Recruiter Insights for Career Changers – Julia Price on how to be seen and considered in 2023

Julia Price is a Recruiter at the Los Angeles Dodgers, where she brings diverse talent to join the winning team at this leading sports organization.

Julia, what new trends do you see happening in recruiting?

Julia: In 2023, I see companies being more conservative with their hiring numbers and headcounts especially given the wave of layoffs we experienced in recent weeks and months. This presents a unique challenge for applicants that we haven’t faced in many years. Now more than ever, candidates need to lean into their professional network, have a concise resume, and in some cases, submit cover letters to give them higher chances of being seen and considered.

Theresa: Yes, 2023 has certainly been an unusual time on the job market. Even though we have historically low unemployment and a tight labor market, candidates are struggling to land positions. This year is all about standing out – from getting clear on your career direction, networking, to having an excellent resume, you have to cover all your bases.

What tips do you have for someone wanting to make a career change?

Julia: Biggest tip for someone wanting to make a career change is to lean into those transferable skills. For example, if you have experience in sales and enjoy working with external stakeholders, perhaps you transition to talent acquisition or customer success roles. Leveraging your transferable skills will likely be the easiest way to transition careers or industries, given the current climate in the job market.

I would also recommend getting certified. A variety of companies and higher education institutions provide certification programs that teach the necessary tools and hard skills needed to excel in your preferred industry. A few places to look for these resources are universities with hybrid/online certification programs or online platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, Grow with Google—the list goes on and on!

Which transferable skills make candidates stand out to you?

Julia: Transferable skills that stand out to me are customer service and leadership. In addition to having the experience or credentials, I like to see that an applicant knows how to work with people, can take a lead on tasks (when needed), and can communicate effectively to get the job done. I truly feel these traits make a candidate stand out because you can’t really teach them – you either got em or you don’t.

Theresa: Absolutely! And if you have them – show them! From project management, writing, problem-solving, teamwork, to communication skills – all of them are in demand and can position you for opportunities outside of your past work experiences.

What resume tips do you have for someone wanting to make a career change?

Julia: Keep it simple. You want your resume to be easy to read and well-formatted for the company’s hiring team. Make sure to not only list the responsibilities of your current and previous roles but emphasize the impact that you made in your work. An example of this may be ‘Designed and implemented a company-wide referral system that improved tracking accuracy of referral submissions by X%’.

You want your resume to speak for you, in a good way! Make sure you use it to relay all your best attributes, not only in the workplace but in all aspects of your life. This may include but is not limited to your education, volunteer work, organizations you may be an active member, and more.

Can you share one interview question you often ask and what you’re looking for in an answer?

Julia: One interview question I often ask is “What are you looking for in your next position?” This question is unique because there’s not one correct answer. My goal as a recruiter is to make sure both the candidates and hiring manager feel confident in moving forward to the offer stage and will find success working together long-term.

Answers I like to hear from candidates are:

1) Their career aspirations (perhaps they see themselves as a senior leader or people manager in the future).

2) Their salary expectations (it’s important that they feel comfortable with the salary range provided, and it’s within their ballpark).

3) A thirst for new challenges (this shows they are eager to learn and look forward to new tasks).

Theresa: A thirst for new challenges – that’s such an important one! Employers are looking for employees who are ambitious, have already thought about their career goals and whether the position and the company will help them get to where they want to be. Recruiters and hiring managers want win-win outcomes – a great fit for the candidate AND the employer.

Thank you so much, Julia, for sharing these actionable insights with us and helping career changers successfully make a transition in 2023!

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