It All Starts with a Plan
Job Searching Tips for 2009, by Brian Alden
It All Starts with A Plan
Starting your job search is like any other major project in life, the better your plan the better your results. Think back to the major projects you have started in your career or in your personal life, each began with a plan. Your plan may have been something simple scrawled on a napkin or legal pad or as complex as a plan with diagrams, lots of arrows, flow charts and a numbered order of operations list.
At Job.com we have found that there are basic tips everyone should consider when starting your job search. The following tips will help you get organized and begin your JOB SEARCH ACTION PLAN.
Find a Quiet Place to Work
Chances are you have a room or an area where your computer is, so this is a good place to start. Clear away all the clutter from your desk and start fresh. Have handy paper and pencils to take notes while you’re phone interviewing or networking. If possible make sure this is an area where you can close the door while doing a phone interview. You don’t want the interviewer hearing the kids screaming, the dog barking or the TV in the background. Think of this area as your Job Search Office.
You’ll Need a Professional Sounding Voicemail
If you don’t have an extra phone line or cell phone, make sure that your voicemail is professional sounding and that it includes both your first and last name. Voicemails with comedy or music can be entertaining but can also be viewed as childish and unprofessional so make sure you leave it out of your message when in the process of searching for a new job.
Also, if you don’t already have high-speed Internet, you should consider switching over from dial up. Nothing is more embarrassing than being on a phone interview and the interviewer asks you to go and visit the company’s web page while you are talking and you’re unable to as the phone line you are talking on is the same one you are dialed up on. In most cases the cost of an additional phone line or Internet upgrade is minimal and can be completed within a few days.
Make Sure Your Email Address is Professional Sounding
Is your personal email address professional sounding or is it cutesy like “sugarlumpkin” or “aredheadedsomethingorother” or if you are a techie something like “hackerjoe.” Ensure that your email is professional sounding like firstname.lastname@yourisp.com.
Give Your Social Network Page a Once Over
As the two worlds of social networking and online recruiting continue to merge, it’s crucial that you don’t have any content on your social media page that can have a negative impact on your job search. Be sure to remove any incriminating, offensive and derogatory images, photos and remarks from all your social pages. And remember, - if you want to avoid a particular person or group of people from viewing certain information about yourself, it’s best not to post it online for anyone and everyone to see.
Start Your Job Search Each Day at the Same Time
This is more mental discipline than anything else. If you are unemployed and your workday typically started at 8am in the morning, then start your job search at the same time. Think of your job search as the beginning of your workday. This will assist you in getting into “work mode” for the tasks at hand.
Get Your Contact Manager Ready
Most computer systems come with a simple contact database built in. If you are not comfortable using an already established database, consider making up your own using the spreadsheet software that comes with most computer systems. If you are going to create your own database, you’ll need to keep track of the ads you answered, the employers and recruiters you have contacted, dates for call backs etc.
Many contact managers are bundled within email programs and come with an integrated calendar, which you should use to set up reminders of your job search tasks and follow up call schedules, interviews etc.
Assess Your Resume and Cover Letter
Your first introduction to a potential employer will be your resume and cover letter. When an interviewer reviews your resume for the first time, this is where they will make up their minds whether to call you up for an interview.
Your resume and cover letter are the most important tools of your job search and they need to be updated, accurate and in a modern format at all times. If you are an individual at the executive level consider having your resume professionally written. The money spent on a professionally written resume will be well worth it in the long run.
Keep in mind most career experts will agree that you need to have your resume written professionally at least once in your career. To learn more about having your resume written by a professional resume writer check out Job.com’s Awesome Resume writing service at http://www.job.com/AwesomeResume/
Post Your Resume Online
The Internet has changed the way people search for jobs and manage their careers. There are endless opportunities available to you at your fingertips but the fastest way for your resume to get exposure is to post it on a variety of job boards and career sites. By posting your resume on a career site such as Job.com, you’re letting employers and recruiters know that you are actively looking for a new job.
Once you register and post your resume, you can also begin taking advantage of many free tools designed to help you jump start your job search. For example, Job.com offers the Job Finder. Job finders search through all of the available jobs in our database and then email you the ones that match your criteria and work experience. Using job finders are a great way to stay on top of the job market in your local area and field of expertise. If used correctly, you will no longer have to sacrifice long hours looking for a job - because the jobs will find you.
Make a Network List
Start making your “network list” of companies you want to work for: recruiters that you have had contact with in the past, vendors you have worked with in the past, along with former colleagues and old school friends.
Make a To Do Timeline
A large portion of making your job search successful is staying organized and focused. Setting up a time line can help you accomplish this. A time line is nothing more than scheduling certain facets of your job search on certain days. The use of a time line is most effective after you have your resume and cover letter ready.
Take Some Time Off
What take time off? But I’m unemployed I’ve had plenty of time off! Yes, take time off after you have worked on your job search. If you do it right, looking for a job is just like working at a job, so you will still need time to re-charge your batteries. If at your previous job, you worked Monday through Friday and had weekends off, keep the same schedule while you’re looking for a job. If you played softball on Tuesday nights or went out dancing every Friday night, continue to do so. Even though you may be unemployed, keeping and maintaining a balance in your life is just as important as finding a new job, and maintaining that balance will help reduce the stress level of looking for a job.