Not Actively Looking? 3 Job Search Actions To Take Anyway

I’m feeling topped out at my current company, but I don’t want to look for a job right now. The market isn’t good – transaction volume is down, not much is happening. What can I do now to be ready in one, two or three years, as soon as I see the market has picked up? – Fund Manager

It’s nice to see that Fund Manager is giving himself a long runway to find his next job – upwards of three years! The advantage of extra time for your job search is that you don’t feel the urgency to take the first thing you get and possibly settle for something less than ideal. The disadvantage, however, is that you might not feel enough urgency to get things done.

To get yourself ready to jump into your job search when the time is right, start with these three job search actions:

1 — Confirm your ideal next job

If you know you’re staying in the same role but want a different employer, start researching companies. Who else hires for what you do? Think about the type of work environment you’d prefer – e.g., start-up or established, big or small. What companies fit the profile or where you’d like to work?

If you may want to do something different than you’re doing now, keep a journal to capture ideas for what to do next. Once you have some interests defined, go a step further and attend a conference in your new field, join the relevant professional association or take a class. If your current experience translates to your new field, do some consulting in your new field. You will need hands-on experience in your area of interest to make a successful career pivot.

2 — Get your job search tools in order

It may have been years since you last looked for a job, so update our resume now. This way, when you’re ready to launch your job search, you only have to add your most recent experience. You’ll also want to optimize your LinkedIn profile and activity. With a long runway before your job search, you can spread out your changes and not make it so obvious that you’re looking for a job. Ideally, your resume, LinkedIn and every tool you use to brand yourself are tailored to the next job you want, so build off the work you do in Step 1 and incorporate the keywords, qualifications and issues relevant to your next job targets in all of your branding.

Also make sure that the brand you put out in the world accurately reflects the breadth and depth of your experience. Otherwise, you may be contacted for junior jobs or opportunities outside of your interest. Even though your job search isn’t live right now, your LinkedIn profile and other social media activity is public. Recruiters, hiring managers and your own professional network will see you online – whether you’re looking or not.

3 — Strengthen your network

Your professional network includes people you work with currently, as well as former colleagues, classmates and people you know socially, even if it’s been a long time since you’ve connected with them. Many jobs are unadvertised – this is the Hidden Job Market – and your network is the entry point to those hidden jobs. Nurturing your network is not something that can be rushed, or it seems disingenuous.

Ideally, you rekindle long-lost connections at first socially, and then follow up regularly to strengthen the relationship, before you start talking business, such as your job search. Having a long runway before you’re actively looking for a job is a great time to strengthen your network. You can start with these five sample emails to reconnect.

You can’t perfectly time the job market

Networking, branding and knowing what you want are actions to take for good career maintenance, not just whenever you need a new job. While Fund Manager expects to start looking a year or more from now, the market might turn sooner than he expects – or than you expect. New leadership could take over your current employer, and your individual job prospects change irrespective of the overall market. Your life circumstances might warrant a job search earlier than planned. You can’t perfectly time the job market so mind your network, brand and career goals on an ongoing basis.