Sometimes, we find out we’re ready to quit a job. And other times, defense budget cuts are staring you in the face, making your contract shaky or your office survival unlikely. Regardless of the reasons, it’s always a good idea to test your knowledge on what it takes to land your next cleared job.

 

411 on Finding Your Next Cleared Job

If you find yourself navigating the strange territory of job search land, here’s the 411 on what to watch. The work that goes into actively searching for your next job can be frustrating or overwhelming. The majority of job changes don’t happen in a day, so keep building and the jobs will come.

Resume

This document is not always fun to update, but if it’s been a while since you’ve given it a good scrub, don’t overlook this job. Ask friends in your network to review your resume, and add in relevant information. Roll off anything that might be unnecessary. Once you start to narrow your search field for jobs, you can begin to build different resumes tailored to each position.

The rules on pages or resume methods have fluctuated over the years. However, know that the need to communicate your experience and accomplishments has not changed. Make sure you aren’t just trying to fill up the resume space with empty words – be clear about your accomplishments and what you bring to the table. It’s about creating a document that shows the next company the art of the possible if they hire you.

Online Profile

Online career profiles are an important piece of the job search puzzle. The profile creates more of a picture for recruiters. So, select the right photo and lift sections of your resume that speak to who you are and where you want to go in your career. Your online activity and presence can automatically ping recruiters that you are in the job market. Components like chat features or group settings can increase your communication capabilities and provide more connections. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of finding a regular rhythm of updating and checking on your profile to keep the job search conversation going in the background. However, if you are in full job search mode, take a look at your profile as objectively as possible. Be sure you’re signed up for the right groups, your picture is current, and your information is as up-to-date as possible.

Interview Tips

Sometimes in the interview process, we forget where we are in the necessary steps. But talk about money and job perks too early or show up to an initial screening in casual mode, and you can find yourself out of the process before it even began. No one wants to waste time, so some questions do need to be asked up front. Relocation and salary ranges are an important piece of the conversation, but it’s important to wait for a natural moment to ask them.

So, show up to each leg of the interview process like it’s your final interview. All of the rules for the interview still apply – even if it’s conducted over Zoom. So, if it’s a video conference, wear the suit jacket with your sweat pants, don’t chew gum or eat during the interview, and make sure you are well prepared for the process. One of the issues with video conferencing is timing your responses to the questions and giving other participants space to speak. Make sure you are not monopolizing the interview time or talking over your interviewers.

The Most Important Thing to Do is to Start

Sometimes, the hardest piece of the puzzle is just beginning. So, open up the resume and online profile and get updating. If job searching isn’t where you thought you would be right now, just focus on doing the next thing instead of assessing where you are in the process. Reach out to your networks and get your resume in their hands as soon as it is updated.

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Jillian Hamilton has worked in a variety of Program Management roles for multiple Federal Government contractors. She has helped manage projects in training and IT. She received her Bachelors degree in Business with an emphasis in Marketing from Penn State University and her MBA from the University of Phoenix.