The new year is starting off with some good news! According to the most recent report from the Department of Labor, employers added 321,000 jobs in November. And that was the 10th consecutive month of net job gains above 200,000. So if you’re currently unemployed or looking to make a job change, 2015 could be your year—if you pay heed to these job search trends:
Networking and Referrals
You’ve heard it before, but it’s not only what you know, but who you know that can help you get a job. Yes, you need experience and skills, but an employer will be more likely to look twice at your resume or application if they hear good things about you from a trusted colleague or acquaintance. In fact, according to a recent survey, even recruiters indicate that 60% of their best job candidates are found through referrals. So make sure you keep up with your professional connections and talk to friends about your career goals.
Social Media
In case you haven’t heard, social media have been the hottest candidate source for recruiters in recent years, after referrals. According to that same survey, 73 percent of recruiters have hired a candidate through social media and 93 percent of recruiters review a candidate’s social profile before making a decision. If your online profile is a dud, you might be left in the dust.
Hot Markets
There is going to be a high demand for sales and marketing professionals, so if you have effective communication and interpersonal skills, take a look at opportunities in these areas. Even if working in sales isn’t your ultimate goal, it’s an excellent way to get your foot in the door at an organization. And people with STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics—backgrounds will be even more popular. These jobs pay well, offer enormous growth opportunities, and will boost the growth and stability of the U.S. economy.
Mobility
If you don’t have a smartphone, it might be time to get one if you can. Mobile recruiting is on the rise, with recruiters using their own mobile devices to post jobs, search for and contact candidates, and forward resumes to colleagues. You can join the rising number of job seekers—up seven percentage points from last year—who are finding it easy to job hunt on the go, without being tied to your home-based computer.
As unemployment numbers continue to fall, it’s turning into a job-seekers’ market. Take advantage of it by pursuing these five trends, and you could be part of another rising trend: successfully employed people!