The new year is a great time to kick-off a job search. Not only are you in the right frame of mind to set and achieve goals, but businesses are returning from the holiday break in full swing and ready to tackle their own goals by finding talented engineers for their projects. Use these tips to conduct your best job search in 2018.
Attend Conferences
When was the last time you branched out and added connections to your network? If it’s been a while, make 2018 the year you get back in the game. Conferences are ideal venues for networking. Not only will you learn new things and get connected to trends in the field, you’ll also meet other professional engineers who can help you grow and potentially advance your career. To get the most out of a conference, make sure to attend the social events associated with the conference, not just the luncheons and dinners.
Take Classes
Licensed engineers have to take continuing education credits, but it’s also a good idea to take other classes and even pursue an additional degree. Credentials matter when it comes to growing your professional career, and classes are a great way to get reconnected to the field, learn new things and enhance your resume.
Get Active Online
If you haven’t spent time building your online presence, you’re doing your career a disservice. Getting active on LinkedIn, creating a professional website and blog and contributing to trade publications will boost your online presence and improve search results for your name when hiring managers and recruiters look you up. The more active you are in the online engineering community, the better. Becoming a thought leader will open networking doors, help you build connections and even get you invitations to speak at conferences.
Work With an Engineering Recruiter
If you really want to accelerate your search and increase the chances you’ll find a job that truly aligns with your goals, preferences and skills, work with a professional engineering recruiter. Recruiters can benefit your search in many ways, including:
- Learning what types of companies you want to work for, the corporate culture you prefer, the managerial style you respond to, your own leadership style and your salary and benefits requirements to match you with the right opportunities.
- Connecting you with jobs that are not posted to the public.
- Helping you polish your resume to make the best impression on hiring managers.
- Preparing you for interviews by telling you what the hiring manager is looking for.
- “Preselling” your skills and experience to hiring managers, positioning you as an ideal candidate.
- Providing feedback on your interview performance so you can improve.
If you are an engineer or technical professional in the Southeast region seeking new career opportunities in the new year, contact the recruiting experts at Selectek today.
