Unlike in the summer or fall when there tend to be job market slowdowns, companies are being stretched thin with end of year budgets, and the holiday season; January is typically a great time to job search. In January, companies have a fresh start with budgets and big plans for the year ahead. Snapback to January 2021, and things might look a little different after an unprecedented 2020. Companies are hiring, and here are three ways to stand out in a January job search.

Reach Out to Your Connections

Reaching out to your network of connections is a great way to start feeling out which companies are looking to hire, get insights on potential career opportunities, and get references you can use as you’re interviewing. Networking can also give you referrals that help you land on the radar of a recruiter or hiring manager or gain the inside connection on a job before it is posted online.

Concentrate Your Job Search

Instead of aimlessly applying for any job opening you find related to your field, start by making a list of researched companies you’d like to work for. You’ll actually see a higher return on the time and effort you put into the job search since you’ll be able to focus on tailoring your resume to each application. When you’re able to tailor your resume that highlights the skills and experience you have that is listed in the job description instead of mass applying with the same resume, you’re more likely to stand out from other candidates.

You can once you finish with your first “group,” you can create another list and tailor your resume again for each application. While you’ll apply for fewer jobs overall, you’re more likely to land an interview since hiring managers will easier see how your prior experience matches their position.

Create Your Personal Brand

Your personal brand is the first impression hiring managers will have of you before ever inviting you to an interview. A personal brand is a widely-recognized and largely-uniform perception or impression of an individual based on their experience, expertise, competencies, actions, and/or achievements within a community, industry, or the marketplace at large.

Make the most of your January job search by following these three tips. Reach out to your network to learn about career opportunities, concentrate your efforts on a smaller pool of companies so you can tailor your resume to each application, and create your personal brand to stand out from other candidates.

About EG Workforce Solutions

We’ve been in this business for decades and have developed a deep network of professional connections. Whether they’re companies looking for talent, job seekers looking for work, or an up-and-coming store in need of some temporary help, we know the right people to bridge the gap between the hiring and the hired.

But what’s more, we get to know people. From employers hiring to candidates looking, we take the time to listen and learn. We hear your likes, talents, and needs. We gain an understanding, and with it, we’re able to facilitate lasting relationships between businesses and people.