The 5 Steps to Finding a Job in 2020

I spent a long time looking for a job last year. I was laid off from Hertz after 22 years. I helped found their eCommerce team right out of college. For the next 2 decades I had continued successes and pivoted into numerous roles: web development manager, product owner, innovation architect, analytics director, and finally head of digital optimization. I fell into a trap thinking that because I continued to generate tens of millions in annual revenues for the company that I had job security.

Getting laid off was like a literal punch in the stomach. I had no idea it was coming. Within just a few minutes, I was outside looking in. What was I going to do? Was my career over or was it just beginning?

I immediately did everything I thought you're supposed to do when you find yourself without a job. I never let my resume get out of date so that was checked off the list. I contacted a few headhunters and recruiters to let them know I was available. I upgraded my LinkedIn account to Premium and started searching the job listings. For months I wrote cover letters, submitted resumes, and got literally no where. After about 7 months I figured out what I was doing wrong and I started my new position at RB just 6 weeks later.

This is how I did it.

1. The Resume. You can't have just one resume. You need to tailor your resume to the job you're applying for. Yes. Unfortunately, stuffing the resume with specific words and phrases from the job description can make a big difference if you're just trying to blindly submit online. In the end, I had about 12 different versions of my resume which I would then individually tailor for the job specifics. Examples include resumes focusing on Strategy, Innovation, Product Management, Analytics, Customer Experience, and others. I simply took a base version and then entirely slanted it toward different aspects of the work I had done. Do this but be honest. DO NOT LIE on your resume. You will waste a lot of time and people in recruiting definitely talk to each other.
2. The Job Search. In my experience, most job boards have most of the same job listings. I think LinkedIn was probably the best but I also had accounts and alerts set up on Indeed and ZipRecruiter. The alert mechanisms were pretty iffy and I would say about 95% of the roles recommended were irrelevant. However, you need to sift through a lot of misses if you want to ensure you know about the truly great role when it comes along.
3. Your Network. I've heard people say over and over again that you will get your next job through your network but I never understood what that meant until now. I thought it meant that when you are looking for a job, just reach out to your contacts and let them know you're available. Wrong. I did that for a long time and there were definitely some extremely helpful people in my network. The reality is that they can't help if there's no job available. Here is the strategy I used to get my current job and I will use it again on Day 1 should I find myself looking for a job in the future: Identify the job you want. Search the employees at the company with similar titles or responsibilities. Identify 2nd level connections (obviously use 1st if there are any) and ask for an introduction from the person you share in common. Note: THIS IS WHAT LINKEDIN WAS DESIGNED FOR. Once you have the new connection you can discuss the role and ask for a referral. Many companies offer incentives to employees that refer new hires, so getting a yes is not far fetched at all. Only apply for the job when your new contact tells you to. If you apply earlier, the incentive is removed as you can no longer be considered a referral and you're less likely to receive further assistance.

By paying attention to these things, you will be on the path to a new role in no time. I truly wish I knew a year ago the things I know now. Hopefully by sharing my experiences, someone out there will spend a little less time worried about getting their next job when the time comes.

To recap, here's the 5 Steps to Finding a Job in 2020:

1. Make sure your resume is clean and up to date.
2. Build a comprehensive job search to ensure you are seeing all relevant opportunities quickly.
3. Once you identify a role, reach out to someone at the company with a similar role, hopefully in the same department. Use your network to facilitate an introduction.
4. Discuss the role with the company employee and request a referral.
5. Only after the referral is given, follow the employee's instructions on how to apply for the job.

Good luck in 2020 as you look for your next role!