Once upon a time, you typed up your resume, submitted it to a few select employers in your area, and worked hard to stay at the same company for years or even decades. Today’s fast-paced, global workforce no longer resembles this kind of static career-building, but we’re in a highly digital environment that demands continual awareness of opportunity, ongoing skill-building, virtual and in-person networking, entrepreneurship, personal branding, and part-time work or side “gigs.”
Those who can adapt to the new paradigm will see a host of benefits. While the lifespan of a typical job is much shorter, the work is frequently more fulfilling and the pathways to management or leadership positions more accessible. And all of the digital resources available to us in 2020 make networking and managing your career faster and simpler than your parents (or grandparents) ever dreamed. And while you’ll still need a stellar resume, it’s just one tool in your job search arsenal, not the end in and of itself.
Here are 7 ways you can set yourself up for success on the job market in the new decade.
1. Relationships Rule.
Today’s most powerful people are typically the best connected. Relationship building is essential, particularly when it comes to your online network. Focus on quality, not quantity. Meeting 100 people is less useful than truly connecting with 10. The key to successful networking is to bring something to the table. Networking is more of a “give” than a “get,” and you must be willing to help people with no thought of getting something in return. Think of something you can give to each person you connect with, whether it’s an idea, an event, a book title, an article, a contact or simply a friendly smile. Be ready to engage in a positive way with the content they post, or join relevant professional groups online where those key connections also hang out. Remember to expect nothing in return. If you do this with everyone you meet, you’ll greatly increase your likeability and visibility in the marketplace. Those people will be more inclined to hire you, refer you, and help you in any way they can and they’ll be happy to do it.
2. Know Your Personal Brand.
Create a core message that is short, focused, and honest. It should include your skill sets without sounding like a sales pitch. It must make your objectives clear in an interesting, conversational style-so memorize the content, but not the precise wording. Let the message become your “unique selling proposition,” which you will use in networking as well as in actual interviews. Your brand is a reflection of what people know and expect from a relationship with you. The crucial element is that your core message be brief and compelling enough to grab attention in a networking situation.
3. Give Your Resume a 2020 Makeover.
Your clean, clear, focused resume must showcase your experience and accomplishments in no more than one or two pages at most. Be sure to include relevant keywords and phrases that speak directly to the job, department, or sector of hospitality you’re applying to, mirroring the language and expectations of the job post. Remove any outdated or irrelevant experiences from your resume, and focus on honing it for the specific positions you’re applying to. Your resume should be easy to read and uncluttered — an employer should be able to scan the document in under 6 or 7 seconds and be able to tell if you’re a viable candidate to move on to the next round.
4. Think of yourself as a Business.
Position yourself as a resource, and approach the market as a business consultant, not as a “needy” job seeker. In other words, think always of the value that you bring to a potential employer and how they may perceive this, rather than only your own needs or goals. Plus, understanding the value you bring will help with your confidence level and enable you to more effectively sell yourself to an employer. Also, by positioning yourself as someone who brings unique value to a department, you’ll also make yourself an indispensable part of the team, creating even more job security for yourself.
5. Ask for help.
Job searching shouldn’t be done in isolation. Reach out to any other people in your network for their input on your materials or for referrals. In other words, let as many people as you can know about your career goals. Send them links to your job search profiles, your materials, or your LinkedIn page so they can easily pass along your info to relevant contacts. Don’t make them work too hard to help you — you have to do the heavy lifting here after all — but also don’t be shy about reaching out to both personal and professional colleagues to enlist them in your search. And, of course, be the friend you want to have. If a few months down the road, someone from your network asks for your help, you should extend the same professional courtesy they gave you.
6. Get Organized.
Keep online records of all your contacts in your professional network or potential employers you meet, including how and when you met them and a word or two about their needs or strengths. This will give you personalized talking points if you find yourself across from them in the interview room. And, be strategic and highly organized in the actual job search. Keep an online list of all of your job search activities and set automatic reminders for all of your follow-ups.
7. Shape Up, Mentally and Physically.
It’s never been so important to remain at the top of your game, both mentally and physically. Our fast-paced, “always connected” business environment demands it. Exercise at least 4 or 5 times a week. Eat healthy, low-fat and low-carb meals focused on protein. Meditate daily, even just for 15 minutes of “mind rest” every morning before you start the day. Focus exclusively on the positive, and you’ll continue to think more positively all day long.
Just remember that opportunity may take a different form than it has in the past. Be prepared to identify and even create the opportunities you want in 2020 and beyond!