Researching for Fit
From time to time I apply to full-time recruiter roles, partly to make sure that the resumes and materials that I craft for my clients are working efficiently, and partly to stay aligned with current hiring trends in my industry. Despite being in the hiring space, the moment that I start skimming job descriptions my hands get warm, my heart starts to race, and my mind immediately jumps to all the ways I might not be qualified. It takes real effort to quiet that internal noise, pause, and step away from the posting for a few minutes.
Slowing down, though, can feel unproductive. When you’re in a job search the pressure to simply “find something” can feel overwhelming. Our instincts kick into over drive and we start applying quickly, hoping momentum alone will move the process forward.
Slowing down can actually help you move faster and in a better direction.
Taking a few minutes to research both the job posting and the company itself ensures that you’re not only applying to roles that align with your skills, but roles that align with you.
Photo by Luis Fernandes on Pexels
Start with Alignment
As we head into week 9 of this 12-week series, we’ve covered a great deal of ground. By now, you’ve:
Clarified your priorities
Refreshed your resume
Started to make real connections
Selected a system to get organized
Today comes the research component. Once you’ve got all of your postings into one, clean place you can slow down and take a closer look at the roles you’ve identified. Metrics surrounding your weekly activity can be important to ensure you’re staying on task, but equally important (and far more enjoyable) is to check alignment and ask yourself:
What companies align with my skill set?
What type of signals is this posting sending me? Does the workload feel reasonable to what I need or want in a role?
What is the size and scope of the company or department?
Does this company’s industry align with what I’m searching for?
If you’re finding that the positions you’ve identified are matching your skills, industry, and scope, you can use this knowledge to proactively research and discover similar positions and companies that may not have active job postings on job boards. Many companies are not posting jobs on aggregated job boards and instead, either posting on their own careers page or simply not posting at all. Proactive research of desired roles and industry opportunities can yield less chartered waters.
Look Beyond the Job Posting
As you explore companies, pay attention to:
Their mission and values
Recent news or growth trends
Leadership team backgrounds
Open roles across departments
Exact phrasing and language used in job descriptions
You may discover roles you hadn’t considered or realize that certain companies don’t actually offer what you’re looking for. Both are valuable insights.
Understanding Your Market Fit
One of the most important steps in researching roles is to begin to identify trends in the industry and how your background relates to the market. This is how you begin to understand, and translate, your market fit.
Where do your skills overlap with current demand?
What titles are companies using?
Are your skills and strengths clearly reflected in the roles being posted?
Research helps you adjust your positioning, refine your resume language, and become more targeted in your outreach and also helps you verbally prepare for eventual conversations with hiring managers. Researching roles isn’t about chasing what’s available, but identifying where you naturally belong.
A Gentle Reminder
Keep your focus tight this week so that layering on researching doesn’t feel overwhelming. Start by researching three of your job posts that you’ve found. Take notes and step back to notice patterns. Pay attention to how it feels when something hits or excites you, along with how it feels when it doesn’t. Researching roles brings clarity to a process that can be filled with tension and can help you feel some control and confidence, which makes your applications stronger and more aligned.
One thing at a time. You’ve got this. Looking for more information on how to tap into your “why” and what really matters to you next? Check out this article I wrote a while back to help you remember that the work you do, matters.