The Job Market. These three words bring mixed emotions, swinging between optimistic and gloomy with each passing day.
As we officially make our way into the twists and turns of 2024’s expected rollercoaster ride of hiring happenings, what exactly can job seekers do to land their dream roles?
With over 31 years of Creating Happy Careers for Marketing, Creative, and Digital professionals, the Celarity Team is shedding some light on the steps and strategies we’ve seen first-hand success with over the years. With insights on everything from LinkedIn to networking, interviews, and general career advice, we sat down with nearly every member of our team to bring you 24 can’t-miss tips and tricks on navigating the 2024 job market.
So, buckle up, grab a refreshment, and enjoy our top rapid-fire recommendations of the year for job seekers!
Put Your Best LinkedIn Foot Forward
LinkedIn has over 1 billion users (yes, 1 billion!). As you can imagine, this is one platform that you won’t want to overlook. So, here are three ways to optimize your LinkedIn experience and propel your next career step.
1. Set Aside Dedicated Time
Yep, schedule it! Block off time on your calendar to sift through posts, update your profile, comment on content, and create meaningful connections. Build these practices into your daily routine, and you’ll curate a platform that works for you in the background as you search for your next role.
2. Personalize Your Reach Outs
Whether it’s a connection request, a comment, or even an event registration – personalizing your LinkedIn interactions based on shared common grounds can help keep you top-of-mind for other professionals. Show up with personal value-adds, and others will be much more likely to help you with future opportunities.
3. Showcase Your Authentic Self
Although LinkedIn is a professional network, your true self is your best asset, so showcase it! If you enjoy posting fun, personal content within reason – do that! If you would rather keep your posts to professional accomplishments, by all means, make the post. The best way to succeed with LinkedIn is through consistency, so whatever that looks like for you, market yourself accordingly.
Nail Your Networking
Now that your LinkedIn is ready to roll, there’s no hiding it – the next step is networking. Whether you’re working through the ever-dreaded networking nerves or are prepared to hit the ground running, the steps below will have you on your way toward becoming one of the 85% of jobs filled through the act. Let’s dive into it!
4. Set SMART Intentions
When we say smart, we’re referring to the SMART method: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. Using this strategy, you can reduce some of the pressure accompanying many networking events and focus simply on learning something new about someone. It’s a win-win!
5. Try Not to Force It
While it may seem counterintuitive, networking does not always need to be limited to work or market talk. It’s more than okay to bring up the things that matter most to others – families, hobbies, upcoming trips, restaurant recommendations – you name it. People will remember these conversations, and by following up on LinkedIn after the fact, you will be golden!
6. Focus on Quality Over Quantity
Not all networking events are created equal. Sometimes, you’ll walk away with countless new connections. Other times, the opposite may be true. Don’t fret – this is okay! Networking is all about the quality of the relationships you build, and sometimes, one great connection can take you farther than a few acquaintances.
Rock Your Resume
Outside of networking, in many cases, your resume is the very first impression you can make on a hiring manager. While no one knows your skills, capabilities, or experiences better than you, it’s safe to say that a lot is riding on your resume! The best practices below will have your resume earning positive remarks quickly.
7. Tailor with Every Application
While it may sound like the last thing you’d like to hear in the mix of long to-do lists, the truth is in the statistics – on average, only 3% of resumes submitted will lead to interviews, so it’s more than necessary to make yours stand out. Research keywords, decode job descriptions, and look at applicant system best practices to tailor each application you submit.
8. Stick to the Basics
As the age-old saying goes, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” This advice couldn’t be more true when it comes to most resumes. On average, resumes only have 6-8 seconds to make a lasting impression on hiring managers, so make sure yours is easy to read, utilizes neutral fonts, organized and clean, and has been proofread multiple times. In other words, optimize what you can control!
9. Highlight Your Actionable Results
At the end of the day, employers want to hear about the specific things you have done in previous roles so that they can picture your value-add to their organization. By showcasing the specifics of your accomplishments rather than your day-to-day activities, you’ll be much more likely to catch a hiring manager’s attention – taking you one step closer to the interview stage.
Ask AI
The artificial intelligence market is expected to grow by 33% during 2024. Combining this growth with an uncharted year of expansion during 2023, now is as good a time as ever to dive into AI for career growth and resume assistance. To help propel your AI journey, we’ve rounded up three top-tier ways to kick-start doing so.
10. Ideate, Ideate, Ideate
If there’s one thing you’ll want to remember when using AI for resume assistance, let it be this: AI is great for idea generation, but it is not a simple copy-and-paste tool. No person (or robot!) will know your skills better than you, so we recommend using AI to get your creative juices flowing and generate some essential skill lists – but always use your own words and experiences from there.
11. Utilize More Than One Prompt
AI can be helpful in many different ways, and sometimes, it may take more than one prompt to uncover the answers you’re looking for. Give the exercise 15 minutes and get creative! Ask the technology to compare your resume to specific roles or industries, to list professional development opportunities it would recommend, or even to elaborate on the questions you’ve yet to ask.
12. Practice With Your Peers
As AI expands, rest assured – the technology is a learning process for everyone. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with AI, don’t be afraid to talk to your peers, connections, or recruiters to learn more about their AI uses (and, while you’re at it, ask them if they would be willing to review your resume to catch any potential AI errors or needed fixes).
Get Ready to Impress at Your Next Interview
We’ve covered the steps leading up to the interview stage. Now, it’s time to shine! Start with the tips outlined below to ensure your interview goes as smoothly as possible.
13. Prepare (and then Prepare Some More!)
There is a lot that goes into an interview, no doubt. Preparation will be your best friend! To set yourself up for success, we always recommend researching the company you’re interviewing with, jotting down notes to articulate your own experience, and looking into a few stellar questions you’d like to ask those interviewing you.
As a bonus, if you work with a recruiter, take them up on interview prep calls. We promise it will only help!
14. Look Beyond the Surface
Expanding on the tip prior (because researching is that important!), allocate time to dive into the nitty-gritty. Look at company leaders, mission statements, goals, branding, origins – anything you need to see to determine if an organization aligns with your priorities as a professional. Sprinkle some of your findings into your interview answers and questions, and you have a unique opportunity to show hiring managers just how interested you are in the role at hand.
15. Add This Question to your Interview Notes
Asking questions throughout your interview is the key to success, and this one is sure to wow: “Do you think I have all of the skills needed to succeed in this position?”. This may sound intimidating to ask, but with its benefits ranging from showcasing your coachability to clarifying any hanging questions or concerns, it’s one we’ll always recommend.
If you’re looking for more, we’ve got you covered with our complete, research-backed Interview Prep Guide, made just for you. Be sure to check it out before your next interview!
Stand Apart From Other Candidates
Since 1993, Celarity has been on a mission to help Marketing, Creative, and Digital professionals land their dream roles, and one question has remained consistent over the years: How can I stand apart from the crowd? If you’re wondering this too, you’re in luck – we’ve got three tried-and-true tips for you!
16. Expand on Accomplishments Specific to You
During an interview, there is no denying that team accomplishments are great callouts; However, it’s important to remember that your interview is yours! It’s a time to highlight you. So, don’t be afraid to focus on your specific accomplishments during the interview process, as this will only help prove to hiring managers that you are ready and able to add meaningful value to their team.
17. Be Honest, Always
Although it may be tempting to tweak your answers or skill sets to align with what you believe hiring managers are searching for, remaining true to yourself is always the best policy. You never actually know what hiring managers are explicitly searching for, and most of the time, interviewers can see through those trying to upsell their skills. Being honest about your goals and achievements will take you far!
18. Dig Deeper than the Generics
To stand out from the crowd, you must do something different than the rest – and going beyond the generics is one way that hiring managers will surely appreciate. To make the most impact, take your interview conversations past the what’s-in-it-for-me topics, brainstorm personable points to touch on, and paint a clear picture of how your skills will contribute to a hiring manager’s team. Show interviewers who you genuinely are!
A Couple of Career Considerations
Over the past few years, the twists and turns of the job market have led many professionals to new career decisions. Whether you’re actively job searching or are passively seeking out new opportunities, these tips may be just what you need to spark a chain reaction for your career journey.
19. Find The Balance
A good balance is necessary for most facets of life, and career searching is no different. So, as you walk through your career path, try to find a balance between the time you spend heads-down job searching and the time you utilize to propel your future through things like networking events or continued education.
20. Seek Out Opportunities that Challenge You
New challenges are around every corner; Seek them out! Growth comes from learning new skills, taking on new responsibilities, and pushing yourself to new levels. If you don’t feel challenged, you may stagnate your growth potential. Always be on the lookout for new ways to invest in yourself and develop your skills – you’ll be thankful you did down the road!
21. Ask For Help When You Need It
It can be scary to put yourself out there, but the truth is that everyone has asked for career help at one point or another, and most people are willing to help when needed. Whether it be asking someone to make a referral for you, connect you with another professional, or even brainstorm new job search ideas, help is out there. You’ve got this!
Propel Your Profession Through Contract and Freelance Opportunities
Contract and Freelance opportunities are on the rise heading into 2024. If you’ve ever considered whether switching to a non-traditional role would fit you, you’re in the right place! These role types are great for the following reasons.
22. Get Your Foot In The Door
One of the most significant benefits of freelance or contract roles is the opportunity to get your foot in the door at organizations you aspire to be a part of. As our Recruiting Manager, Katie, explains: “I always recommend to network, network, network even if you are only tied to a specific project, as I know a handful of consultants where this has led to additional work or roles within the company.” Don’t be afraid to use roles of this caliber to get the ball rolling and add some great names to your resume.
23. Supplement With Shorter-Term Roles
With an expected 85% of professionals looking to switch to a new role this year, shorter-term roles are one way to optimize the current job market and develop new skills, all while keeping the future of your career on a great path. If you’re searching for your next opportunity, consider using these roles as stepping stones to reach your goals.
24. Connect with Specialized Firms (Like Us!)
Job searching can be time-consuming and overwhelming, but rest assured – organizations for numerous specialties are there to help you along your journey.
At Celarity, we’re proud to have placed over 5,000 Marketing, Creative, and Digital candidates with 600+ organizations across the United States, and we’d love to work with you, too! We’re eager to combine our toolboxes to help you tune up your resume, prepare for your next interview, and find the job that sparks your passion.
You Have What It Takes to Land Your Dream Role!
While the tips above are not the end-all-be-all for job searching, we sincerely hope they will help you make the most of your career journey during 2024 and beyond! We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in learning more or want to connect with a team member to discuss your next steps.
Regardless of your career landing point, we wish you the best of luck with your job search. We believe in you!
Shout out to the team members who helped us compose this article! Brendan Haugo, Jamie Duong, Katie Larson, Connor Duffy, Jessica Spanier, Abby Acker, Ashlee Walstad, Sarah Morgan, and Darren Hill
