- Be reachable. One hiring professional may prefer email. Another may want to call you on the phone. Include all – and I mean all – of your contact information on your resume: cell phone number, email address, LinkedIn profile address, and physical address.
Check your email spam folder to be sure messages aren’t getting diverted there. Mark email addresses of the companies you’re applying to as preferred senders. Check your email and voicemail throughout the day, every day.
- Be realistic. Understand the job market. If you’re currently unemployed, you may discover that you don’t have very much leverage to boost your salary above what it was at your last job.
- Be aggressive. Pursue positions even when you feel you may not be ideal for them. There’s no harm in exploring and you may uncover other opportunities along the way. No opportunity is ever the “perfect” fit.
- Be open to moving. There’s a whole world beyond your city limits and maybe that’s where the best opportunities are found.
- Be open-minded. Maybe landing a traditional, full-time position with another company isn’t in the cards for you. Consider options such as contracting, temp-to-perm, and contract-to-perm.
Integrate these five fundamentals and you’ll increase your ability to advance your professional life.