How the job search will be different in 2013WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013 08:41 AM
A lot can happen in one year. For job seekers, everything from changes to the nation''s unemployment rate to newly introduced technologies can influence the ways in which people search for jobs. In some cases, an entire line of work that was booming one year could almost be nonexistent just 12 months later.
As it is a new year, many job seekers may feel reinvigorated in their employment search, and try everything from taking a
career test to increasing their networking efforts. Here are a few ways in which the job search will be different in 2013, as well as a few ways people can raise their chances of landing a job in the new year:
More job seekers will come to value social media
While many individuals have been using social media websites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to search for jobs for some time now,
their comfort level with these online tools could increase in 2013. At least, this is what Sudy Bharadwaj of Jackalope Jobs told Business Insider. "The 2013 job search will be more targeted and people will truly begin to recognize the importance of referrals, in addition to finding innovative ways to receive them," Bharadwaj said. Meanwhile, LinkedIn''s blog suggested that 2013 will be the year in which many employers will come to
value a candidate''s LinkedIn profile more than their resume. This is due to the fact that a page on this social media website can provide richer career context than the average resume.
Job seekers will embrace creativity
It is no secret that today''s job seekers need to do everything they can to stand out from their competition. Many of them are accomplishing this through creative methods of sharing their qualifications in a memorable way - something that is expected to continue throughout 2013. "To set themselves apart, job seekers are going to start getting more creative in their application methods," Josh Tolan of Spark Hire told Business Insider. "This will range from attractive infographics, to career-related blogs, to a more wholesale embrace of online video in the hiring process. Applicants will be looking for ways to set themselves apart from the pack to land their dream job."
More employment opportunities than last year
While no one can predict the future, there are those who believe there will be more potential for job opportunities in 2013 than there was in 2012. Brittany Jackson of BAJobs.com is one of these individuals, and highlighted data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which projected a 13 percent increase in the hiring of college graduates in the new year. Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has not released the national unemployment rate for January 2013 yet, it is worth noting that
2012 concluded with a rate of 7.8 percent, compared to 8.5 percent in December 2011.
How can job seekers land a job in 2013?
Every job seeker will experience different results over the course of their job search, but there are certain steps they can take that may increase their chances of finding work. For example, certified career management coach Carol Camerino told Forbes that individuals may need to
polish skills that are considered important to employers. In addition, Camerino believes that people need to think of themselves as a brand if they are to become attractive job candidates. This is especially important on social media websites, where a LinkedIn profile rich with keywords, or a Facebook page free of embarrassing content, could get job seekers recognized for all the right reasons.
