5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Start Your Job Search – JobMindz

JobMindz- India’s First Video-Based Job Portal

So this is the year you are finally ready to search (or) change jobs.

Congratulations! Before you dust off your resume, there are some questions you need to ask before your job search begins.

But first, let me warn you about a few things.

Some employers have been known to terminate employees when they hear they are looking for a new job. So,

• Never use company time or resources to job search. Even if it’s slow around the office, avoid the temptation to update your LinkedIn profile, email friends about job opportunities or update your resume.
• Keep your search confidential. Don’t let your coworkers know you are job hunting. You don’t want them to leak the news to anyone within your company.
• Be careful about what you post on any of your social media accounts, even your personal ones.

Below are the five questions you want to answer before your job search begins.

Do You Want to Move Up, Over, or Out?

Do you want a promotion, a new and different challenge or do you want to work in a new company altogether? You don’t always have to leave your employer to get what you want. No matter which of these you decide on, you’ll need to clear about what you want next.

What Do They Call What You Want to Do?

Job titles can vary widely. In fact, there are new job titles appearing every day. Do some research about roles inside and outside of your company to see what they call jobs that allow you to use the skills you like using most or want to use more.

LinkedIn shared two lists of jobs with potential. This looks at jobs with high median salaries, strong job openings and year-over-year growth, and the jobs most likely to lead to a promotion or advancement.

Here’s a sneak peek:

• Engagement Lead
• Software Engineering Manager
• Customer Success Manager
• Solutions Architect

What Are Your Salary Expectations?

Before your job search begins, think about how much you want to make. Early in the application process, you will be asked about your salary requirements. Take the time to do some salary research now to make sure your expectations are in line with the reality of the jobs you are interested in. Your last salary may or may not be in line with what other companies are offering and it’s best to uncover that information before you pursue opportunities.

Check salary websites and ask people who hold similar jobs what they think the going rate is for that type of work. Ultimately, you want to have a range in mind. You’ll need it when filling out a job application. Also keep in mind that some industries like non-profits and higher education, tend to pay less.

What Does Google Say About You?

Go search for your name in a search engine, Google or Bing or LinkedIn for example.

• What comes up on the first page of search results?
• Is every result the right one and information you would want a future employer to see?

You can fix this by creating your own website with your name as the URL, publishing articles to industry newsletters or even writing a book review on Amazon. If you are active on other social networks, you may want to clean those up now too.

Is Your Resume Up to Date?

When you do find a job that interests you, you’ll want to make sure your resume matches it.

In case you’re not sure, your most recent job is the one hiring manager and recruiters will look at first. Make sure it is up-to-date. But don’t just list your job duties. Start by reviewing each job requirement and make sure your resume explains how you’ve done similar work. Every bullet on your resume and video resume should include the results or outcomes in terms of money saved, improved productivity or efficiency, or the quantifiable impact you made.

Answer these questions before your job search begins, and you won’t be searching for answers later.