How to be an Effective Passive Job Seeker

Are you in your dream payroll or HR job?  Perhaps you’re even financially independent for life? Way to go! This isn’t the blog for you. But considering that 53% of employees are unhappy, it’s likely this blog is for you. The fact is far too many accomplished and appealing job candidates don’t put themselves in a position to hear about open opportunities that may indeed be, their dream payroll or HR job.

Even if you are happy and content with your current payroll/HR role, it’s good to always be casually, or passively, looking. Unless you’re a fortune teller, you never know when you may need to find a new job. This means you are open to hearing about new HR opportunities, but not actively pursuing and applying for them. As a passive job seeker, you’re waiting for someone to approach you, but you need to be found. Consider taking the following steps so you will be found when that perfect opportunity arises:

Get Up-to-Date and Active on LinkedIn and Other Social Media Platforms

Make sure your LinkedIn Profile is complete and robust, including education, experience, volunteering, skills, certifications, and associations, etc. This is the online equivalent of your resume (keep in mind it should be different than your resume) so make sure to proofread it vigorously. If you’re applying for a payroll or HR position, it’s our recommendation to have not only a profile, but add a professionally-appropriate headshot and make connections. Many recruiters will move on to the next candidate if they don’t see these things.

Best practice is to focus on valuable connections. You don’t have to personally know everyone you connect with, but you should focus on adding connections and accepting connection requests from local thought leaders in your particular space.  Building your network with other HR/Payroll professionals is important as it shows recruiters, like myself, that you are well-versed within the HR/Payroll community and up-to-date on recent trends. While you’re out their connecting with others, don’t forget to write recommendations for individuals you’ve previously worked with in hopes of reciprocation!

Once you’re up-and-running on LinkedIn share your thoughts and articles you find noteworthy along with your own insights. Consider taking these same thoughts to Twitter and/or other social media platforms to present yourself as a thoughtful and knowledgeable professional.

Build Your Network

Stop avoiding networking events! Get out to meet your peers and even potential employers. Networking events have the built-in advantage for you in that they are designed with the sole purpose to meet new people. Even the shy can attend with confidence and build their personal contact list. The stronger your network, the more chances you have of being thought of when openings arise. Beyond just working your network, stay in touch with individuals, connect with them on LinkedIn and meet with folks in-person that you’ve connected with.

Use the Internet

Employ Google Alerts or Talkwalker to email you when a company you want to work for posts a position you’d be interested in. Additionally, have a handful of organizations you’d like to work and visit their open jobs page once a week. You can also use job alerts from Indeed, etc. to email you openings… but don’t be so passive you don’t even look at the email!

Regularly Update Your Resume

Don’t be caught having to update a resume when you passively hear about an opportunity. We recommend reviewing your master resume twice a year and be prepared to customize for each and every job opportunity. You don’t want to put yourself even further behind by taking a day or even a week to get your resume up to par. Be ready!

Speak with a Recruiter

Last and certainly not least, make sure you plug into a recruiter or two. Take the time to speak with a staffing expert to let them know what you’ve done and the type(s) of opportunities you’d like to hear about. If you have unique payroll and HR skills, a quality recruiter like Willory will keep an eye out and think of you when your perfect opportunity opens up.

{{cta(‘a939ef1e-eb89-4c8e-8645-1d22e24ea435’)}}