Do You Have a Job Search Strategy?

Whether you’re a recent graduate, unexpectedly unemployed, or a mid-level professional exploring new opportunities, looking for a new job is a full-time job. Between scouring job boards, searching job postings, filling out applications, composing customized cover letters and emails, things can get overwhelming. Fast. Keeping track of what you do is critical. And if you want to find your next great job, you’ll need an efficient job search strategy.

While there’s no magic button to press that will do all that work for you, these job search strategies will help you evaluate your success, and get you into your next great opportunity faster.

Career Goals

If you’re applying for every available position, you might actually be slowing down your job hunt. Finding a great job isn’t a job of numbers, it’s all about applying for the right jobs, and making a connection.

Begin by defining your career goals. By mapping out a career path, you’ll be better able to identify positions that not only align with your goals, but increase your chances of getting on a hiring manager’s radar. If you’re having difficulty defining your dream job, consider your answers to these questions:

• What type of job do you really want (not simply what can you do)?
• Where do you want to work (do you have a dream company or industry)?
• Where do you see yourself in 2 years? What about seven years?
• Do you want to stay in the same city or town? Or are you willing to relocate?
• What salary range best suits your needs?
• How many hours per week/ month can you comfortably work without draining your energy and enthusiasm?

Carefully review your answers to these questions and begin to hone your search. Implementing a focused job search not only takes less time, but it’s also more efficient.

Make a Plan (and Stick to It)

Making a plan is a lot like making a list of New Year’s resolutions. They look great on paper, but if you don’t commit to it, you won’t see results.

If you aren’t working, consider starting your job-hunt first thing in the morning when you have the most energy. If you’re employed full-time, put aside an hour or two each evening when you get home to research companies you want to apply to or search job boards.

By carving out a particular time-slot, you’ll not only move forward with your job search; you’ll get to cross things off your “to-do” list. And that feeling of accomplishment is a great motivator.

Track Job applications

It’s so easy to lose track of things when you’re in the middle of a job search. Time management is essential to when it comes to working smarter, not harder. To keep things organized consider creating a spreadsheet with all your job search details such as company name, contact info or details about where you sent your application. If you use Gmail, you can copy the web address link to your sent email. Include that in your spreadsheet for each customized email you send out for greater organization. You’ll be surprised by how much easier this makes things. And the bonus is you’ll avoid accidentally applying for the same job twice.

Partner With A Specialized Recruiter

If you’re looking for your first job or focused on climbing the next rung on your career ladder, partnering with a specialized recruiter like Inter-Connect Employment Services can make things easier. Because they’re experts in their field, they understand your industry as well as you do. They know about jobs that aren’t posted on job boards, or otherwise open to the public. And that can give you a fantastic advantage over the competition.

Whether you’re looking for full-time permanent, part-time or temp-to-hire assignments, the professionals at Inter-Connect Employment Services can help save you time, and energy. Get in touch today.