Three Reasons Every Young Professional Should Subscribe to Get Hired on LinkedIn Today
Even, and especially, if you already have a job you love
Analogies are fun. Let’s do an analogy.
Your career is like a game of chess. And, like chess, you can maneuver pieces of your career at will. Each career piece functions independently, but also as part of a larger whole. And a good chess player knows how to make pieces work together in harmony to achieve an end goal.
Ignore one piece and the entire system falls apart.
Getting hired at a company, then, is the career equivalent of the pawn. It’s your first interaction. Your foot in the door. Everything you do career-wise starts with getting hired. And like the pawn, so often job application and interview skills are ignored until they are needed.
Then, they’re everything.
A good chess player also knows the value of thinking three moves ahead. It can be oh-so-tempting to focus all your intentions on the present, but that can blind you to the needs of the future.
So, let’s talk today about a career resource that, even if you don’t need it right away, is the perfect tool to set you up for success down the road.
Let’s talk about Get Hired and why it matters.
Reason #1: You Will Change Jobs.
And probably sooner than you think.
The data doesn’t lie. The Baby Boomer generation held an average of 12.3 jobs between the ages of 18 and 52, which if you do the math is a job change every 2.75 years. And the early signs for subsequent generations? They are changing jobs even faster.
In fact, they are changing entire career fields.
There are several reasons for the rapid increase in job changes. For starters, companies are simply not lasting as long as they used to. Major technology and business model changes require companies to adapt fast. And those that can’t keep up may go out of business, leaving thousands of people looking for work.
There’s also the impact of two global recessions in little more than a decade. The 2008 financial crisis, at its peak, drove the unemployment rate from 5% to 10% in a matter of months. And in early 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced shutdowns, the unemployment rate shot to almost 15% in the U.S.
That’s millions of employees looking for work.
The fact is: whether you are impacted by major business or technology shifts, a global recession, or just decide to make a career move, you will change jobs at some point. Probably within the next 2–3 years. So it makes sense to keep your job application and interview skills sharp and ready to go.
Reason #2: The Modern Job Market Is Complex.
Scroll through the recent posts on Get Hired, and you’ll see articles with titles like What’s going on behind the scenes in the hiring process and What you need to know about application tracking systems. More than ever before, job seekers are able to peek behind the curtain and see the complexities of the market.
And it can be overwhelming.
Take, for example, the simple (but time-consuming) practice of applying to an online job posting. You may picture your digital resume landing in the lap of a recruiter or hiring manager, but the reality is much more involved.
Your resume may be scanned by an application tracking system (ATS) that is looking for keywords, and then placed in an online repository. A recruiter might do a preliminary review of applicants and send out additional tests or questionnaires. A hiring manager may or may not get involved.
And all of this happens before you’re even called for an interview.
And that’s just the surface.
If you really want to expand your list of job opportunities, you have to learn how to tap into the “hidden job market.” The hidden job market is the term used to refer to all the job openings that are available, but not posted on job boards or online. They are filled through referrals and word of mouth.
Learning how to network effectively and leverage the hidden job market takes a whole different set of skills than online applications.
All this to demonstrate … the job market is not something that can be learned overnight. You need to constantly invest in your skillset. Even (and especially) if you’re not planning to use it right away.
Reason #3: A Better Job Search Leads to a Better Job.
A job can pay the bills. An amazing job can change your life. And yet, after investing tons of time and effort into their search, many job seekers say “yes!” to the first offer of employment.
It’s certainly possible the first job to offer you an opportunity is the one you should take. It’s possible the job will be in a growing industry, creating tons of potential for you to learn and advance. It’s possible your direct manager will be a thoughtful leader who invests in your development. It’s possible the executive team will have a clear strategy, crisp execution, and well-outlined roles and responsibilities. All of this is possible.
But what about the missed opportunities?
I don’t want to discount the realities of the job search market. If you need a job, you need a job. There’s no shame in that. But if you have the skillset to engage in a better job search from the beginning, you may be able to land a role with a company that matters to you and launches your career forward.
The list of factors you should consider in an employer can become lengthy. But here are just a few for starters.
- Role: What will you be doing, practically, on a day-to-day basis? How likely are your responsibilities to change? How much work will be expected of you?
- Direct Manager: What is your direct manager like? How many other people are they managing? What is their leadership and development approach?
- Organization: What does the organization stand for? What is their stance on diversity, inclusion, and corporate social responsibility? What are some major initiatives that they’re working towards?
As you can see, sizing up an opportunity — and the company that it’s at — can take time. It also requires you to know and ask the right questions. Resources like Get Hired can help you learn to vet a company like a pro.
What Young Professionals Should Do Next
If you’re currently employed and happy, it can be tempting to turn off your job application and interview skillset. But this can be a mistake. You’re likely to need those skills in the future. And the market is complex, so you need to keep up. Lastly, when you take the time to properly vet a potential employer, you’ll be glad you did.
When considering whether you should invest your time in a resource like Get Hired, here are some recommendations:
- Think three moves ahead. Two or three years from now, what do you want your next role to be? If the answer isn’t the role you’re currently in, it’s time to think about the job search process. Investing now in growing your skillset will set you up for success later down the road.
- Dive deep into the job market. If you don’t know how a part of the job market works, go find out. There are tons of resources, like Get Hired, that can shed a light. And there are more and more recruiters who are talking about their process on LinkedIn and other sites. You can learn how the job market works — even the hidden market — but you have to dive deep.
- Lastly, share your findings with others. The job search can be a lonely place, so why not share it with others. Ask for advice (or referrals if you’re actively looking). And when you find something valuable, share it with your network. Who knows, it could help a friend land their dream job.
What are your favorite job search resources? Drop a recommendation in the comments below. And join the Young Corporate page where we’re talking about career success, corporate citizenship, and more.
