What We Learned About Getting Hired in 2023

The year is coming to an end, meaning a lot of people will soon hit the ground running to find new jobs or level up in their careers. If that’s you, I thought it would be valuable to revisit some of the lessons we learned in Get Hired from the past year — from “rage applying” to AI and beyond.

Leave “Rage Applying” in 2023

“Rage applying” took the internet by storm at the start of 2023. The basic idea is that people get fed up with their job and start applying — everywhere and anywhere. The approach isn’t new, but the catchy term helped the idea take off on social media.

Unfortunately, the results of rage applying are not just hit or miss; they're mostly misses. There is a chance that one of the many applications you send out hits the right employer at the right time, but the odds are small that it will happen. Instead, it’s still best to conduct a targeted job search to maximize the use of your time and your odds of success.

• You can learn more in Get Hired from my colleague Brandi Fowler by clicking here.

Focus on What You Can Control in 2024

One of the most common questions I receive is how people can “beat” or “get by” the applicant tracking systems (ATSs) that employers use during the hiring process. While these systems exist, what people know about them is usually more fiction than fact.

ATSs are like any electronic filing system. There are many different brands with many different capabilities. The basic functions are the same, though. The systems ingest information from job seekers — when you upload your resume, import your LinkedIn profile, or type in information. Then, recruiters take a look at the information to see if the job seeker is a match for the position. If they are, the person moves ahead in the hiring process, which is all tracked in the ATS. 

You can’t control which ATS a company is using nor can you control how they will use the system. What you can control is making sure the materials you upload or put into the system shows that you’re an excellent candidate for the role.

• Learn more about ATSs and the hiring process in Get Hired by clicking here.

AI Is Here, Get Used to It

Generative AI has been around in different versions for several years. Yet, 2023 is the year it really burst onto the scene thanks to OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google’s Bard, and more. The public suddenly had these incredibly powerful tools at their fingertips. They aren’t going away.

Generative AI is not perfect, though. The technology is only as accurate as the information it ingests. Additionally, these AI systems have been known to make up information, data, and more. You’re perfectly within your right to use this technology to help craft resumes, cover letters, and other messages. However, the key is to just view AI as another tool — not your replacement.

Make sure your resumes, cover letters, profiles, and more capture what makes you uniquely you, such as your voice, style, and knowledge.

• Learn how to use AI as part of your job search in Get Hired by clicking here.

I want to offer you a sincere thank you for taking the time to engage with Get Hired and my team over this past year. Our goal is to help you exceed in your job search and career. Engaging with our content, reaching out to us, and sharing our newsletters and more help us accomplish that goal. 

We’ll be back with much more news and information in 2024 to help you Get Hired!

Building connections with other professionals is more important than ever for job search and career success. Yet, many people shy away from the process or enter into it with the wrong mindset. Annie Riley, who is a coach for startup leaders and the host of the podcast Who Got Me Here, joined me on the latest episode of Get Hired to explain networking's best practices. We also discussed how to make the process of building relationships as painless as possible.

You can listen to the episode above or on Apple Podcasts by clicking here. A transcript of the conversation is available by clicking here.

How can you create your own year in review? (By Brandi Fowler) Creating a "year in review" can help you take control of your professional development. Career experts write in Harvard Business Review that you should take three steps. First, slow down to help you pinpoint your strengths and give you time to reflect on mistakes. Next, review your progress by having "playback conversations" with a trusted colleague or friend. Lastly, turn the awareness you've gained into future action. Use "I will" statements to declare your goals. Click here to read more.

What shouldn’t you do during your job search? (By Brandi Fowler) Certain actions can hurt a job seeker's candidacy, recruiter Matt Opramolla told Business Insider. To avoid raising red flags, skip oversharing in interviews and keep the focus on your job qualifications. Disclosing details of a layoff, personal finance issues or that you don't have other job options isn't a good idea. Also, don't accept an offer immediately. Click here to learn more.