their runway is, and other insights that can give you clues into how the business is being managed.
Update your LinkedIn. This is where hiring managers and recruiters hang out so it’s important to keep your profile fresh, with your values and strengths highlighted. Once done, you’ll essentially have a baseline structure for updating your resume.
Reach out to your personal contacts. Let people who you trust know that you’re entering the job market. Give them a clear vision of what you’re looking for so that they know exactly how to help you.
Grow your connections. Using LinkedIn, find people who work at companies you're interested in and ask your contacts to make connections. If you don’t have any 1st-degree connections, research and make genuine and meaningful connections with hiring managers or peers.
Foster your network. Always reciprocate by offering to help or showing gratitude. Offering up your expertise, sending a coffee gift card, a thank you message, or an update on your progress will go a long way.
Looking for more?
The Clarity + Confidence course will help you realize your purpose so that you will always be in the driver’s seat of charting your career decisions.
[ NEW ] The Light Up course will help you stand out throughout your job search process — from applications to negotiations — so that you are not left in the dark.
