Finding your next role can be a challenge, from working out what you're looking for and why you want to leave your current role, to searching for the perfect fit and then interviewing (and sometimes technical tests or presentations), there's a lot to contend with. To help your search go as smoothly as possible we've put together 7 steps that we think will help you work out what you're looking for and bag that dream Adobe job. 

1. Grab the mirror

Sit down, assess how things are going and really get a feel for your current situation and career. Be totally honest with yourself - what would you change if you could? Would it even be possible to change? Where do you see yourself in five years? What do you like currently? What do you love about what you do? What can you not lose? Are you the problem? It might feel weird analysing all that but asking yourself if this is important. You have to understand what's important to you and what you want from your next role. Once you have that nailed, you're ready for step 2.

2. Don’t be a quitter. 

Never leave a role until you've proved to yourself that you've given it your all. You don't want to look back and wonder 'what if?'. This is true for so much more than your career, I have the same mentality with relationships, work, and life in general. Don't leave anything on the table. Before you make any big decisions, take 2-4 weeks and go into work really giving it your all, and I mean your all! Sit down with your family and say for this period, I need your support. Take the time to really give things a go and hold yourself accountable. After this, if you're still not feeling it then you can make your next move. Go to work and, while it may sound dramatic, treat every day like it is your last day there. Enjoy it, smile, say hello to the cleaner, the receptionist and everyone in between. You'll be surprised how many people do this and see a huge change in their outlook, some realise that they want to stay and some know that this just isn’t working or that it's not want they want. So, before jumping ship, ask yourself have you really given it your all? If it's a yes and you still want to leave... then it's onto step 3.

3. Where do I go next? 

Take the time to really understand what you're looking for in your next role and how that could play out for you. What's the end-game for your career and what paths can you take to get there? When you're thinking about this, take everything into account - job title, progression pathways, the type of company you want to work for and the environment. This should cover everything  from salary, benefits, opportunities, hours, culture, team etc. This might not be fixed but you need to have an idea in your mind of where you are heading and what are your deal-breakers.

4. Social cleanse 

With every moment of people's lives documented online it's easier than ever to have a little social stalk. In the same way that you'd check someone's social channels out before a date, a potential employer is going to so the same. Don't think that it'll just stop at LinkedIn, with google everything's fair game. If you're not going to lockdown your channels to private make sure they're on-point. Add personal information, remove any questionable content or pictures and make sure that it's relevant to who you are. If you want support on this check out the muse who've got some great tips.

5. Priming

Get to know yourself. Find your elevator pitch and make it short, sharp and concise. Work on typical interview questions like “tell me about yourself”. You should be able to answer these interview questions without thinking. Get your partner to throw random questions at you when you’re in the shower or making coffee - this should be easy work for you. There's always the same questions that crop up every time so practice and make sure that you're confident with your answers. So, you're well-versed in what makes you great and you know what you're looking for, what next?.. Step 6!

6. Use your network

It's known as the hidden job market: Many of the best jobs are never advertised externally. They're filled by candidates who find them by word of mouth, from friends, former colleagues, and ex-bosses. I'm almost sure you have experience of this. Some employers also offer incentives to their employees for referring a successful hire to the company. It's a win-win situation for everyone. You get a new job, and your connection gets a finder's fee for attracting a great new team member. Not all companies do this, but there's nothing stopping you from asking a valued friend who works in your field to let you know about any openings. The working relationships you create in every job may result in an open door years down the line.

6a. Job Boards

Job boards are an awesome way to find a new role. There are loads of different ones out there but I'd always recommend finding one specialised to your industry – LinkedIn is a top pick here but there are lots of other options. You can also use job search engines and other career-related websites that post job adverts, such as Monster.com, Google for Jobs, CareerBuilder, and Indeed. If you are looking for freelance/contract work then there are sites specialising in that too – check out Upwork – Simply Hired – Crowded etc. There's also specialized job search sites for particular fields, like Dice for tech professionals.

6b. Headhunters & recruiters

If you're looking for some professional help in your job search, headhunters and recruitment agencies are perfect. Like job boards, find one that specialises in your industry or niche. Check them out and speak to them before going ahead – these people will be representing your profile to potential companies so make sure they actually understand you, and what you are looking for. For example, here at Hirobe solely hire for Adobe positions, anything outside of that we won't touch. Why? Because it's the only way you can truly understand your candidates, your clients and match them properly. A lot of companies hire through recruitment agencies to streamline their search so you might even be able to get more opportunities with less work.

7. Find the right role for you and WIN! 

A major part of your job search is figuring out exactly what you want. You had a plan of what you wanted on paper but be open-minded to great opportunities I'm not saying flex on those deal-breakers but enjoy the process – open yourself up to the process and learn about what these opportunities could mean for you. Need help? Get in touch with me at tom@hirobe.io.