Summer is behind us, and the kids are back in school. As life settles into the fall routine, this is the time to get serious about ramping up your job search if you hope to be in a new job in 2015. Don’t waste time focusing on what you should have done over the summer; give your search a fresh start with renewed focus and energy.
Finding a job takes some time, effort and focus, so it’s critical to define a plan and get started sooner rather than later. Here are some suggestions for “falling” into some good job search habits this season:
Create a Plan
Define specific goals and an actionable plan for how you will go about achieving them. It’s the old “You can’t get there if you don’t know where you’re going.”
First, start by assessing your skills, strengths and interests. Then think about the type of work you enjoyed in current and prior roles, as well as internships, part-time jobs or even on-campus work or volunteering. Next, think honestly about your core competencies and in what industries and roles those skills will bring value.
Document your plan and measure your progress against it. Set weekly goals and hold yourself accountable — and reward yourself by doing something you enjoy once you’ve accomplished your goals for the week.
Prepare Your Tools
If you’re planning a trip, you pack your bags, right? Well, as you embark on your job search journey, you also need to make sure you have the appropriate tools.
Do you have your resume up to date and ready to go? Have someone else proof it for you, just to be sure there are no typos or other errors. Practice writing customized cover letters and ask for feedback.
Consider developing a networking profile to share during networking meetings. Think about who you could use for references and collect their current contact information. Of course, remember to ask their permission to use them as references, and tell them you will notify them when you share their information with a hiring manager so you can brief them on the job.
Having the right tools won’t get you a job, but it can get your foot in the door so you have the opportunity to sell yourself for the job. (Tweet this thought.)
Develop a Target List
What companies and industries are of greatest interest to you? Start your wish list with current preferences, then do some research to identify other companies or industries that are similar and require your same skill sets.
Consider company size, location, corporate culture, etc. while building your list of approximately 40-50 companies. Prioritize them by first ranking on a scale of 1-5, based on your interest. Next, check job boards to see if those companies have posted positions in your field within the last six months, and rank accordingly. Finally, search your alumni database and LinkedIn to identify where you have possible connections, and do another round of ranking based on connections.
Start your research with the companies ranked the highest across all categories and work your way down the list. This will not only help guide your job search efforts, but as you learn more about these companies, you can continue to refine your list.
Network, Network, Network
This is the single most important thing you can do to be successful in your job search. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 80% of all jobs are filled through networking. Online postings often receive hundreds of resumes in response, so to stand out and be noticed, you need an internal contact to pass your resume to the hiring manager. Networking helps you build and identify those internal contacts.
Networking is not asking for a job, however; it’s meeting someone at the company to learn about the company, the industry, the types of roles they offer, the skills they value, etc. This involves a significant amount of listening.
Wondering how to begin? Start with friends and family and explore who they know at your target companies. Do your neighbors or your friends’ parents have any connections to those companies? What about former coworkers or classmates? Sign up for the alumni network at your school and leverage the alumni database to identify contacts. Most people will give fellow alums a few minutes, if asked.
Sign up for LinkedIn and identify contacts there, as well. Consider preparing a networking profile to help contacts see what you have to offer and the companies that interest you. Ask each networking contact for at least three other contacts. Always thank the contact and keep track so you can follow up when you see an opportunity at that company.
Challenge yourself to make at least five networking connections each week. It does make a difference; it’s the single most important thing you can do to find your next opportunity. I tell students they should spend 10 times more time networking than they spend reviewing online job boards.
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
When you’re invited in for an interview, be sure you thoroughly prepare. Practice and ask for feedback. Use your career services office at your alma mater or rely on trusted friends and colleagues. Think about how you’d respond to frequently asked questions.
Research the company thoroughly and prepare questions in advance to ask your interviewers. Demonstrate your interest and passion for the job by coming in well-prepared.
Always Say Thank You
Interviewers remember which candidates sent a handwritten thank you note, so stand out from the crowd. If the timeframe is quick, send an email thank you, but follow it up with a handwritten note. I’ve seen a handwritten thank you note break the tie between two finalists.
Protect Your Social Media Presence
Some potential employers will check applicants out online before making an offer. Use good judgment on questionable photos or descriptions of activities you might not want an employer to know about. Put your best foot forward on all fronts to maximize your chances of success.
Your job search is a journey, and with a little advance planning, you can make it a smoother, more successful ride. Get out from behind the computer and start networking your way to a more effective job search. Being competitive in this job market is not about how many online applications you can submit; it’s about building relationships in your target companies so you have advocates there when the right job opens up.
Use this fall season to invest in your future career success.
What are your job search goals and challenges this fall? Share in the comments!
Image: Flickr
