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The process of finding a job is a job in itself.  And a job search requires skills that people may seldom use in other situations.  The five stages of job-seeking are as follows:  (1) establishing career goals, (2) creating a resume, (3) developing a network, (4) interviewing effectively, and (5) making a good decision.  Suggestions for success at each stage are given below.

If you’re not clear about what you want, then you may wind up with a job you don’t want.  Before starting your job search, you should define both your short-term and long-term objectives.  Consider your life goals as well as your work goals.  If you skip this step, you will not be able to create an effective  resume or develop a useful network. 

§          Envision your ideal future.  If you had no constraints, what would you like to be doing five years from now?  What next step would help you get there?

§          Find resources to help with goal-setting.  Research career guidance books on Amazon, go to the library, visit helpful websites, use your college placement office.  If you want to use paid help, consider a career counselor.   Be sure to get references.

§          Set aside a couple of hours to review your work history and your life.  List the jobs, tasks, or activities that you have most enjoyed, regardless of whether they were paid or unpaid.  Then list things that you truly disliked about the work you have done.  See what common threads you can find in your past.

§          Consider the type of organization you prefer.  Small, medium, or large?  Loose and flexible or tightly structured?  Family atmosphere or no-nonsense business focus?  Choosing the wrong work environment can be as bad as selecting the wrong type of work.

§          Think about working conditions.  Do you mind travel?  How much?  Are long hours okay?  Or a long commute?  How much time do you need for family or other non-work activities?

§          Finally, write down your short-term and long-term objectives.  If you are considering a career change, be sure to research the new job or field so that you know what you’re getting into.  “Dream jobs” often look somewhat different once you are in them.

Once you have defined your goals, you need to create a resume that highlights your relevant qualifications.  The purpose of a resume is not to get a job, but to get an interview.  You want prospective employers to review your background and think, “Gee, I really ought to talk with this person.”  Remember that you are competing with every other resume in the stack, so you want to stand out in a positive way.  Your cover letter is also important.  

§          Find resources on resume writing.  Look for books on Amazon, go to the library, or find helpful websites.  Do not assume that you know the best way to present yourself.  Learn from the experts.  If you want to pay someone to help, just be sure to get references and review samples of their work.

§          Think about your background from the point of view of a potential employer.  What would convince them that you are good at your chosen field?  How much detail will they want?  What interesting facts might set you apart from the crowd?  Provide information related to your career goal.

§          Ask a friend in management or human resources to review your resume and make suggestions.  Input from anyone with experience in interviewing and hiring will be helpful.  You may also be able to get resume advice from some of your networking contacts (see below). 

§          Do not lie or misrepresent any aspect of your background.  If found out, you will be automatically eliminated from consideration.  And if you are hired and found out later, you could be terminated. 

§          Be prepared to tailor your resume for different types of positions or organizations.  This may be a pain, but it’s worth the effort.  The more closely you can match the employer’s requirements, the more likely you are to get an interview.  

§          Google yourself to see what information may appear about you online.  Do not post anything on any website that might be detrimental to your job search.  Employers are increasingly likely to do web searches on applicants. 

§          Be sure that you know what your resume looks like when sent as an email attachment.  Because the formatting can change when your document is opened on a different computer, stick with standard fonts, bullets, and other elements.

Blindly sending out resumes in response to ads is like throwing darts at a board behind a sheet.  Although you should certainly apply for advertised jobs, the best job leads often come through personal contact.  A key step in any job search is developing a network of people who can help you identify job leads.  If you are currently employed, you may need to be more discreet about networking activities.

§          List all the contacts that you have from any part of your life: work, friends, relatives, church, civic organizations, hobby groups, neighbors, etc.  Start collecting their phone numbers and email addresses.

§          Divide your list into first, second, or third-degree contacts.  First-degree contacts are those with whom you have a strong relationship, such as relatives or close friends.  These are the people you can call on for anything at any time.  Second-degree contacts are people that you actually know from work or other activities.  Third-degree contacts will be names that you get from the other two groups. 

§          Enlarge your network by getting out and meeting people.  Join job search groups, professional societies, and any other organization that might help.  Go to parties and neighborhood gatherings.  You never know who might have a useful job lead.

§          Create a networking database that lists all your contacts and any relevant information about them.  Include a place to list the dates that you contact people and the result of that contact.  As you collect names, add them to the database.

§          Tell all your first and second-degree contacts know you are looking for work.  Ask them to give you the names of anyone they know who might help you identify leads.

§          Develop a short introductory spiel to give third-degree contacts when you email or phone them.  Always use the name of the person who referred you.  Don’t just ask if the contact knows of any job openings.  See if they can suggest other people for you to contact, and ask if you can use their name.  If appropriate, ask if you can send them a resume. 

§          Don't expect third (or even second) degree contacts to actually meet with you.  That will take too much of their time.  Instead, ask if they could give you ten minutes on the phone.  Most people will do this if you have been referred by someone they know.  Send a thank-you email to all contacts who have been helpful (if you have their address). 

§          Send occasional updates on your job search to first and second-degree contacts.  This will remind them to think about you.  When you find a job, let them know that your search was successfully completed.

If you network well and have a compelling resume, you will eventually get interviews.  Keep in mind that an interviewer’s first objective is to screen out potential problem employees.  Their second goal is to find the one best person for the job.  So you must (1) not raise any red flags and (2) show how you stand out from the crowd.

§          Look for books or web resources on interviewing.  If you know hiring managers or human resource people, ask what they look for during an interview. 

§          Never go into an interview cold, figuring that you can just “wing it”.  To prepare, get a list of common interview questions and develop good answers to them.  Go the organization’s website and learn as much as possible about this potential employer. 

§          Ask a friend to help you run through some practice interviews using commonly-asked questions.  Get feedback on both your answers and your body language.  Try to practice with more than one person, since they may have different opinions.

§          If you anticipate difficult questions related to your background, develop answers that will not raise red flags about future performance.  Consult books or other resources about how to answer tough questions.

§          Before each interview, think of one or two questions to ask the interviewer that have nothing to do with pay or benefits.  Applicants who have done their homework and who appear interested in the organization always make a better impression.

§          During the interview, smile, be friendly, and try to relax.  Try to match the conversational pace of the interviewer.  Be aware of whether you are talking too much or too little.  Save your questions for the end of the interview unless you are invited to ask them sooner.

§          It’s okay to ask how soon you might expect to hear something.  But don’t be pushy about it.

You’ve been hoping someone will choose to hire you, but once they have, you still need to decide if this is the job you want.  Don’t take the first offer out of desperation if the job seems like a terrible fit. 

§          Compare your knowledge of the job and the company with your original career objectives.

§          If you are unfamiliar with the company, check out their reputation.  Use your networking contacts to see if anyone has useful information or knows someone who has worked there.  Google company executives or managers to see what turns up. 

§          If you got bad “vibes” during the interview, be cautious.  Negative interviewers, disorganized interview processes, complaining employees – all may be warning signs. 

§          If this is not your ideal job, but you take it anyway, be prepared to stay for at least a year.  Doing otherwise is not fair to your new employer and could get you tagged as a job-hopper.

If you give job-seeking your complete time and attention and develop the skills needed to succeed, your vocational future should look bright.

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Ó Marie G. McIntyre ▪ Atlanta, Georgia ▪ All Rights Reserved