Top 10 Trends for 2019 Job Seekers

by Kathy Seaton

Are you in the market for a new job? If so, jump on your search now because the market is heating up.

First time job seekers and those looking for a career boost are ripe for success. According to Glassdoor, the U.S. economy is growing, leading to noticeable effects on hiring.

Here are some of the fastest moving industry sectors for 2019 according to Career Builder:

1. Translation and Interpretation Services
2. Specialty Hospitals
3. Residential Remodelers
4. Home Health Care Services
5. Wine and Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesales
6. Electronic Shopping
7. Environment Conservation and Wildlife Organizations
8. Continuing Care Retirement Communities
9. Marketing Consultant Services
10. Offices of Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapists, and Audiologists
11. Computer Systems Design Services
12. Portfolio Management
13. Solid Waste Collection
14. Internet Publishing, Broadcast, and Web Search Portals
15. Exam Preparation and Tutoring
16. Medical Laboratories
17. Sports and Recreation Instruction

Now you’re probably wondering how to land the perfect job this year. Here’s 10 tips that Glassdoor has offered up. 

1. Know Your Unique Skill Set.

Universities have been chastised for not preparing graduates for life after graduation. However, that’s not true. Institutions, especially UCI, have invested significant funding and new pedagogies to ensure that its students and alumni are ready and competitive amongst a crowded talent pool. What’s important is to focus on required skills, not a job title alone, when applying for a job. Evaluate your personal skill set and capabilities to prove to a hiring manager that you meet the demands for the job at hand. Tell your story.

• Start Your Search Online.

It’s critical for you to do your due diligence as your searching for a new position. Use job search sites such as Glassdoor, Indeed, and Linked in, along with company recruitment pages to get “in the know” to build out a tailored resume. 

• Narrow it Down. Applying to jobs is more about the quality than the quantity of opportunities. Research each company before applying to ensure it’s a company that you’re interested in working for. Make sure the opportunity meets your needs. Basic questions should be where the corporate office is located, how much travel is required, what the salary range is, if employees like working there, and what their customers have to say about their service experience. Use your professional network to see if you might know or be connected to someone who can offer added perspective.

• Find the Best of the Best. 

Retain a copy of the job listing and description of each position that you want to apply to so that you can reference it at a later time. Often, employers remove a job listing before a position is filled if they believe they have the right candidates in their applicant pool. By saving the job description, you have the qualifications to look back when preparing for a potential interview.

• Customize It.

It’s super, super important to tailor your resume to fit the job that you’re applying for. I can’t emphasize this enough. Your resume contains the essential elements of your qualifications, but what is most important is to bring out and feature your unique qualities, results, and skills-based assessment based on the job requirements. You have to remember that you’re resume needs to stand out. Not only is the content important, so is the design. Use terse, result-driven statements, bold colors, and strong fonts. 

• Tell Your Story. 
  A cover letter has actually become more important than your resume. The cover letter is your chance to market yourself and tell the story of why you’re different—why you’re better. Use this as an opportunity to position yourself, communicate who you are, what you can offer, and why you’re the right fit. Make sure that you also include a call to action such as, “I look forward to connecting with you to review my qualifications.”

• Do Your Research.

Prepare for your interview using three simple strategies. 1). Learn about the company, the work they do, and the industries and customers that they serve, 2). Find out who you are interviewing with and prepare your presentation accordingly. For example, your approach with an HR manager should be very different than a meeting with a VP or CEO. 3). Review industry data and competitive profiles. Know the market that they play in. To find out more about the interview process at specific companies, check out the interview reviews section on Glassdoor.

• Ask Questions.
  Be prepared for your interviewer to ask you if you have any questions for him or her. It’s important to have mission critical and relevant questions ready. If you don’t ask questions, you might appear that you’re not engaged or that you haven’t done your research.  

• Say Thank You. 
  Unfortunately, many of us send out resumes and even sit in on interviews to never get a follow up response. However, you must always follow up with the people who you interviewed with to share an appreciation for the time they took to meet with you. Make sure that your email communicates your interest in this position with a call to action requesting next steps. 

1. Don’t Jump the Gun. 
   You’re hired. Most HR managers will contact you via phone to make a job offer. Listen closely to the details, ask as many questions as possible, and then politely let them know that you’re taking the offer in consideration. Don’t accept the job on the spot. It’s important for you to consider the pros and cons before you go for it. Use this time to finalize your thoughts and importantly, prepare for negotiation.  Use Glassdoor’s Know Your Worth tool to ensure you are receiving fair market pay for where you live, based on your job title, relevant work experience, and other factors.