Christmas Countdown: 10 days to your New Career

14 December 2017

Are you on the job hunt this festive season? To help you on your merry way, Youngbrook Recruitment has compiled a 10-day Christmas countdown to get you ready for a new career in 2018.

If you follow this Christmas countdown, you can remove the stress from your new year job hunt by getting prepared now. Let the countdown begin.

10. Are you as Jolly as Santa in your Position?

Do you have Sunday night blues at the thought of Monday morning? If you are unhappy in your position due to a lack of accomplishment or appreciation for your work, what are you doing about it? It might be time to reevaluate your position and your career direction. Searching for your next position and being able to start achieving your dreams will surely bring a smile to your face.

94% of Youngbrook Recruitment’s permanent placements remain engaged or promote within the company they are placed. Let us help you find a position you love by calling us on (07) 3399 6899. After all, ‘tis the season to be jolly.

9. Write your Career Wish List

Do you feel like autopilot has been engaged and you are stale in your career? Why not write down a list of dream positions and companies that you aspire to work for. Do you dream of owning your own company or advancing up the career ladder? To achieve your career aspirations, create a visual career map that goes beyond position titles to assess the knowledge and skills you will need to master the professions.

8. Build your Gingerbread House

Compile a list of all the relevant skills, experience and achievements you have for the position you are applying for.

7. Are You on the Naughty or Nice List?

Did you leave your previous employers on good terms? CareerBuilder’s survey found that an applicant’s resume was memorable for the wrong reasons when their resume listed a former employer as a reference whom they embezzled money from. I’m sure your reasons for leaving or wanting to leave are not as severe. References are a fundamental part of job applications, but the point is to only include people as references if they will have something nice to say about you.

6. Avoid Social Media Ghosts of Christmas Past

Social recruiting is used as a personality and cultural-based assessment tool. In fact, 93% of recruiters conduct social searches, to support their recruitment process. The same study also found that a shocking 55% of recruiters have reconsidered a candidate based on their social profiles. The main reasons recruiters reconsidered a candidate were references to illegal drugs (83%), sexual posts (70%), and spelling and grammar mistakes (66%). If these three Ghosts of Christmas Past are present on your social media profiles, you need to edit what is available to the public. So, you can present yourself in the best light for potential employers.

5. Send your Elves to Work

Send your happy little helpers to work to make your resume and cover letter a present worth giving to prospective employers. Ask your friends and family to edit and proofread your documents for spelling and grammar mistakes. Harris Interactive’s study found that 58% of employers will dismiss candidates with poor spelling and grammar mistakes. Exhibit your professionalism with content formatted to be easy to read.

4. Stand out like Rudolph and His Red Nose

Stand out from the herd of reindeer by personalising the cover letter to the organisation. Forbes states, 79% of hiring managers pay more attention to resumes customised for the position. It is important to consider how your skills differ from everyone else applying for the position and how these skills meet the position criteria. If your skills can be written in quantifiable achievements, you can demonstrate how your experience will indicate future performance.

3. Do Not Overdo the Tinsel and Baubles

Although tinsel and baubles can make your Christmas tree look spectacular. The phrase “less is more” coined by Robert Browning in his 1855 poem “Andrea del Sarto” should be applied to your resume format. There are exceptions to this rule though. Colour and typography is acceptable for marketing and graphic design positions, but conservative designs should be used for most other industries.

2. Remember Stocking Fillers

Remember to fill your stocking… I mean resume, with industry keywords that relate to your specific profession or industry. Weave keywords strategically into your resume that portray your professional brand. But make sure you avoid LinkedIn’s list of overused keywords unless they can add value to your skills and achievements.

1. Celebrate Christmas Eve

Put your feet up and celebrate the completion of your resume and cover letter. You are set to apply for position after Christmas when businesses restart for 2018.

Merry Christmas

The Team at Youngbrook Recruitment wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and hope that 2018 is a year filled with success.

We look forward to working alongside you again in 2018. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.