Lessons Learned from 2022 to Help with Your Next Job Search Plan

With 2023 just beginning many people have drawn up their goals, resolutions, and strategies for a successful year. Among those goals may be establishing a job search plan to land a better position right out of the gate. 

How to Prepare For a Job Search

Success in 2023 can start with looking at what can be learned from recent job hunts. There are a few lessons that can be derived from the job market in 2022 that might be valuable next year. We spoke with On-Premise Account Manager Alec Moran to learn more about how to prepare for a job search

What is a Job Search Plan?

A job search plan is simply a set of guidelines, goals, and criteria you’ll keep in mind when you begin searching. Job hunts can practically become a full-time job by itself with all the steps in creating a resume, sending out applications and attending interviews. You’ll want to be sure you’re staying focused and getting the best investment from your time. Moran suggests taking some time to focus on what you need from your next job, then creating a job search action plan based on those needs.

“Job seekers should be more curious about what they want to do, and what they can see themselves doing long term.  Many people are initially money motivated and jump at what pays most, rather than what the job really is, or what schedule gives them the best balance outside of work,” says Moran.

Creating a job search plan is a great use of time when finding new work. A job search plan establishes guidelines, goals and criteria to help direct your search. It’ll take some forward thinking to build up, but it will help in the long run when you’re going through applications.     

Lessons Learned From 2022 that Can Help With Job Search Preparation

1. Social Media is Your Friend

The demand for talent was strong in 2022 and social media continued to be one of the best tools for job seekers and recruiters according to Moran. Use that to your advantage. Revamp your profile so it’s professional, share your portfolio of materials or credentials, follow accounts in your field and make sure your profile is easily found when searched. Start your job search off strong by maximizing your exposure. 

“Candidates have consistently used social groups on platforms like Facebook, as well as other online avenues such as Indeed. The more areas candidates can leverage their applications and networking, the more success they’re going to see,” says Moran.

2. Don’t Be Shy About Networking and Asking for Help

Your family, friends and peers can be excellent resources for job search planning and ultimately finding a new job. Speak with those around you to see if they know of any companies hiring nearby. Let them know where you’ve applied and what type of work you’re interested in. There’s nothing to lose by asking questions or taking some initiative. With online correspondence and social media, it’s never been easier to build and utilize a network of supporters. 

“We have a lot of success finding people work based on referrals. An easy way to think of this is asking friends and family where they work, do they like their job, and how did they get their job? This will give job seekers honest feedback about how to determine what job they like, and how they went about getting those jobs in the first place,” says Moran.

3. Have a List of Criteria to Keep in Mind

The number of job openings continues to outpace the number of available workers. Use this to your advantage by clearly outlining the role, industry and working conditions that are most attractive to you. Consider what “criteria” would make your job ideal. Flexibility? Upskilling opportunities or on-the-job training? Keep them in mind in your job search planning. With strong demand for talent, many employers might be more willing to make concessions to bring you aboard. 

“Understand what interests you and find a role that aligns to what you want. If you like to be on your feet, then find a role where you’re walking throughout the shift. If you’re more inclined to be at a stationary role, find a machine operating or manufacturing job that’s more stationary. Secondly, focus not only on location, shift, and pay expectations, but the benefits and employee value proposition of the company. With a tighter market than ever before, the companies that generate more unique value to attract the best talent have been seeing the best results,” says Moran.

4. Don’t Hesitate to Consult with a Staffing Agency

Staffing agencies are the matchmakers of the job world. They’re companies that specialize in connecting talent to employers, and vice-versa. 

If you’d like to start the year off on the right foot and want to ensure you have a solid job search action plan, don’t hesitate to consult with a staffing agency. Many offer services like resume proofreading, building online profiles and more. If you haven’t had the best of luck in 2022, it could be something to help troubleshoot before you start searching in 2023. 

“The biggest thing that differentiates working with a recruiter rather than not, is the advocacy piece knowing that you have a professional working to find the best option that fits your preferences. Without a recruiter, you’re limited to the positions you hear of, rather than having someone that knows what is out in the market,” says Moran. 

Job search planing is a great way to organize your thoughts and ideas before you start a job search. Plans that include establishing guidelines, networking and partnering with a recruiter can improve the chances of finding a job that matches your goals, skills and interests. 

When you’re ready to create or advance your job search plan — search our job board.