As an individual recently transitioning into seeking a new role, I cannot help but notice the evolution in the job market since my last search in 2021.
This article will highlight the changes I’ve observed and offer some words of caution for those embarking on their own career hunt in 2024.
LinkedIn is More Important Than Ever
In today’s competitive job market, maintaining a well-crafted LinkedIn profile is more essential than ever. This is especially true if you work in digital marketing, e-commerce, or SEO as most people will check out your LinkedIn profile before they visit your personal website. It’s the go-to-place for talent acquisition specialists and hiring managers alike.
Your LinkedIn profile is your professional storefront, showcasing your skills, experiences, and personality to potential employers worldwide. Here are some key aspects to focus on in order to optimize your LinkedIn presence:
1. **Profile Header**: This section needs to be impactful and immediately grab attention. It should clearly state who you are professionally and what industry or role you’re targeting.
2. **Bio Photo**: Your profile picture isn’t about looking attractive; it’s about appearing approachable and professional. Make sure your photo is recent, clear, and properly lit.
3. **Description**: This can include a brief overview of who you are professionally – your background, achievements, goals – as well as a bit about your personal interests or values.
4. **Work History**: Be meticulous when detailing your work history; ensure that the dates align correctly and there are no inconsistencies or gaps that might raise questions.
5. **Skills & Recommendations**: Highlight the skills most relevant to the roles you’re seeking and try to get recommendations from colleagues or superiors who can vouch for these skills.
6. **Sharing Insight**: Regularly sharing insightful posts or articles related to your industry not only increases visibility but also helps establish you as a thought leader in your field. I would also highly recommend pruning your comments and posts, it can often be eye opening to see what you have actually posted in the last 3 years, especially of you post to your LinkedIn feed often.
LinkedIn also provides an extensive curated list of job vacancies tailored to match your skill set and career, making the platform an indispensable tool for both passive and active job seekers alike.
ATS Formatted Resumes Help Gain Maximum Visibility
I was once a big fan of using fancy resume formats with multiple columns and custom fonts. It was only after I learned about Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) did I realize the error of my ways. Ever since 2021, ATS formatting has become integral to job placement as many large organizations are using these systems to help them find the right applicants in an ever-increasing pool of available talent.
ATS is not just about filtering out unsuitable candidates; it’s also crucial for spotlighting qualified applicants. Ineffable keyword optimization and well-structured details are among few factors that can make or break your digital visibility. Much like SEO techniques have transformed webpage rankings, ATS formatted resumes are making a huge difference in who gets seen first by recruiters in 2024.
The Volume of Available Jobs Has Increased
The number of roles available in the realms of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Digital Marketing, and E-commerce Management are quite impressive. If you are involved in these industries, you’ll likely notice that there is a substantial demand for your services. However, it’s important to note that this market is still expansive and diverse, with a wide range of needs and qualifications required.
Digging deeper into SEO roles, they primarily focus on optimizing websites to improve their visibility on search engines. These roles require a deep understanding of keywords usage, link building strategies and monitoring website performance among other skills. The high demand in this sector indicates the growing recognition of SEO’s importance in enhancing online visibility.
When we shift our focus to Digital Marketing roles, we can see an even larger spectrum. Ranging from content creation to social media management and email marketing; these positions require a versatile skill set and deep understanding of marketing tech (“Martech”). Understanding consumer behavior online, creating engaging content and understanding conversion rate optimization perquisite skills for this role.
E-commerce Manager positions also present a multitude of opportunities. They involve overseeing the online sales of products or services; ranging from product presentation on the site to managing supply chains. Strong commercial acumen combined with familiarity with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Big Commerce, or Magento are essential skills for these roles.
Is this all true? This YouTube video offers a completely different take on the situation. ‘
Being a T-Shaped Marketer Has Huge Advantages
A T-shaped marketer has a broad knowledge covering a wide range of digital tactics and strategies, but also deep expertise in one or two specific areas. This makes them more versatile and valuable to an organization as they can wear multiple hats while still excelling in their area of specialization. For example, an SEO specialist who also understands content marketing, social media advertising, and email marketing can offer holistic strategies that drive organic traffic and conversions.
Moreover, the ability to pivot quickly is another advantage of being a T-shaped marketer. With the ever-changing trends in digital marketing landscape, marketers need to adapt swiftly to maintain engagement with their audience. A T-shaped marketer has the breadth of understanding necessary to switch gears smoothly without losing momentum.
The rise of data-driven decision making further amplifies the importance of becoming a T-shaped marketer. Having familiarity with different tools such as GA4, Google Tag Manager, SEMrush or Moz allows for better tracking and analyzing campaign performance across various channels which leads ultimately to effective decision-making process.
This matters because your most likely not the only person applying for the role. As companies start to cool down from their COVID highs, hiring managers are going to look for people that can do more that just one specific skill set.
Understanding How to Navigate Recruiters Is Crucial
In this day and age, recruiters are not just looking for candidates who have a deep understanding of their field but also those who show versatility and resourcefulness.
This is where knowing how to communicate effectively with recruiters come into play. The initial interaction, be it on LinkedIn or during an interview, is crucial as it sets the tone and impression for subsequent engagements.
In your conversation with recruiters, make sure to highlight your diverse skill sets – from technical competencies such as proficiency in GA4 or SEMrush to soft skills like problem-solving abilities or team management. Don’t forget to mention any accomplishments that showcase these skills in action.
Moreover, remember that hiring agents deal with hundreds of applicants daily so standing out from the crowd requires more than just a polished cover letter. It’s about demonstrating that you’re knowledgeable about industry trends, showing eagerness to learn new things and expressing genuine interest in contributing positively towards achieving
It’s important to understand that most recruiters have roles they need to fill and are incentivized to do so. If you speak with a recruiter and you don’t hear back, check the company profile on LinkedIn to see if they have more than one recruiting agent. There is a strong chance that if they do, they will have additional roles where you might be a good fit.
Never take out your negative emotions on a recruiter! They all know each other and often will share notes. You burn one, you could potentially burn many connections. The best way to work with them is to be clear and concise about you salary needs and what type of role you are looking for.
My final thought on recruiters is knowing which agencies service the industry that you work in. For example, if you looking for Magento related development jobs, you most likely want to be working with the folks at R2 Global or Jarvis Cole. Research who the players are in your industry and connect with them.
The Need to Quickly and Clearly Articulate Your Job History
Finally, the ability to articulate your work history concisely and clearly in a short-form format has become crucial as people have less time than ever. With the rising demand for jobs, the need for recruiters to source talent also increases.
This simply implies that individuals are reading less and depending more on systems to find appropriate candidates. When given an opportunity to communicate with someone, it’s important to value that time and ensure you convey the right message.
WARNING Scammers are Heavily Targeting Job Seekers
Job hunters are being ruthlessly targeted by fraudsters who aim to trick them into revealing sensitive banking information. Over the course of a single month, I received multiple bogus approaches purporting to be from prominent retail and game development firms, all attempting to coax my social security number or responses to confidential banking queries out of me.
These con artists are cunning and often have accents that can be challenging to comprehend. However, I don’t believe this is always a reliable way to gauge authenticity as I’ve interacted with legitimate recruiters whose first language isn’t English but still hold positions in large corporations.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, the landscape of job hunting is evolving and becoming more complex, necessitating a shift in strategies. LinkedIn has emerged as an indispensable tool for networking and job searching, and having your resume in ATS format is no longer an option but a necessity to bypass automated systems and reach potential employers. Knowing how to effectively navigate recruiters can be a game-changer in your search for employment. However, one must be vigilant about fraudulent activities as scammers are increasingly targeting job seekers.
To stay ahead of the pack, it’s crucial to adapt to these changes and continuously upgrade your job-seeking strategies. Do you have thought on this topic? Please feel free to share this on social profiles providing you own commentary to keep the conversation going.
