Whether you’re a brand new grad out there hunting for the perfect place to make your first mark on the working world (congratulations, by the way!) or a more experienced career woman with a hunch that there are bigger and better things waiting for you professionally, it’s no secret that job hunting is almost always a challenge. We know it’s “all about who you know,” but what’s the best way to make those all-important connections in the first place? When you hit “send” on your online application, where does all of that information that you worked so hard on even go? What’s the perfect, not-too-pushy way to follow-up via email with an HR rep? There are so. many. questions… and even the most experienced job searchers among us don’t always have the answers.
Enter LinkedIn — everyone’s go-to professional networking platform — with a major wealth of data to help new grads and savvy bosses alike successfully snatch up their next dream gig. Using intel from human resources leaders plus their own statistical insights, the LinkedIn team has delivered what we might call an embarrassment of riches for the job seekers among us. Keep scrolling for the inside scoop.
4 Skills top executives are looking for
1. Bleeding-Edge Technology Abilities: Bleeding-edge technology refers to the field of tech that is so new that it may even be unreliable. If you are comfortable working with fresh innovations and quick to adapt to changes, you definitely have a leg up. “You hire people who have in the past been able to bend the curve on technology,” Verizon’s Senior Vice President and Chief Talent and Diversity Officer Magda Yrizarry told LinkedIn. “So you have confidence that they are not beholden to the past, that they can create the future.”
2. A Tendency for Leading Change: Hiring managers at top companies are looking for new employees who can take on challenges and act as agents for innovation and fresh ideas. There’s no room for resistance or old-school behavior these days!
3. An Appetite to Learn: It turns out that being hungry for knowledge is a skill that can serve you well beyond graduation. “The pace of technology continues to accelerate and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing,” Ardine Williams, Amazon Web Services’ vice president of global talent acquisition, told LinkedIn. “You must have an insatiable curiosity about what’s changing and how, and stay current. Otherwise, you’re going to be left behind.” Consider us hungry!
4. Field-Specific Skills: LinkedIn also has some intel on the more specific talents you should highlight in your resume and interview based on the industry you’re targeting. Check out the chart below for all of the details:
5 Top-paying entry-level jobs For new grads
1. Investment Banking Analyst: $105,000 median total compensation
2. Data Scientist: $93,500 median total compensation
3. Hardware Engineer: $90,000 median total compensation
4. Software Engineer: $80,000 median total compensation
5. Equity Research Analyst: $79,500 median total compensation
Best companies in your field
- Engineering: According to LinkedIn’s second annual Top Companies list, engineers are in high demand at Airbnb and Uber, where headcount for engineering-related jobs is on the upswing. Amazon is also ripe with opportunities in this industry.
- Sales: Facebook, Salesforce, and Amazon are all in the market for your impressive sales talents.
- Marketing: Under Armour is currently looking for more than 100 marketers to join their team — and the sportswear company’s marketing force has already grown 15 percent in the last year! Pandora’s marketing team is also expanding.
Best companies for big growth
- Uber: Political controversies can’t keep this company back! Overall, Uber has grown more than 20 percent in the last year, especially within the operations, engineering, and marketing teams. There are currently 3,400 jobs just waiting to be filled (by you!) at Uber.
- Amazon: There’s no slowing Amazon down. The online superstore had an impressive 35 percent growth rate over the past two years. Interested in joining the team? Hiring rates are highest between May and October, so jump on the opportunity ASAP!
- Facebook: There are nearly 1,000 jobs open with Facebook here in the US — and the human resources department has doubled in size in the last 12 months. If that’s not a sign that the social media trailblazer wants to bring in tons of new talent, then we don’t know what is!
Best companies for sticking around
- Coca-Cola: The average tenure for employees at the Coca-Cola company is nearly eight years! If you’re hoping to find a professional home and stay put for a while, you may want to check for openings at Coke. A love for carbonated beverages isn’t a necessity (at least, we don’t think it is).
- Nordstrom: In the past six months, the class act department store’s engineering department has been its fastest-growing team, but talent throughout the organization tends to stick around. The average tenure for Nordstrom employees is more than five years.
- Starbucks: It’s more than just your favorite morning pick-me-up! Starbucks is well-known for its culture of community change, which may explain why employees stay for an average of almost five years. There are currently more than 500 jobs available at Starbucks.
What’s the best job-searching advice you’ve ever gotten? Tweet us @BritandCo!
(Photos via Getty)
