By Michelle Fox -
CNBC + Acorns
If you want a new job for next year, you need to start preparing now.
January and February are the best months to look for a job since companies have an annual budget and often post new vacancies at that time.
"This is an opportunity to use December as the route to the job you want,"
said labor strategist Holland Haiis.
Sure, you will not be the only person looking for work.
In January there will be another wave of the “Great Renunciation”, or the “Great Reorganization” as some call it, after people return from the holidays, receive their bonuses and begin to consider what comes next, predicts Kathryn Minshew, founder and director by Muse.
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“Although there is a lot of competition and there are many people looking for work, the volume of interest from the employers side so far has been consistently higher than the number of those who apply, which means that it
is still an excellent time to pursue opportunities
”, Minshew assured.
However, Priscilla Claman, president of the Boston-based firm Career Strategies, believes the number of job seekers will be a barrier for recruiters.
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"The fact that so many people are applying for jobs is complicating the process," he said.
Here's what you can do if you want to join and stand out in the competition to find a new job in January.
Ponder
Minshew recommends looking back at this year ending and writing down your key accomplishments, as well as the tasks you engaged in and the accolades you received.
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"It is also an opportune time to look to the future and set goals for the new year, to explore in what skills, that allow you to reach the point you want to reach in your career, you could invest time to learn," he said.
Improve your LinkedIn profile
Recruiters and potential employers will look at your profile on the LinkedIn social network, so it is important that it matches what is described in the resume and that it is complete so that it appears in searches, Haiis recommended.
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You need to pay special attention to the headline.
One who says "unemployed" or "actively looking for opportunities" will not attract anyone's attention, he said.
"Think about what defines you or describes what you do, what you are looking for and what you can bring to the organization," Haiis explained.
Update your resume
Before reading your resume, make a list of 5 to 10 of your top career achievements and compare them to the ones you currently list in the document you submit when applying for a job, Haiis stressed.
When applying for a job, think about what sets you apart and what makes you invaluable to the organization.
That's especially important for women who have been taught not to show off.SDI Productions / Getty Images
Also, check to see if the job descriptions have changed or if there is new vocabulary to describe your tasks.
Rate your achievements
Reflect on what distinguishes you and makes you an invaluable person for the organization.
Make a list and start practicing communicating it.
That's especially important for women who have traditionally been taught not to show off, Haiis said.
"It's not showing off," he said.
"It's about your personal brand," he added.
"Being comfortable with who she is and what she has achieved is different from showing off," she clarified.
Focus
Write to the companies or industries you would like to work for to focus on them in January.
Use the holidays to network
Holidays mean social gatherings and parties that allow you to connect with other people who could help you in your search.
"He has the opportunity to do it in a way that is not possible the rest of the year," Claman emphasized.
You would be surprised how many people want to help.
"Our DNA as human beings is programmed in such a way that we receive impulses of good brain chemistry when we help others," Haiis explained.
Be grateful
Remember the people who have helped you throughout the year and use the holidays as an opportunity to reconnect with them and thank them.
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"This is a great way to get on people's radar and express genuine appreciation, while also staying on someone's mind," Minshew said.
This article is part of the
Invest in You Ready series.
Set.
Grow
(Invest in you: Ready. Done. Grow), an initiative of CNBC and Acorns, the microinvestment app.
NBC Universal and Comcast Ventures are
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investors
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