#2. ASSESS YOUR VALUE
You might hate your job, but don’t automatically take the first offer that’s lobbed at you if it’s a lowball. Figure out what your skills are worth first so you have something to bargain with. Payscale.com is a good resource that can help you see how your skill-set and experience should be compensated. And glassdoor.com can give you insight into how a potential company is run. It’ll give you a sense of what your should be paid, what you could be paid, and whether the company culture you might be stepping into will suit your personalty.
When you know your value, you can easily update your cover letter and resume, and find a job that fits. If you know that you’re valuable to companies because of your decades of experience in marketing, for example, then you will not even consider starting off as a rank-and-file employee in a new company. When you know what your value is, then you’d know which positions and companies to apply for, and you’d be confident enough to not settle for less.
Also: Here’s the right way to write a resignation letter.
#3. CONSIDER AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY
Finding a job can take up as much time as a full-time job. So if you’re employed, consider an agency to do the heavy lifting for you. Just be sure you’re fully aware of the contract, which usually gives the agency a cut of your annual salary (sometimes as much as 30 percent), but is sometimes a set fee. The pros: it can open doors for you in new places and gives you an opportunity to test out whether you like the place before signing on full time.
Working with an employment agency can be very beneficial, especially if you don’t have any idea on where and how you can start your job search. Employment agencies can connect you to companies that are looking for your skills and experience, making it very easy for you to find your career path and start earning again.
