48. Seizing Opportunities in a Slow Job Market: Strategies for Career Growth and Success
Jun 21, 2023
Marija Duka
Ready to turn a slow job market into an opportunity for growth and success? Join us as we share essential tips on making the most of this downtime, helping you create a clear vision for your career and setting you up for a seamless transition to your dream job.
In this episode we explore four valuable strategies to maximise the current market's challenges:
gaining clarity on your career goals
updating your cover letter and CV
leveraging LinkedIn to its full potential; and
focusing on business development.
Plus, we discuss the importance of maintaining a regulated nervous system to avoid making impulsive career decisions.
Tune in and discover how taking this time to reflect and be intentional with your next move can pave the way for a successful and fulfilling career journey.
Ready to turn a slow job market into an opportunity for growth and success? Join us as we share essential tips on making the most of this downtime, helping you create a clear vision for your career and setting you up for a seamless transition to your dream job.
In this episode we explore four valuable strategies to maximise the current market's challenges:
gaining clarity on your career goals
updating your cover letter and CV
leveraging LinkedIn to its full potential; and
focusing on business development.
Plus, we discuss the importance of maintaining a regulated nervous system to avoid making impulsive career decisions.
Tune in and discover how taking this time to reflect and be intentional with your next move can pave the way for a successful and fulfilling career journey.
Welcome to the Career Confidence podcast, the podcast for driven lawyers wanting to step out of the traditional path and build fulfilling and purposeful careers. I'm your host, maria Ducar, legal counsel and career coach, helping you navigate your career with intention and confidence. In this podcast, we don't show away from having real conversations about topics that matter to us. Driven AF go-getters From manifesting your dream career, negotiating the salary you deserve, creating your personal brand, knowing when it's time to pivot. We cover these topics and so much more. You ready, let's dive into today's episode. Hey, hey, welcome to another episode of the Career Confidence podcast. I hope you're having a great start to the week and I hope you're doing well.
Speaker 1:
So you may have noticed, particularly if you are on the hunt for a new job, that the job market at the moment is a little bit slow. Now that doesn't mean that companies are not hiring anymore, or firms are not hiring. It doesn't mean that It is just a bit slower. So there might not be as many hot opportunities straight away as there may have been like a year ago Now. This is normal and it happens when there are talks about economic instability and looming recession and companies letting go of people. Particularly, it's been happening a lot in the US. So it's not something to necessarily fear. And this is why I'm actually recording this episode, because I want you to utilise this time in the most effective way possible for you so that, when the right opportunity does come along, that you are ready to go and take on that opportunity. Yes, i don't want you to feel as though there's nothing out there. I'm stuck in a job I hate, i'll never do something I love. It's not about that at all. This does happen cyclically, when the economy is not thriving essentially. So it's nothing to fear. But it is something that you can utilise this time that will most benefit you and your future self will thank you for. And also, there's no point in being stuck in that mindset of oh there's nothing out there for me and I'll never do what I enjoy, because that mindset will not help you at all and it will not help you be in a better position. So you might as well utilise this time to feel empowered and to be intentional and put yourself in the best place possible so that, when there are opportunities out there, that you'll be able to jump into the opportunity that feels best and right for you. So I'm just going to dive straight on in into what you can do right now, when the job market is quiet, to set yourself up for success in the future, to get the opportunity that you do want.
Speaker 1:
So firstly and this is not going to be a surprise to you if you have been listening to the podcast the past year, and that is, get clear, really, really clear on what you want and be very intentional about what you want Now. A quieter job market is actually a blessing in this way, because when there are lots of opportunities and it's all exciting and there's all of these shiny things being pushed your way, it can be easy to get distracted by things that may look good or jobs that may look good on the outside but actually not what you truly want or are looking for. So this is why right now is a really good time for you to go inward and to get real with yourself and delve into what you see yourself doing, what you value, where your skill sets lie, what your unique gifts are. Getting really clear about them and how they serve you align with where you're wanting to go Now. This time could maybe even make you realize that you want to completely change careers. You might want to do something completely different, and this is why it's important to give yourself some space, when times acquire, in particular, to turn inward and be real with yourself and really create that vision of what you want your career to look like, looking at both lifestyle, the type of work where your skillsets lie, where you wanna grow into, what type of team you want to be a part of all of that. So it's a great time to reflect on that, to do a career audit which is what I like to call it and start really envisioning what you see for yourself for that next chapter of your career. Now, if you need extra assistance on getting really clear about what you want, i provided really practical steps on how you can envision that next chapter of your career in episode 37. So you can go back and listen to that before you start planning what is next for you. Take a listen and that provides you with some really good questions. You can ask yourself to get clear on what you really want Now, once you spend some time getting intentional and clear about what you want that next chapter of your career to look like.
Speaker 1:
Another thing that you can be doing is updating your cover letter and CV. I work with my clients on updating their cover letter and CV before they're even ready to apply for a job, because they then have this beautiful structure and template ready to go and then they can tweak it depending on the job that they're applying for. But the majority of the work is done and the body of the information will be something that they can use time and time again for different types of roles. So, of course, i highly recommend that you tweak and tailor your cover letter and CV to the specific job you're applying for, so that you ensure that you're the right fit for the job and the job is the right fit for you. However, it's never too early to work on updating your cover letter and CV and getting it to a point where you feel really confident and you can then use that when a job does come up. You're not scrambling to update that in that stressful state of mind.
Speaker 1:
The third thing that you can be doing and this is something I'm passionate about and I highly recommend is updating your LinkedIn. That's number one and number two. The second part of that is start becoming active on LinkedIn. Now let's dive into that a little bit more. So updating your LinkedIn profile. So it's as simple as updating your headshot. If you haven't updated your headshot since your graduate days, then it's time to update your headshot and put in a nice clean photo there that represents who you are and your personality. Update the header so if you go into Canva, you can literally type in LinkedIn banner and LinkedIn header and they have templates and you can tailor that to suit you and the type of work that you do and make it all fun and colorful so that you stand out.
Speaker 1:
Another thing is to update your profile. Perhaps the last time you used your LinkedIn or updated it was when you were grad, so you might not have your current job and experience on their skill set. So go into the about section and edit and just type in just a simple summary of who you are and what you do and what your unique skills and achievements are. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Just a quick tip on that one. I like to use first person. I feel like it's more personable, rather than Maria is a senior associate lawyer that is also a coach. Yeah, i don't know, i hate the third person stuff. To be honest. It's just so boring and it doesn't drive connection. So be personable on there in your bio. Feel free to use emojis as well, make it fun and interesting and a representation of your personality. And then another key part is updating your experience, so making sure that that is all up to date, that you have all of your past employment history there and just a quick snapshot and summary of your current job what you do, what type of transactions you work on, what type of work, your key achievements, that kind of stuff so that you can tailor depending on your experience. So, honestly, that's as simple as it needs to be. So just quickly updating your experience, updating your about showing your personality, who you are, your key achievements, your skill set, what you do all of that that's really really cool. And again, in terms of your bio, so being intentional about what you want that next job to look like. You can get intentional in your about section so that you can talk about the key skills that you have and the key experience you have that are a transferable skill and transferable experience to the type of role that you want to head into. So it's really important to be always intentional with your profile.
Speaker 1:
And now the second part of LinkedIn is starting to become active on there. So if you're not ready yet to start posting on there. Start by following creators that you admire, that you really relate to, and comment on their posts. Give your two cents on something. If it resonates, tell them why that resonates. A lot of creators on LinkedIn ask questions, answer the questions, engage in conversation, start being active in that way, because then, when you're active in that way, your profile will start to show up on their feeds and their followers feeds and all of that, and then you start to build connection in that way. When you are ready to start posting, think about the best way for you to do that, whether if it's creating carousel images on Canva or if it's through writing articles on LinkedIn That's another way Or if it's through reposting and sharing other people's content.
Speaker 1:
There are so many ways that you can be active on LinkedIn. It's not just one way. Yeah, the main thing is that it connects to and feels authentic to you and how you like to connect with other people. And the reason why I say this. I don't say this for fun in terms of updating your LinkedIn profile and being active on it, although I do personally find it fun to be on LinkedIn because I've created so many wonderful relationships on there. But yeah, i don't say that for fun or for the lozies. I say it because when you're active on there, there's so many recruiters, companies, people in general in the professional world that are on there and active on there, and if you're standing out on there, if you're starting to show up in their feeds and you're providing content that is really interesting to them and of value and connects with their ethos and values, you're more likely to be hired by that company than someone that doesn't have a profile at all and isn't putting themselves out there. So it is really important to be active online and you just don't know what opportunities may come of it, because sometimes some jobs may not be necessarily advertised, but someone might see your profile and be like oh, we're actually looking for someone exactly like that that has that skill set, that has practiced in that area of law, that has worked with these types of clients, is exactly who we're looking for. Or potentially could be a company hiring for an in-house lawyer and you might be wanting to transition in-house from private practice and they might see that connection there. And the way that they're able to see that connection is by you having an updated profile and being active on there. So, yeah, don't take that lightly, because this is really the digital age that we're living in and, as much as we all want to just shy away and hide ourselves like you're not doing yourself any service by not putting yourself out there.
Speaker 1:
And my fourth and final tip, which leads nicely with my previous tip about LinkedIn and becoming active when it is quiet in the job market and you are wanting to make a shift but the opportunity just hasn't come up yet Focus on business development. Now. I did a in-depth conversation in my previous episode, episode 47, on business development and how you can go about that. So make sure you do listen to episode 47, because that provides you with some great practical tips on how to approach business development in an authentic way, to build a connection, so that then opportunities may arise from there. As I said before, some jobs may not necessarily be advertised, but if you're putting yourself out there and connecting with people and being curious, they might be looking for exactly someone like you, or they could refer you to their friend that works in a different company that may be looking for someone like you. So you don't know where business development will lead you. Although the focus of episode 47 was business development in terms of working as a private practice lawyer.
Speaker 1:
You can use business development personally in your career too, so that you can meet people and just drive those connections that will then help you to move into that next chapter of your career. If you are someone, for example, that's wanting to make a completely new, different career change approach, people that have made that type of shift before that are now in that industry that you want to be in and create that connection, meet up with them and find out more, and that's another way that you can gather data and find out whether that type of career move is best suited to you by talking to other people and listening to their experiences as well. So that business development side is twofold. Essentially, one is just connecting and being able to hopefully find a job out of those connections not that you that you're going into with that expectation but you don't know And the second part is to hear about other people's experiences that may have made that type of career shift and learn more about what that may look like for you.
Speaker 1:
So before I sum up and jump off the podcast, i will summarize those four tips in what to do when the job market is slow and you're wanting to make a career change. Number one is get clear on what you want to be really intentional about what you want that next chapter of your career to look like. Number two update your cover letter and CV so that it's there, ready to go when needed. Number three update your LinkedIn profile and start becoming active on there. Number four focus on business development and connecting with other people.
Speaker 1:
And so I want to finish off the episode by saying don't be afraid of a slow job market. It does not mean that there are no opportunities out there. Look at a change of perspective and look at it from that mindset of OK. This is now a really great opportunity for me to have this space to really reflect on and get clear on what I truly want. So when I make that jump, that next job is actually the right job for me And it's aligned. And it's not just me jumping into any role because I'm desperate, because I hate this role, for example, but you're actually making a more informed and, i guess, a more informed and intentional decision from a regulated nervous system rather than feeling stressed. So use this time and opportunity to get to know yourself, to get to know what you want to do and set yourself up for success. So the future you will be thanking you that you did this work now and when that opportunity comes along, you'll be like, well, i got this because I was actually using my time effectively when the job market was slow.
Speaker 1:
Hope you loved this episode. As always, reach out in Dams on LinkedIn or Instagram and let me know where your key takeaway was from this episode and if you are feeling a little bit, i guess, let down by the current market or you feel like it's not, you know, at a place where you want it to be, i hope this episode gives you that motivation and that pep in your step again to just really utilize this time to, yeah, set yourself up for success and so that you can get that job that you truly want in that next chapter of your career. Have an amazing week and I will chat to you very soon. Bye. Thanks for tuning into the Korea Confidence podcast. Like what you learned today. Why not share this episode with your work, bestie, and leave us a five star review on wherever you listen to your podcast on? We'd absolutely love to get into more years and help more women just like you build fulfilling and thriving careers. Until next time.