Five Keys to Job Hunting Success



So you need a job.  A good job.

Maybe you're graduating soon and have already gotten tired of hearing your parents and friends ask, "Do you have a job yet?" Maybe you're temping or being underutilized in a McJob and you long for new challenges. Or, perhaps you've been working for a while in a career oriented job, but are ready for a change to something that pays more -- or just suits you better.

Regardless of the situation, the way to get a quality job is basically the same for everyone. You need to focus, have the right attitude, prepare thoroughly, devise a smart strategy and follow through. Read over each of these keys to success to see what you're doing right and what you need to work on.

- Focus
- Attitude
- Preparation
- Strategy
- Follow-through

 

 

FOCUS

To get what you want you have to know what you want. Employers are turned off by job seekers that sound unfocused, vague and scattered. You don't have to zero in on one overly narrow job target, but you do need to have a clearly defined picture of what you're looking for.

 

Instead of having a variety of unrelated career goals, take some time to assess who you are and what you want. Define some basic criteria you're looking for in a job, such as the skills you'd like to use or develop and the type of work environment you want. When you know what you're aiming for, you'll come across as a more impressive candidate and will find that your search is easier.

 

ATTITUDE

Looking for a job can be frustrating. You have to deal with rejection and uncertainty, and you have to expend a considerable amount of energy and effort. The right mindset can make or break your search.

 

Make sure you are:

- realistic about your qualifications
- confident in yourself and your experience
- willing to take a proactive approach to your search instead of passively     expecting a job to land in your lap and not internalizing rejection (Keep it all in perspective and don't take rejection personally.)

 

PREPARATION

Most people dive into a job search with little preparation and find themselves playing catch-up from that point on. Before you begin a heavy networking or direct mail campaign, and before you start sending out resumes in response to job listings, make sure your cover letters are top notch and your resume is in good shape.

Also, take time to learn effective interviewing techniques, whether it's reading books like The Unofficial Guide to Acing the Interview, getting coaching from a career counsellor, or practicing in mock interviews.

To help you prepare, set up a "Job Search Command Centre" both on your computer and in some physical space in your home or office. Have a place for:

- office supplies
- a log of job-hunting activities
- a to-do list for things like following up with employers
- files for research you conduct on prospective employers
- files for correspondence with prospective employers and network contacts

 

 

STRATEGY

In some professions, jobs are listed online or in the newspaper, while jobs in other professions are just about impossible to find through any way other than word of mouth (i.e., networking). You need to research to find out how best to seek employment in your chosen field.

The job-hunting methods you have to choose from include:

- online listings (like you find here at Vancouver.com)
- direct mail (apply directly to organizations you've researched by calling, emailing, and/or mailing a cover letter and r�sum� -- then following up)
- newspapers (classified and help wanted ads)
- employment agencies
- networking and job fairs

The best approach is usually to use a combination of all of these methods so that your strategy is well rounded, but to focus on the one or two methods that are most likely to pay off given the type of job you're seeking.

 

 

FOLLOW THROUGH

The way you follow up on resumes you send out, calls you make and interviews you go on can make or break your search. Job offers often go to applicants who take the initiative to make just one more phone call to express interest in the position and to reiterate their qualifications. You see, offers don't always go to the person who is most qualified, but to the person who is on the other end of the phone line or at the top of the email list. Some employers tend to have a sort of "bird-in-the-hand" mentality.

So, the main rule of following through is to keep at it -- persistence is key. The other important rule is follow through with courtesy (it never pays to harass people). You don't need to call every day, but maybe you could call once a week.

And if you feel at a loss during any part of your job search, don't be afraid to rely on good old common sense.

-2006 Monster