Looking for a job is just for the unemployed, right? Contrary to popular belief, you can and should continue to search for the perfect job. It may seem counter-intuitive, but continually searching is essential to your professional success, even if you never pursue any of these leads.
Keeping an eye on the job market and even when you are not actively seeking a new role or job change has several advantages. It never hurts to keep an eye on the market. After all nothing’s worse than looking for a job when you’re desperate! So, never stop looking for a job, because …
You can upgrade your skills to stay competitive
Keeping tabs on the job market and setting career goals gives you a valuable insight into how your current skill set align with the demands of the industry. When you do finally make a decision to move on, you’ll have a leg up on other candidates – many of whom may have waited until they were unemployed to begin looking at new opportunities.
You find your potential market value
Proactively looking for a job and interviewing with other companies gives you a chance to gauge your current market value and improve the skills employers are looking for. Most importantly it tells you what you’re lacking. When you know what you’re worth, you can go back to your current job with more confidence to assert yourself and get what you want.
You keep your CV updated
If you’ve been too long in the same role, chances are your CV is outdated and full of virtual cobwebs. Although you may think that there is no need to update your CV (especially when you’re not looking for a new gig), tailoring it every six months or so just makes sense. For instance, when you get a new assignment or accomplishment, you can note it on your resume immediately. With more and more companies scanning electronically submitted resumes, it’s important to make sure your resume is formatted correctly and contains searchable and relevant keywords.
You stay ahead of a sudden calamity in jobs market
There can be several reasons why one can be put in a difficult position. For instance, you could face redundancy due to company restructuring or a rough economy. You could also get a new boss who doesn’t feel that you’re the perfect fit for his team. Securing a few options or even being actively available in the job market can save you from not being left at the mercy of shifting business priorities.
You get an inch closer to your dream job
The only way you’re going to get closer to finding your dream job is by continuing to explore your interests and keeping a tab on your career goals – envisioning the big picture. This also helps you determine what you eventually want in your career and you’ll have a good comparison of current experience with other opportunities available in your industry.
