Looking for a new job? You’re in the driver's seat. Unemployment is at a near 50-year low, and there are millions of jobs available on LinkedIn right now. However, nearly half of all professionals say they don’t know what their career path should look like. If you’re not satisfied with where you are today, or not sure which way you should be steering, it could be time to take inventory of what you want professionally and make a switch.
Perhaps you’re looking to change the type of work you’re doing: we recently found that the majority of millennials would choose to work even if they didn’t have to, but only 12% would miss the actual work they are doing if they started a new position. Or, maybe you’re overwhelmed with too much on your plate: our latest research shows that nearly all millennials (97%) report feeling burned out and that 70% even plug in while on vacation.
Regardless of the reason, how can you bridge that gap and find a job that’s right for you? Take a step back and think about what you’re in it for: why do you do what you do? Maybe you simply want a job that will give you a better salary, the opportunity for growth, or better work-life balance. If it’s time to switch directions, here are some tips to help.
1. Do a Deep Dive on Jobs: Before switching careers, 40% of millennials found it helpful to research opportunities. The newly redesigned LinkedIn jobs makes it easier than ever to not only help you find a breadth of jobs, but also the right one for you. From recommended jobs, to salary insights, to instant job alerts customized for you -- there’s never been a better time to start the search. Start by setting instant job alerts so you can apply early: if you’re among the first 25 applicants, you’re 3x more likely to land the job. Once you’ve found the right opening, be sure to improve your odds by reaching out to your community for a referral.
2. Tap into Your Network: As with many things in life, it can be helpful to talk through your next step with others. In fact, almost one quarter of millennials found it helpful to receive advice from contacts in their network when considering a career pivot. If you’re among the 43% of millennials who would like to find a mentor but feel they don’t have the right connections, LinkedIn’s Career Advice feature can connect you with people in your target career so you can learn how they got there and what skills you need. Because we’re #InItTogether, you’ll find lots of professionals willing to help: 44% of professionals have used their community to help someone else find a job, and 24% have done so more than once.
3. Expand Your Skill Set: It’s easy to step up your game: LinkedIn Learning can help you bridge the gap between the career you want and the skills you need. You can learn online, at your own pace, from a library of more than 14,000 creative, business and technology courses.
4. Position Yourself For The Pivot: Update your LinkedIn profile to highlight the skills you already have that are applicable for the job you’re applying to, which you can find directly within job postings on LinkedIn. Including five or more skills can get you up to 17x more profile views and 31x more messages from people who can help you get ahead.
5. Raise Your Hand To Recruiters: Finally, our Open Candidates feature is the best way to signal to the 2.8 million recruiters who use LinkedIn every day that you are looking for new opportunities. Turn on the Open Candidates feature in the Career Interests section of your dashboard and you’ll be 2x as likely to receive relevant outreach.
With millions of jobs available on LinkedIn, find one meant for you. #InItTogether.