How to Change Your Job – 10 Top Tips

Whenever you start a new job, you probably don’t go in thinking about moving on, right?

You want to do a good job, you want to impress your manager and you want to succeed. Yet sooner or later you’ll start to get itchy feet and want to move on – it happens to all of us.

As such, it’s always good to be prepared – because believe it or not, unless you’re approaching the end of your working life, that day is coming.

However you go about it, changing your job takes time, careful preparation and a bit of luck too! Here’s a few top tips from Octopus HR on how you can get the ball rolling if you want to make the leap.

So, your old resume got you the job you’re in now? Congratulations!

Now throw it out.

“Whatttt?” You cry. “Why?!”

Because it’s the old you. In order to make a fresh start you need a fresh resume.

So you want to change your job, right? Well once you’ve thrown out your old resume, take the time to research your market. Research the skills your chosen career needs. Look in-depth at what companies offer the role you want to do. Look for the latest news about your chosen career – what are the issues?

Once you’ve carried out research into your chosen career, it’s time to re-write your resume. The crucial thing to remember is that for each job you have done, you need to match your skills to what can easily be transferred into the new position you want to achieve. For example if you want a job in sales, make sure your previous roles include teamworking, selling, hitting targets, earning commission, being a leader…

Now your resume includes your major skills, what else can you bring to a new employer? Perhaps you volunteer outside of work? Perhaps you write a blog? Perhaps you train a youth soccer team? Whatever it is you do outside of the working environment, make sure it sells you as a person. Don’t just say “I like to socialise with friends” – we all do!

It’s very important to make sure your current role and your current experiences stand out. Even if you’re really enjoying your job, make sure you update your resume with all the key skills you gain as time goes on. Include experiences, challenges, how you overcame them. This will make it so much easier when the time comes to move on.

Once your resume is complete and you are happy with it, it’s time to get yourself online and update your linkedin profile with your work.

Make sure all the dates match up. Don’t be tempted to bend the truth between your resume and your online profile – because you will only be found out. Include a current picture (and make it a professional one), and start reaching out to make connections.

Now you’re on linkedin and your profile is complete and up-to-date, ask for recommendations from your previous colleagues. You may need to get the ball rolling by leaving a few recommendations yourself, but taking 10 minutes out to give their online linkedin profile a bit of a boost is worth it, if you’re going to get a super recommendation in return!

Even if you really enjoy your job, try and network as much as possible. Attend evening events, go to industry conferences, collect email addresses of colleagues and business cards of people you speak to. You never know, once the time comes to move on these people may prove vital in your hunt for a new job.

A strong resume, a stellar online presence, and a super contact list of networks is not all you need to change jobs – a cracking cover letter is essential too. Take some time to write a standard cover letter which you can chop and change and tailor for each new job you want to apply for. Make sure your letter emphasises why you have chosen this employer and includes all the key skills and experiences that the employer will want to see. If you can make yourself sound motivated, determined and after a new challenge you’ll impress any prospective employer.

Getting a new job is never easy, but if you take the time and effort to research each potential new role and tailor your resume and cover letter to suit, then you’ll stand more of a chance of an interview than if you just sent a tired resume and standard letter. Don’t give up, remain positive – and try to smile!

Good luck!