Yet, a large number of job hunters start their search with no clear destination in mind. They’re looking for any old job. Does that make sense? Of course not.
Why not start 2004 off right, with a clear vision for your job search? Here are five tips to help you do that and find the right position faster.
1. Begin with the end in mind.
What’s your vision of the perfect job? Think of the skills, hours, environment and the pay you want. A good way to get clear on this is to define your ideal job in rich detail.
According to Don R. Monteith, author of “How To Get Your Dream Job", (www.howtogetyourdreamjob.com). All of your senses will help you focus your mind on the job you seek. Write down what your dream job looks, feels, sounds and even smells like.”
Before you dismiss this as too "new age" to work, know that all top athletes follow a similar process when they visualize the goals they train for years to achieve. The clearer your target, the easier it is to hit.
2. Gauge the demand.
Before starting your search in earnest, make sure employers are hiring for that job you want. After all, the best résumé in the world won’t get you hired as an elevator operator or stevedore. Use the Internet to see how many openings there are for your target job. Tip: you can uncover more jobs by experimenting with your search terms.
Example: a search at Monster.com for "client service Minnesota" brought back 78 job listings, while "customer service Minnesota" returned 224 matches. So, to find and apply for the maximum number of jobs, be open to all possible interpretations of your skills, experience and job titles.
3. Determine to meet the right hiring authority.
Always remember you will be hired by a person, not a computer. And the more people you meet and impress, the shorter your job search will be.
Today, jot down the names of five people who could hire you or help you get hired. These hiring authorities might include a recruiter, a district manager at your target company, an office manager you know who could recommend you to her boss, etc.
Then, determine to call those five people this week to ask for a meeting to discuss their needs and how you can fill them. Because, when it comes to producing job leads, one in-person meeting can be worth 100 emails or 20 phone calls.
4. Plan your course of action.
It’s been estimated one minute of planning can save 20 minutes of doing. So it’s important to schedule your job search tasks 1, 7 and 30 days in advance.
Writing down your job search plan forces you to think clearly. It may even generate new ideas and directions. Tip: write out the steps you need to take to get from where you are (unemployed or in the wrong job) to where you want to be (doing your ideal job).
Examples: write down the number of résumés you plan to send out, networking phone calls to make, face-to-face meetings to set up, and follow-up letters to send.
5. Take action and correct course as you go.
Now that you have a vision -- your ideal job -- and a written plan as a guide, you can proceed like Christopher Columbus, who, even though he sailed uncharted waters, knew his destination would eventually come into view.
All successful ship’s captains check their position regularly and make corrections. You should, too. At least once each week, ask yourself these 3 questions about your job search:
- What’s working? (Do more of it)
- What’s not? (Change it or stop it)
- What’s next? (Plan your next week’s job search tasks)
Here’s hoping these five tips will help you create -- and achieve -- a job search vision that brings all the best to you and your family in 2004.
Now, go out and make your own luck!
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Kevin Donlin owns Edina, Minn.-based Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1995, his firm has provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in 48 states and 23 countries.
Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, WCCO Radio, WLTE Radio and KMSP TV, among others. His articles have appeared in the National Business Employment Weekly, Home Office Computing magazine, Twin Cities Employment Weekly, the cnet online magazine and others.
Kevin can be reached through his Web site Guaranteed Resumes.
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Find A Job Today is a blog sponsored by:
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