The Complete Job-Change Guide
Changing jobs is a game for the prepared. Cram it all in at the last minute and your resume, interviews, and negotiation all suffer. Work through the steps below in order and each one makes the next easier. For every step, here’s what to prepare and how — plus a final checklist.
The first step of a job change — get your resume checked by AI for freeStartThe 9 steps of a job change
- 01
Size up the market & timing
Start by understanding demand and salary ranges for the role and market you’re targeting. Move for a clear reason — "to get to X" rather than vaguely "because it’s hard" — and every later decision gets easier.
- 02
Fix the resume — first thing
Rewriting around impact is the starting point. Tune it for your field and target country, then get an AI score and suggestions for free.
Resume guides by role & country - 03
Find the right roles & tailor
Find roles that fit your experience, then reorder and emphasize your resume against each posting’s job description (JD). The same resume fits different postings differently.
- 04
Cover letter
Where a cover letter is expected, a strategy for each cover-letter question is key. Make your motivation, background, and goals specific and tailored to the company.
How to write a cover letter - 05
Company research
Learn a target company’s values, hiring process, and required skills in advance, and your application and interview become far more convincing.
- 06
Interview prep
The wins you put on your resume get probed directly in the interview. Practice answering common questions with STAR ahead of time.
Interview prep guide - 07
Salary negotiation
Offers usually come with room to move. Negotiate from a total-compensation view, backed by market rates and your own value.
How to negotiate salary - 08
Tidy up LinkedIn
A job change happens once, but LinkedIn is always on display. Optimize your profile so recruiters come to you first.
How to write a LinkedIn profile - 09
Resigning & wrapping up
After you accept, handle the handover and your notice professionally. The industry is small, and your reputation follows you to the next opportunity.
Job-change checklist
- I’ve summed up why I’m leaving and "what I want next" in one sentence
- I’ve rewritten my resume around impact (with numbers) — AI check done
- I’ve shortlisted the roles to apply to and tailored my resume per posting
- I’ve prepared a cover letter tailored to the company
- I’ve practiced likely interview questions with STAR
- I’ve set my market rate and walk-away line for salary negotiation
- I’ve refreshed my LinkedIn profile to current and public
Free tools to use right away
Before you apply, check your resume with the resume self-check, and confirm its fit against a target posting with JD keyword matching. Good reads alongside: how to explain a career gap · resume examples.
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