Looking for Your Next HR Career Opportunity? Advice from “The Other Side of the Desk”
Across the country, talented professionals who haven’t been in the job market in years are now looking for new opportunities.
If you’re looking for your next role in HR, what should you be doing more of, less of, or differently to stand out – and land the offer you want?
Below, Senior Partner Jen Soerensen shares advice for job seekers from “the other side of the recruiting desk”:
Find ways to differentiate yourself.
If you want to find your dream opportunity, you really need to do more. Don’t just apply to open roles; build a job search strategy. Create a list of target organizations, and then reach out to hiring decision-makers to introduce yourself. By being proactive and networking with industry professionals – even if they’re not actively hiring – you’ll create connections that greatly improve your visibility.
Many positions are filled confidentially through executive recruiting firms like Lucas Group, which means they’re never advertised on major job boards. So, it’s important to find ways to get noticed by people who could potentially make a difference in your career today…or tomorrow.
Be persistent. It pays off.
Being persistent in your job search is hard, especially when you’re facing rejection – or worse yet, hearing nothing back at all. But when it comes to finding the HR job you want, you can’t give up too easily. Beyond sending resumes and submitting applications, here are a few ways to be appropriately persistent:
- Personalize your approach. Instead of sending a canned email inquiring about the status of your application, do a little bit of homework about the employer. Put some thought into your approach before you reach out, looking for ways to start meaningful conversations.
- Look for ways to be helpful. If you find an article that might be valuable to a contact in your network, share it. If you can make an introduction that would benefit two industry contacts, connect them. Find ways to prove your value, and that generosity will eventually come back to you.
- Pump yourself up. Before you sit down to tackle job-search activities, do whatever you need to do to put yourself in a positive mindset. Listen to music you love. Get up and stretch, move around or even dance. Find something that works for you. When you energize yourself and get into the right frame of mind, that enthusiasm will come through loud and clear – whether it’s in writing or on camera.
Make your resume stand out.
Review your resume with a critical eye. Does it read like a job description? Is it a lackluster list of skills and experience? If so, it’s not likely to catch a recruiter’s or hiring decision-maker’s eye. To make your HR resume to stand out in this market:
- Include quantifiable results. If it comes down to you and another candidate, that data could be the difference maker.
- Highlight key accomplishments. Transform a list of job duties and responsibilities into a short narrative that clearly explains what you achieved.
- Write in an engaging voice. Active voice and action-oriented language are essential to making your resume inviting for human readers.
- If the role you want is specialized, customize your resume. Consider reorganizing content or building out certain sections, so that your relevant experience is front-and-center.
Looking for more job search advice?
For more insights and practical tips, watch the full interview here.