Looking for your next role? Follow these experts on job seeking and career development

What will 2023 look like? A new year often prompts us to take stock of what we want from our careers. With a changing labour market and economy a continued reality, job seekers and career builders alike will be pursuing their professional goals with that in mind.?

It’s not only job seekers assessing their next move. Leaders are adapting to change too, as a booming gig economy, continued push for more flexibility and ongoing return-to-office debate are forcing employers to look deeper and deliver greater transparency.

Even if you’re not considering a move right now, focusing on how to brand yourself and build your network can set you up for a successful search later in your career.?And having a sense of where the job market is going can help you develop in-demand skills.

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From tips for job searching to building confidence in the role you're in now, we spoke with several experts to get their take on pursuing the career you want. Whether you’re considering a new role, actively trying to find your next play or new to the workforce, these Top Voices are sharing what it takes to find success.

What’s the best career advice you've ever received? Check out these Top Voices' insights and use #GetHired to share your own tips with us in a post.

Early career: Focus on what you can control and get smart with time

The past few years haven't been easy for anyone starting out in their career. A recent report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) highlighted the importance of supporting the career prospects of school leavers and graduates impacted by the pandemic and subsequent economic turbulence.?

How can those in the early stages of their career get into the right mindset to apply for those roles that help them get a foot in the door?

Dan Mian , founder of early careers service Gradvance and a performance marketing manager at BT, highlights that experience doesn't always come from jobs – many students and those in their early career have examples from life, such as playing in a team. He also says it's important to focus on what you can control in your job search.?

"You can’t control the economy, the job market, cost of living crisis and increasing competition for roles," he tells LinkedIn News UK . "However … you can control what jobs you apply for, how you sell yourself to employers, who you network with, what skills you learn, how much research you do and your interview preparation."

Being smart with your time when searching and applying can also maintain your mindset when the process feels overwhelming, he says: "You’ll do yourself no good scrolling through job boards for hours."?

Mian suggests setting up automated alerts, using recruiters and going directly to the sites of the companies you'd like to work for, to make the process more efficient.?

Going beyond the "cold application" of an online form and reaching out to the recruiter, HR manager or hiring manager, can also help improve your chances of success, he says.?

"Message them, show interest in their career, ask quality questions and gain valuable insight," Mian says. "You’re no longer a stranger. They’ll be expecting your application to come through."

?? For more insights on finding success in your early career, follow Dan Mian.

Nailing the interview: Preparation and pep talks

With competition likely to remain high for jobs in the coming year, standing out in interviews will be all the more important.?

In addition to researching the company, recruiter and self-described "candid career coach" Vicki Marinker ACC recommends that you also learn more about your interviewers. Watching videos or listening to podcasts they contribute to can help provide a "conversation starter to break the ice", she says.?

It's always useful to think about the kinds of questions you might be asked in an interview. Marinker suggests preparing what you might say in response to competency-based questions around demonstrable skills such as leadership, management and adapting to change. She emphasises the importance of providing "specific and unique" examples to back up your answers in order to be convincing and stand out.?

Pre-interview jitters are normal. To boost your confidence on the day, Marinker recommends writing down 20 things you do well: "Keep going if you can think of more than 20."

Arriving early for the interview may seem simple, but can help quash last-minute nerves. And Marinker is an advocate of practising "power poses" – such as putting your hands on your hips – somewhere private beforehand.?

Thinking about the interview as a pitch can also help keep you on track: "You’re selling your services and know the subject inside out, because the subject is you."

When it comes to asking your interviewer any questions, Marinker urges candidates not to feel rushed out of the room without having the chance to learn more about the role, the employer's expectations and the company culture.?

The next day, she suggests emailing the interviewer to thank them for their time and mention something that you didn't discuss in your interview, or even send them a link to a relevant article based on your conversation. "Everyone deserves feedback after an interview. If you haven’t heard back after a few days, make sure to follow up," she adds.

?? Follow Vicki Marinker for more tips on standing out in the hiring process and developing career confidence.

Progressing into leadership: Know your gaps and look for examples of success

Even if you're happy where you are, finding ways to grow and progress is a core part of career satisfaction. But knowing how to make the move into more senior roles can feel daunting. So how do you navigate that next rung on the career ladder effectively??

Executive coach and leadership consultant Chichi Eruchalu specialises in coaching managers to help them get the best of their teams. And for anyone looking to take that step up, she says it's first important to understand your motivation for the move.

Ultimately, leadership is about developing others, she points out: "If your motivation is prestige, titles or money, you will become frustrated and ultimately unsuccessful."

In order to make that jump, Eruchalu says it's also key to take note of any gaps in your own experience and skillset and assess what you need to do to take the next step. "This is a useful conversation to have with your manager or mentor and other people you trust to get insight here," she says.

As well as considering what you need to work on to progress, Eruchalu says it's useful to identify and speak to leaders who inspire you. "Success leaves clues," she says, explaining that this can help you understand what other leaders are doing that makes them effective and "define the kind of leader you want to be".

Eruchalu also recommends looking for ways to demonstrate you have the necessary qualities to take on aspects of leadership in your current role: "You don’t need a title to lead; what opportunities do you have in front of you that you can start to leverage?"

Establishing your style is important, with research showing a positive correlation between authentic leadership and employees’ workplace performance. In terms of what you should focus on once you've landed a management role, Eruchalu says good leaders "care about people, developing them, and helping them achieve their dreams while achieving your overall business goals".

?? See more insights on leadership and self-development by following Chichi Eruchalu.

Finding the job that suits your skills and "fits your why"

The past three years have seen big shifts in the labour market and workplace, and many have sought, and are seeking, new opportunities. According to LinkedIn research, around 20 million people are considering changing roles in 2023, and 50% say they’re confident in finding a new position.

Maintaining resilience is key in the year ahead, says Theo Smith , a trainer and neurodiversity consultant. It's worth taking the time to understand your own strengths and weaknesses ahead of applying for a new job. "Can you clearly communicate your strengths? If you can also identify where to build bridges over some of your challenges, this can be the secret to unlocking your super abilities," he says. It's also important to stay focused on opportunities that can "demonstrate they meet your values and connect with your why," Smith adds.

For many employers, data and AI are taking an increasing role in sourcing and early stage assessments of candidates, but Smith highlights the risks of bias in such tools and says they must be combined with human visibility and accountability in the application process. "Measuring the wrong things, or skewing the figures will produce poor solutions," he says, highlighting the risks of using such tools without diversity, inclusion and belonging built in as core values.

And for candidates, taking a human approach is also important finding a workplace that fits their needs and values. When applying for any role, you should research the company and the team, and tailor every application to "focus on the needs of the company, while highlighting your unique skills". But you should also use the research opportunity to gather all the information you can on the firm's core values and practical ways they support their staff.

Smith, who is a passionate advocate for neurodiverse inclusion says, "Just because a company has a neurodiversity program, or autism program, or inclusion program, it doesn't mean they are inclusive of neurodiverse talent across the whole of the organisation". It's important to ask questions that find out what such programmes do – and do your research before you apply. Smith recommends trying to identify the hiring manager or team and assessing their skills and interests through the content they share.?

Even in tougher times, Smith says it's worth looking for opportunities that can demonstrate they meet your values. Ultimately, "does that employer fit your why? If not, the job may be a quick turnaround," he says.

?? Follow Theo Smith for more insights on neurodiverse inclusion in the workplace.

Small vs. big career pivots

Sometimes the best move isn't up, but sideways. In the wake of the pandemic, many reconsidered their ambitions and career path during the "Great Reshuffle" – and in changeable times, pivoting careers entirely has proven to be the most appealing move for many.

If you are planning to make your move this year, Helen Tupper , co-author of The Squiggly Career and co-founder of careers consultancy Amazing If, says the scale of your career pivot should help determine your approach.?

Tupper, a specialist in career pivots and an advocate of building development opportunities into the everyday, suggests relationships are one of the key first steps in switching paths. If it's a case of moving into a new role in the same team, Tupper advises identifying coworkers who can help you get there and projects you can put yourself forward to work on. "This can help you create more pivot and progression possibilities in the organisation you're in today," she says.

For bigger pivots, such as changing industry or profession, Tupper says it's important to understand that these tend to take longer. One way to get the ball rolling is to spot sponsors who can advocate for your strengths, she says. Seeking out communities in the areas you're interested in can help you begin to recreate your professional profile, and sharing articles and resources in your chosen area of interest is another way to get started, Tupper says. "Over time, this increases your community and credibility which are important for significant pivots to be successful," she explains.

If you're not quite ready for a complete career overhaul but still want a change, Tupper suggests starting small to help reduce the risks. This could be as simple as applying your strengths in a different way or "building your brand in a different part of the business [you're in]", she says.?

"The more skilled you get at working in a different way and with new people, the more confident you'll become about the scale of career pivots you can do," Tupper adds.

?? See more tips on career pivots and development by following Helen Tupper.

About this article

This article features experts from LinkedIn's Top Voices program covering job searching and careers. Top Voices is an invitation-only program featuring a global group of experts on LinkedIn covering a range of topics across the professional world, helping members uncover valuable knowledge relevant to them. You can learn more here.

Who is eligible to be a Top Voice

LinkedIn members who meet high trust standards, are consistently active on the platform and share valuable expertise are eligible to be a Top Voice, with the exception of LinkedIn and Microsoft employees, members who have violated LinkedIn’s User Agreement — including our Professional Community Policies – or individuals currently running in a political election for an executive, legislative or judicial position.

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