I can't emphasize this enough, if you don't have a process for your job search you will go crazy, get depressed, feel confused, and feel lost most of the time.
But if you do have a process, a series of steps you follow for your overall job search and for each opportunity individually, you'll keep your sanity, stay objective and handle setbacks better, and feel much more in control.
Here is a simple process you can follow that works amazingly well, if you follow it.
Alright, this is a lot to take in, but if you do these 5 steps, without thinking to much or making excuses, but simply doing them as best you can with what you know now, you're going to do very very well and get lots of requests for interviews.
Need help with any step, I'm here!
Coach Baez
But if you do have a process, a series of steps you follow for your overall job search and for each opportunity individually, you'll keep your sanity, stay objective and handle setbacks better, and feel much more in control.
Here is a simple process you can follow that works amazingly well, if you follow it.
- TARGET your efforts - don't be random, be focused. Research jobs and companies you want to target, make a list, sort them by best opportunities to least likely, and learn about the projects, needs, goals, and how you can deliver on those. Use this knowledge to refine your Resume, your Script for interviews, and your LinkedIn and networking searches.
- INCLUDE SMALL-MEDIUM BUSINESSES - make sure you don't discount more than 50% of the market place made up by small and medium sized businesses - there are millions of them. Do a Google Map search for keywords that can reveal them, including the market your researching (Healthcare, Sales, Marketing, Nonprofit, etc) and stuff like LLC, Org, Company, Partners, Inc. You'll find hundreds of potentials clinics, stores, manufacturing, office, banking and finances, real estate, legal, and other business you might not have heard of but could use your expertise.
- SPEND 80% OF YOUR TIME OFFLINE - this means, if all you're doing is jumping on Job Search websites and applying you're following what could be a losing and slow strategy. Instead, spend most of your time making a list of Companies you can target, then find ways to get in front of them and connect (aka networking). This can be finding a connection on LinkedIn, going to their events, conferences, meetups, or simply knocking on their door and dropping off your resume.
- CUSTOMIZE YOUR MATERIALS - use all the above intelligence you get to customize your materials to speak to their needs. Let me repeat that, because this is super important - FIND OUT their top needs and make sure you customize your materials to show that you deliver on those needs or could!
- MASTER YOUR LINKEDIN - for those of you aiming for professional jobs, and I hope you all are, you need to be on LinkedIn. Look back at my posts for Tips on LinkedIn to get your profile updated, add your new resume elements, connect with companies you want to target, find people to meet with, and learn all you can about your hiring manager or team! Visit it daily, if even for 5-10 minutes, searching for jobs and people, and connecting to anyone and everyone that you can help and could someday help you. Find ways to help others and give - and let the law of reciprocity do it's magic.
Alright, this is a lot to take in, but if you do these 5 steps, without thinking to much or making excuses, but simply doing them as best you can with what you know now, you're going to do very very well and get lots of requests for interviews.
Need help with any step, I'm here!
Coach Baez