Looking Ahead:
Scoping Out the 2018 Job Market
For many people, December is a month filled with travel and events—it often seems like it’s over before we even have a chance to register that it’s taking place. Maybe you’re already experiencing this weird, December related time loss phenomenon… If you are, you’re in good company. However, we would be remiss if we didn’t remind you that 2018 is coming, and with it, a new opportunity to find a job you love (and that loves you back). But the job market changes from year to year. Sometimes these changes are so minor that they feel like nitpicking, while others feel more like a major shift, and require rethinking the job search process altogether.
At the MSEJ, we’ve searched high and low for word of the job market trends to come in 2018, and what hiring managers will be looking for when it comes to your application. Here’s the scoop to help you prepare for all that 2018 has to offer:
1. Ring in 2018 with the best of 2017. Make sure that you update your skills, projects, and interests by including new information from 2017 on your resume and job application. If you consistently remember to update your resume and cover letter with your most recent accomplishments, perhaps this is old news… But if you tend to forget to update your documents with your most
recent projects and victories, make sure that you do so you don’t neglect to mention the things that will make you shine.
2. Consider an employment strategy. The job market is a frustrating place—and a full-time job in and of itself, though it only pays you for your efforts on the back end. It’s easy to feel like you are applying for jobs without a real plan in mind… And sometimes it’s because you don’t have a real plan in mind. For 2018, make a concrete plan that considers the jobs you want to apply for, the skills that you need to build, and the long term goals you have in mind. Give yourself
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