How to find a job
Even if you aren’t looking
According to a TopResume.com survey, 70% of currently employed workers are also open to new opportunities. It makes sense, since switching to a new employer can often lead to a salary increase of 10% to 20%.
If you’re currently working and not actively looking for your next opportunity, it can nevertheless be beneficial to monitor the job market passively and allow yourself to be found by employers and recruiters who may be interested in you.
Here are a few steps you can take right now to put yourself in the best position.
1. Think about what you’ve been working on
Most people only update their resume every few years, when they are actively seeking a role.
At that point, it can be hard to remember the details of your accomplishments and the numbers to back them up. Take some time now to think about your work highlights over the past six to 12 months, while they’re still fresh in your mind.
Doing this while you’re still in that role means you have access to your work calendar, email and documents to help jog your memory, and the ability to reach out to internal teams for any metrics that can help bolster your story.
2. Connect with your contacts
Don’t wait until you need something to start making connections in your network. Use sites like LinkedIn to find people at your current job, as well as colleagues from past roles, to maintain or kick- start relationships. Once you have connected, your updates will show up in their newsfeeds and you can comment on theirs, keeping you top of mind. They may be in the middle of a search to fill a role for which you would be perfect. Or there could be an opportunity for you to help them out with something. Either way, you never know where a friendly check- in could lead.
3. Maintain your current contacts
You probably have past colleagues with whom you’ve connected across social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. And while it feels like you’ve kept up with them by seeing their updates, you likely haven’t actually connected in a while. Now’s the time.
Reaching out to existing connections is a great way to get a different perspective about your industry from someone outside of your company. Chances are that at least a couple of them have tested the job market lately and can share their experiences with you. They may know about better opportunities elsewhere, or can confirm that you are in a great position where you are.
4. Find out what you are worth
Have a look at the job descriptions for your current role at other companies to get a sense of how in- demand your skills are, and to check if you are being paid at the level you should be. You can start by searching your title on ZipRecruiter to see what other companies are offering, or by looking at listings in the Careers section of companies that are similar to the one where you work.