Here's why finding a new (and better) job will be twice as hard in 2017

A new survey indicates 41% of professionals are going to be in the hunt for a new job in 2017. Their reasons for wanting to make a move? They're dissatisfied with management due to their A) inability to admit to making mistakes, and B) lack of appreciation of staff. With so many unhappy employees looking for better opportunities, here's one thing I can assure you: if you're a job seeker, your job search will get twice as hard.

A Better Economy = Bring On The "Churn"

When the economy is stronger, like it is now, people feel more confident in switching jobs. That's why almost half the working population is saying they'll be hunting for work next year. In my industry, we call this "churn." - an increase in voluntary turnover. Passive candidates, a/k/a people who are doing well in their careers but want to do even better, start making themselves available to employers. Employers love to hire passive candidates who fall high on the talent spectrum because they know they're so busy succeeding in their jobs, they don't like to spend a lot of time looking for a new job. Recruiters will proactively reach out to these candidates via LinkedIn or email to let them know about potential opportunities with their company. The result? Good employers get their pick of top talent. Essentially, stealing them away from competitors.

RELATED: 10 things to say in a job interview that will get you the job:

3 Ways To Bring Your Job Search "A" Game

With all these people looking for work, the competition will be stiff. Here are a few of tips to help you compete:

1) Your network is your net worth. Recruiters love, love, LOVE getting referrals. They're always asking existing employees if they know anyone for their open positions. Why? Studies show great talent knows great talent. In other words, when you get referred in to a job by a colleague, you get bonus points in the eyes of the recruiter because you're connected to someone they already trust.

2) Interview prep will make or break you. When you go on an interview, you should think of yourself as a business-of-one who is marketing their services to the employer. You need to do your homework and be prepared to make the best impression possible. Employers hire on personality, aptitude, and experience. If you can't effectively show you are a match for all there, you won't get the job.

3) Salary negotiation skills are your game-changer. Did you know? Negotiating $5,000 more in salary early in your career can result in a total gain of more than $600,000 in additional earnings over a lifetime. Knowing the right way to negotiate pay and benefits will help you create a win-win situation so you can start your new job with excitement.

PS - Knowing how to look for work is half the battle. The tips above will be useless if you don't know the right way to look for work. Many job seekers will fail to achieve their goal in 2017 because they'll be using outdated job search techniques. i.e. wasting hours applying to jobs online, etc. If you are serious about changing jobs, then get some education on the latest techniques for finding and connecting with the best employers. When it comes to getting ahead in your career, you get out what you put in.

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