- 1. Make a plan
- 2. Do Your Research
- 3. Know Your Compensation Guidelines
- 4. Update Your Resume
- 5. Update Your LinkedIn Profile
- 6. Research Your Social Presence on the Internet
- 7. Grow Your Network
- 8. Join Industry Trade Groups
- 9. Attend Industry Seminars
- 10. Keep Your Training Current
- 11. Make Your List of Interview Questions
- 12. Pick 5 job Search Boards
- 13. Update Your Smartphone
- 14. Keep a Cloud Version of Your Resume
- 15. Get There First
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Job search is a challenging process, but certainly not a difficult one. Don’t overcomplicate the process. Focus on the necessary steps and execute your plan.
Following is a list of tips to help you improve your job search and focus on what is important.
1. Make a plan
Whether it’s a checklist or a list of action items, you should have a job search plan. This will keep you organized and focused. Kickstart Your job search.
2. Do Your Research
Do you know where you want to work? Do you know who you want to work for? I’m sure you have some answers to these questions, but you should have a well-developed list of the best companies that fit your career and industry.
Job search is a challenging process, but certainly not a difficult one. Don't overcomplicate the process. Focus on the necessary steps and execute your plan. Following is a list of tips to help you improve your job search and focus on what is important.Click To Tweet3. Know Your Compensation Guidelines
You (obviously) know how much you currently earn, and whatever that is, I’m sure you think it is too low. That being said, do you really know what you are worth? Do you really know what your current employer’s competitors are paying? You should do the research to make sure you align your expectations with the current job market.
4. Update Your Resume
Sounds pretty basic, but you would be surprised how many people don’t keep their resume up to date or, worse, don’t update and review their resume before sending it to a potential employer. Your resume is your most important job-search document.
If you're looking for help in reviewing and updating your resume, we've created a list of our resume review and resume writing partners. Many will provide a free review of your resume.
5. Update Your LinkedIn Profile
search and several times per year if you are not actively looking for new opportunities.
6. Research Your Social Presence on the Internet
So what’s lurking out there on the Internet that will get you in trouble with your current or potential employers? The rule of thumb is, if there is something you wouldn’t want your mother to see, then it shouldn’t be on the Internet. Even if you think you’ve been perfect with what you’ve posted, have any of your “friends” posted something that would embarrass you? Only one way to find out, do some research on yourself starting with Googling yourself.
7. Grow Your Network
Again, LinkedIn is the best place to build, grow and manage your network. While there are other social networks you should use, LinkedIn has become the standard for career networking. You can leverage the tools within LinkedIn to grow your network.
8. Join Industry Trade Groups
No one knows your industry better or has more connections to jobs within your industry than industry trade groups. While they should not be the only tool you use to find a job, industry trade groups should definitely be part of your job search plan. List of industry trade groups in the United States.
9. Attend Industry Seminars
Another way to network is by attending industry seminars and networking events. This is a great way to network in person and you never know who you will meet and who might be able to help you find your dream job.
10. Keep Your Training Current
Like everything in life, nothing stays the same and this is probably true for your profession as well. Staying current is important and employers will want to know you are “state of the art”.
11. Make Your List of Interview Questions
This is a two-way street. You need to be on top of the questions they will ask you as well as the questions you will ask them. You must be well versed in the company and role. 10 Questions You Can Expect in an interview
12. Pick 5 job Search Boards
13. Update Your Smartphone
As I said in an earlier post, this ain’t your father’s job search. You need to be up to date with the latest trends in job search and leveraging your smartphone is key if you want to keep up with the pack.
14. Keep a Cloud Version of Your Resume
You never know when you will need a digital version of your resume, and having it on hand via your smartphone or a computer is extremely important. There are a few services you can use. The top cloud services drives are all good.
15. Get There First
Gone are the days of answering ads in the Sunday newspaper via snail mail. The Internet has made it so easy to apply for jobs and every job opportunity posted on a company site or job board has tens if not hundreds of responses. Getting their first is key, but also important is to not focus on jobs posted more than 7 days old. The early bird gets the job.
The key to success in the current job market is breaking through to the hidden job market. Over half of all jobs go to someone who did not apply to a posted opening at all.
