How to Get Yourself into "HIRE ME shape" in 2018.

“Brenda, I got a job offer this morning!” Those are the words that make my job worthwhile. I feel like a proud mama every time. . .

I just got that message from a job seeker who began her search about 6 weeks ago and now she has, not one but, two pending offers! She's so excited now, but that wasn't the case a few weeks ago. Trying to transition to a new job in Q4 really took a toll on her. However, all of the footwork and seed planting that she did in November and December has yielded much fruit in this new year. It may be freezing cold outside, but the job market is hot! Fiscal year budgets are in and people are getting back into to swing of the post-holiday work grind. That means it’s time to get hired! If you haven’t already upped your branding game, it’s not too late, but you should definitely strike while the iron is hot.

In order to get yourself in "hire-me shape," it's important to polish and update your resume & your Linkedin profile. It's time to dust off the ol' resume. Review it yourself first to make sure there are no typos, errors and that everything is up to date. Then, take a look at it from the perspective of a hiring manager and ask yourself, "Would you hire you based on this resume?" If not, it's time to put in a little extra effort.

First, make sure your resume is aesthetically pleasing. Even if you have great content, nobody wants to look at an ugly resume. Try using Canva.com or Creative Market to add a little bit of life to the document. Even if you're not in a creative field, there are plenty of tasteful resumes that work in any industry. Just know, that your competition has worked hard to make their resume look good.

Second, add a summary section. This serves as your "commercial" and it entices HR reps to keep reading. You want to highlight your top skills that make sense for the job, but also highlight what you are known for- what's your specialty in your field? If you don't know what you bring to the table, then the hiring manager definitely won't know.

Third, include keywords that are relevant to your industry. It's okay to have a skills section where you list your skills but be sure to also weave keywords into your experience section. This shows that you not only have the skill, but you are able to articulate how you've used it on the job.

Once you are ready to present yourself as a job seeker, start adding networking events to your calendar. When you meet others in your industry, share the specifics of what you're looking for and what you can offer.

Most important- just start! If you are dreading Mondays at your current job, it's up to you to take the first step in finding a new one.

Schedule a free profile assessment with me and I’ll get you started on the right track!

Brenda Bridges is an Atlanta-based career & online dating coach, Founder of Your Lively Life and Career Coach at General Assembly Atlanta. After one conversation with a Linkedin recruiter, who taught her how to optimize her profile, her dream company found HER! Now, she helps others create stellar Linkedin & online dating profiles to attract the jobs and relationships of their dreams.