The fastest way to land a job is to develop a plan and put it into action.
A good place to start is to create an “action list” for each of the 5 stages of the job hunt. Below you’ll find a description of each stage as well as a list of possible tasks. But no two job searches are alike, and the list isn’t all-inclusive. Be creative. Think outside of the box. And get your plan down on paper.
Stage 1: Determine Your Career Goals
You can’t embark on a job hunt if you’re not sure what type (or types) of jobs you’re looking for. It can be easy to overlook this step and just start the hunt, especially if you were recently laid off. Resist this temptation. Give yourself at least a day to explore your options and dream about your future.
But don’t get lost in the dreaming. Be realistic. What jobs are you actually qualified for? You can contact people in fields you’re considering to find out for sure. If you want to make a major career change, can you afford the time and money for additional training?
- Look back at your career. What tasks, jobs, and companies made you happiest? The most miserable?
- Take self-assessment tests. What’s your work personality? What are you strengths and weaknesses? (Try the Princeton Review Career Quiz, Myers-Briggs Personality Type Test, and Queendom’s Career Tests.)
- Research careers and industries. Is your industry growing or shrinking? What other careers best match your skillset?
Stage 2: Build Your Personal Brand
It may sound cheesy, but it’s an effective way of thinking about creating your resume, cover letter, and other support materials. You’re selling yourself, and you want to present a clear and focused idea of what you have to offer. Make sure that everything works together to showcase the skills and experience that are most relevant to jobs you’re applying for. If you’re applying to different types of jobs, you’ll want to establish slightly different brands for each.
- Define your brand. Start by writing it out – in paragraph form, a bullet list, whatever is most comfortable to you. Then check to ensure all the materials you’re preparing for your job search match up with that brand.
- Create your resume. Get feedback, double- and triple-check for errors, and then get print, Word doc, and PDF versions ready.
- Create templates for your cover letter. It’s crucial to customize your cover letter for each position, but you don’t need to start from scratch each time.
- Gather references and letters of recommendations. You may not need them, but being able to provide them immediately upon request goes a long way towards establishing credibility.
- Evaluate your social networks. A LinkedIn profile is a must for most fields, but you may want to make sure that content you’ve shared on other social networks also support your career growth (or at least don’t hurt it).
Stage 3: Find Job Openings
And now it’s time for the “hunting”. The key is to stay active, be creative, and use as many sources as possible. Don’t rely on just one website, one contact, or one event to help connect you with the job you need.
- Set up job searches. Get leads sent to your inbox, and bookmark sites to check on a daily basis (or more frequently). Find sites that specifically target your industry, like CareersInGovernment.com’s very own job search tool, and check out sites like JobTonic that allow you to check job openings for multiple career sites from one location.
- Network. Call up former co-workers and bosses. Visit with old friends for lunch. Attend job fairs. Don’t stay inside all day – get out there and be seen.
- Create a routine. This job search is your job. Make a task list for what you must complete every day, and follow through.
- Follow up. Send thank you notes. Shoot an email to everyone whose business card you collect. Many people have trouble with networking because they don’t follow through with building new connections.
Stage 4: Interview
This is the most exciting and nerve-wracking stage. You’ve made it past that huge pile of resumes, and they’re ready to actually get to know you. This means that they believe you’re likely qualified to handle the job, so it’s more a matter of confirming that you can actually deliver what your resume or cover letter promises and that you’re a good match for the company culture.
- Prepare. Research the company, the industry, and the specific position. If it’s a phone interview, you can even have helpful materials laid out in front of you for reference.
- Practice. Run through common interview questions (particularly difficult ones like ‘tell me about yourself’) by yourself, with a friend, or better yet with a mentor in the field.
- Dress to impress. It’s hard to over-dress for an interview. Even if it isn’t the industry norm to wear a suit and tie, doing so usually still helps your chances.
- Relax. If you’ve done all the leg work, you’re ready for this. Remind yourself of that before you go in, and just focus on being yourself.
Stage 5: Start the Job
Isn’t the job hunt over once you get the job? No. In many cases, companies have a three-month trial or probationary period. If you’re not the right fit, you’ll be right back to square one. Plus, the impression you make in those first few weeks and months can have a big impact on your future growth at the company. If you over-deliver on expectations, you may find that you move up faster.
- Introduce yourself. A stronger network will help you in your job (and in the future, if you’re job hunting again). Take initiative and say hello.
- Be on the lookout for a mentor. A veteran at the company can help you better understand expectations and office politics.
- Document your contributions. Create a document that you regularly update with specific accomplishments you’ve made on the job.
- Ask for a three month review. It’s a great opportunity to bring up those contributions, ask for new opportunities, and request feedback on how you can improve.
