6 Things Today's Job Seekers Need to Know

(First published in Quality Progress magazine, June 2022)

If you are feeling now's the right time to make a move, if you are on the precipice of chucking it all and embracing a much-needed break from the grind, if all the news about it being a "candidate-driven marketplace" is making you bold, then read on. I have compiled six things that job seekers need to know right now.

1) The hype may or may not apply to you.

With 3% of employed people quitting their jobs each month, it's tempting to get the itch to join them. You are probably thinking, "Jobs are plentiful. Now's the time to take the plunge. I need a break and I can dive back in and snatch up a new job in no time at all." Companies are paying more to bring people in and bonuses are aplenty. A smart job seeker can end up with a raise and a heavy sign-on bonus. My words of caution in face of all this hype are to be careful. It really depends on your areas of expertise and your geographical flexibility. The most attractive candidates are still the ones who are gainfully employed. It may take a lot longer than you think to scoop up that new job. Also, watch for the fine print on those sign-on bonuses as there are strings attached or at least timeframes for the payout after 90 days, six months or one year on the job.?

2) Be picky.

If you are one of the lucky ones with a skill set in demand, you will encounter choices and can afford to be picky. Asking great questions has always been a job seeker's best tool to impress while also helping you differentiate between companies wooing you. Here are a few timely questions worth asking:

• How did your company pivot in March 2020? Any hindsight lessons learned?
• What is your current stance on flexibility and are there policies in place to reinforce it?
• How is your company prioritizing belonging, diversity and inclusion? Are these new initiatives or are they embedded throughout the culture?

3) You can influence the pace.

Not all companies adjust as quickly as others. Leadership holds tight to the traditional interviewing cadence. If there is a company that you are prioritizing, but they are moving at a 2019 pace, give them a nudge of reality. They need to know you are actively looking with interviews progressing each week. Believe me, the recruiters are advocating for moving fast and pushing their hiring teams to be decisive. The ones that can flex and be more agile are the ones you want to join. If you are one of their top choices, they will adjust for you.

4) Reach further geographically.

If there is one small silver lining to these last few years, it is the number of jobs and companies that have rethought remote working. Even if you are geographically rooted you can now think more broadly and cast a wider net when hunting for jobs. Redraw your search perimeter as nearby cities – or not so nearby – may suddenly be viable options.?

5) Update everything.?

Recruiters are actively hunting right now. Being pursued feels great. Even if your job hunt is in a super passive mode right now, get your brand presence up-to-date. Be findable. Breathe new life into your LinkedIn profile and professional accomplishments, attach some media or links that reflect your work. Make a point of posting, sharing, commenting on a few things each week.?

6) Be video-ready.

Are you ready to be on video tomorrow if the opportunity presented itself? It's the way of the world now and job seekers should embrace it. Here are some of the most common mistakes I have seen job candidates do in the past few months while interviewing over video with me:

Bouncing camera. I know I am prone to motion sickness, but I certainly do not expect to feel seasick while interviewing someone! Do not hold your phone while on Zoom or Teams. What a disaster.

The close up view. I really don't want to be looking straight at your left eyebrow or the bridge of your nose. Back up and make sure I am seeing shoulders all the way up to the top of your head.

Quality of the image. I recently interviewed someone who came through really dim and fuzzy. The connection was solid, so it was not a connectivity problem. It was really a combination of the camera quality and the lighting. Take pride in your technology. An external HD camera is a good investment if your built-in video camera is lousy. And lighting is key! Never put the bright light behind you. Reposition yourself based on the windows and the lamps. Always direct the light directly toward your face.?

Clutter. Some programs allow you to disguise your background and others don't. If you aren't sure about applying a fake background, you better prepare your background. I really don't want to see the laundry piled up behind you. It's not a good look.

Dress the part. We have all embraced the more casual working mode lately, and I love it. But I still have a thing about job candidates in hoodies for my professional roles. The video interaction does not make the interview any less of an interview. It still counts.

Take advantage. The technology makes interviewing so much more convenient. You didn't stress over the drive, the parking, timing the traffic. What a relief! And, if you have a portfolio to show off, you can share your screen and do it -- briefly though as this is still a face-to-face conversation.

Just a few minutes early. The common platforms alert the host when someone has arrived. I am used to seeing the arrival about 2 minutes before the scheduled time. More than 5 minutes early is not necessary. It's actually a bit annoying.?