We’re all “a little bit Irish” on St. Patrick’s Day. But on Crochet Week (the second week of March) are we all a little bit crafty? On National Goof Off Day (March 22) do we skip work en masse?
In March, one of my favorite celebrations is the Spring Equinox — the day of the year when the sun crosses the celestial equator headed north, and those of us in the Northern Hemisphere start to experience longer days of sunlight. Along with the literal start of spring, this day, to me, symbolizes hope and optimism.
If you’ve been thinking of launching a job search, it’s a great time to get in touch with me. In the meantime, here’s what I have to share this month — the most in-demand job skill, right now, how to handle a non-traditional career history on your resume, and a good resource for LinkedIn email templates.
The Most In-Demand Job Skill Right Now
LinkedIn’s “insider look” at the most sought-after skills is out, and the top skill this year is one that ChatGPT will probably never be very good at: managing people.
I hold management talent in high regard. It’s not the easiest job to be good at, but premier managers ultimately create talent retention, so you can see what this skill set would be the most valuable of all. If you’re looking to increase your value in an always changing professional market, brushing up on your management skills is a good use of your time.
What If You’ve Had a Non-Traditional Career Path?
For those who’ve had a less traditional career path, it can be hard to shoehorn experience and attributes into a traditional resume format. For instance, a self-employed person or gig worker might not have the standard bulleted list of job experience that a lifelong enterprise employee would have. If that’s you, know that you can still showcase their skills and successes.
The bio becomes really critical here, because it’s the ideal place to tell your narrative and sell your story. It’s also a place you can easily change the language for specific jobs. Be creative, be bold, and if you need any support or encouragement, get in touch.
This Month’s Recommended Reads
On the Wall Street Journal: As Home Sales Slow, Realtors Go Back to Their Other Jobs
On Business Insider: Big Tech's big lie
A Few Free LinkedIn Templates
Hoping to get the attention of a particular hiring manager at a company you are interested in? InMail is one good way to go. LinkedIn claims that InMail messages get a 3x higher response than conventional emails. But your effectiveness with InMail will of course depend on what you say.
These six templates can get you started with things like the “virtual handshake email” and the “resurfacing ping.”
Of course, if you really want to ensure you are heard, there’s no better way to do it than to work with a recruiter like myself and those of us at Quantum Hires.
James Johnson
Quantum Hires