You've developed a list of objectives and determined your ultimate career goals. Your specific job search strategy depends on your qualifications, career aspirations, family obligations and other personal factors. However, you can take three action steps that will provide a starting point and foundation for pursuing career goals at any phase in your working life.
Update Your Resume
Your resume will vary depending on your industry, level of experience and whether you submit your credentials electronically or by hard copy. Chronological resumes are standard for candidates who fit the skill and experience requirements for the openings they pursue, according to Job-Hunt.org. Functional resumes can highlight transferable skills for career changers or showcase the experience of a mature worker in the best possible light.
Candidates seeking academic appointments and international positions will likely need a curriculum vitae, or CV, QuintCareers.com advises. CVs are much more detailed than standard resumes and often run several pages long. Adapt your resume to fit your field. Creative professionals should utilize design and color to reflect their training without overwhelming the substance of the resume, advises consultant Jennifer Klein, writing for QuintCareers.com.
More than a means of obtaining an interview, a well-crafted resume can provide documentation to address potentially difficult interview questions, claims career consultant Sherri Edwards, writing for QuintCareers.com. Human resources departments often use the resume to determine entry pay for newly hired candidates. Concentrate on including concrete examples of your achievements rather than packing your resume with keywords, Edwards advises.
Develop Your Target List
Claiming that 75 to 80 percent of all job openings are never publicized, Susan P. Joyce, editor and publisher of Job-Hunt.org, suggests following business reports in the media, social networking and contacting your college alumni office, among other strategies, to tap the so-called hidden job market. JobStar Central recommends following a three-step procedure for developing a list of target companies and contacts to approach for possible employment. Start with industry research, then narrow your research to a list of possible target companies. Investigate these companies to determine which ones seem like the best fit for your qualifications. Finally, determine how you will approach your final list of target companies, including crafting a targeted resume for each one.
Reach Out to Your Network
Networking has developed a bad reputation for being about "working a room" or blatant self-promotion. However, networking is actually about building relationships rather than job hunting, according to Wendy Gelberg, author of "The Successful Introvert: How to Enhance Your Job Search and Advance Your Career," writing for Job-Hunt.org. The value of networking is that people hire and recommend people that they know and trust. Networking takes time and requires both give and take, according to "Forbes" magazine. Follow up with initial contacts--concentrate on developing relationships and addressing their needs, career coach Susan Britton Whitcomb advises, writing for QuintCareers.com. This approach is easier for introverts, and takes advantage of the deep listening skills many introverts possess, Gelberg claims.
References
- Forbes.com: Networking Your Way to a Dream Job
- Job-Hunt.org: Tapping the Hidden Job Market, Part I--PUSH
- QuintCareers.com: Creative Professionals--Does Your Resume Reflect Your Design Skills?
- QuintCareers.com: Dispelling the Myth About Resumes--It's Not Just to Get Your Foot in the Door
- QuintCareers.com: Seven Smart Career Networking Moves Guaranteed to Make You More Memorable
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