Launching a job search is challenging, especially when you’re entering a new industry or just starting out as a new graduate. Thankfully, the strategic use of a few job search best practices helps job seekers from all levels of experience move swiftly past job search anxiety and straight into an interview for their dream job. Maximize your time, energy, and opportunities by implementing a professional job search strategy based on these 7 job search tips and techniques.
Job Search Tip #1: Pinpoint Your “Why”
Perhaps the most important element of your job search is identifying your “why.” It can be a daunting question that may leave you feeling a little dizzy; what is your purpose? We spend a lot of time over the course of our lives at our jobs. How do we want to spend that time? Why choose one role over another? What’s the best fit for your overall personal goals?
Understanding our personal values is paramount to professional development and job search success. You don’t necessarily need to choose just one purpose to last an entire lifetime, either. When the pressure of answering your purpose begins to unravel your thoughts, step back and focus instead on what matters to you right now. Don’t let yourself be swept away by lifelong aspirations that lock you into a particular element of life; try instead to entertain the most prominent desires currently reflected in your mind’s eye. We are human, after all. Our goals, values, and “why” will change as we grow.
Job Search Tip #2: Make a Pros and Cons List
Evaluate your current employment situation. If you’re not presently employed, think back to previous roles, including volunteer opportunities or group learning experiences. What did you enjoy about these experiences? What didn’t you enjoy? Make a list of every positive and negative aspect of your previous employment roles. Use this list to focus your job search priorities and outline what you’re seeking in future employment opportunities.
Job Search Tip #3: Identify Your Natural Strengths
As a professional resume writer, I make a living identifying and elevating the strengths of my clients. Ask me to write a summary about my own strengths, however, and you’ll find my pen pausing above the paper. It’s difficult to recognize our own strengths.
Start by pulling out highlights in both your educational and career history. Where did you shine? How did you compare to your peers? Next, ask for feedback from unbiased sources. This could be a simple conversation with a professor, colleague, or mentor about your work and experiences together. Lastly, analyze your own view of your capabilities. Are you a fast learner? Do you enjoy listening to others? How would you rate your critical thinking skills on a scale of 1-10?
Once you have a general idea of your strengths, start pulling our specific examples of growth and task patterns. What work energized you the most? Did you encounter any work that came naturally to you and consequently, didn’t really feel like work? Pay attention to how your mind and body react to various facets of employment and capitalize on instances of easy, organic fluidity and competency. These are great indicators of natural strength and directly align with job search opportunities.
Job Search Tip #4: Imagine Your Dream Job
Grab a journal or pull out your laptop and take a minute to capture your dream job. Get detailed and don’t think about your answers too much – this is your dream, after all! Consider:
- What time does work begin?
- Where are you working?
- How are you helping?
- How do you feel at the end of your work day?
- Do you work alone or with others?
- How much and how frequently are you paid?
- What makes you excited to work each day?
By taking the time to visualize your dream job, you pull out some of your personal priorities. These priorities make great focal points for your job search and can assist when deciding between one role over another.
Job Search Tip #5: Recognize Your Areas of Development
Now that you’ve spent a moment dreaming about best-case scenarios, it’s time to get honest about your personal limitations. The last thing you want to carry through your job search is a false sense of security. To stay competitive, you need to be serious, upfront, and aware of your limitations and willing to go the extra mile when attempting to get ahead of your peers.
When faced with a dream job opportunity that sits just outside your area of expertise or level of experience, ask yourself which educational opportunities help align you with the job’s core responsibilities. Explore ways to grow into the roles you wish to capture and don’t be afraid to say no to an opportunity while saying yes to further education. Some of the most well-respected leaders in the world rose through the ranks by starting at the ground level and never shying away from the hard work it takes to earn respect, experience, and education. Be willing to put in the work to get the role you want and know your limits to avoid wasting time and energy on job search opportunities that don’t align with your current level of knowledge and experience.
Job Search Tip #6: Nail Down Your Finances
In an ideal world, money wouldn’t be a factor when choosing how to spend our time. Most of us, however, require a solid, dependable job (and consequent paycheck) to secure health, stability, and overall wellness. Recognize your financial needs and set a solid budget to help drive your job search in the right direction.
There’s nothing worse than landing your dream role just to later find out you can’t afford to keep it. Save yourself heartache and frustration by identifying solid compensation package requirements that tend to all your needs. Don’t forget to include things like health insurance, retirement, bonuses, and paid sick time when pulling out your minimum salary requirements. These items, while not always tied directly to a solid dollar amount, undoubtedly impact your financial stability and are important components of your job search.
Job Search Tip #7: Gather Support
Developing a network of professional resources is similar to writing a resume; it requires engagement, dedication, and strong communication skills. Never underestimate the power of connections you make along your career journey, whether in the classroom, in the board room, or at your first job. As you continue to grow over time, so do your peers. Who may have once just been another classmate, may now be an owner of a company in your preferred industry. Connecting with instructors, coworkers, and industry associates multiplies your opportunities and allows you to maximize your exposure throughout your job search.
Are you ready to arm yourself with the tools you need to make your job search a success? Connect with Zoetic Resume and Writing Services to grab a free copy of my Career Change Exploration Worksheet, a handout designed to guide you through every element of your job search campaign. Together we will create a resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile that encompasses who you are as an employee and launches your career search efforts to new heights.