Articles : 7 Pre-Steps to a Successful Job Search

Embarking on a job search can be a terrifying experience especially if you haven’t had to explore the job market in a while. With a little prep work before you start your job search, you will be more prepared to apply to job postings and manage your job search time efficiently.  

1.      Define Your Job Objective

Your first step towards a successful job search is to clearly define what kind of job you are seeking. Are you looking for a new position within the same industry or transitioning from one job sector to another?  Are you looking to move to a higher level or transition laterally to another department or company? Are you embarking on a completely different career path or occupation? Once you have determined your career direction, research job postings to familiarize yourself with the specific qualifications and skills necessary to apply.

2.      Revamp Your Resume

Regardless if you’re actively job hunting or passively monitoring the job boards to see if anything piques your interest, create a master resume template of all your past jobs and current position and keep it updated and ready to send if a suitable position arises. Use the master resume template to create a resume targeted to a specific job posting by adding and deleting information relevant to the job posting. Additionally, create a covering letter template outlining your skills and accomplishments that can be tailored to each job posting so that you don’t have to recreate it from scratch.

3.      Research Your Industry

If you’re looking to change jobs and employers, keep abreast of emerging trends and technology that industry leaders are utilizing but your current employer is not.  If your goal is to move around within your current employer, keep aware of new developments and technology and introducing your knowledge to the appropriate person may improve your chances of transitioning to a new position.

4.      Update Your Training

If your present employer is lagging behind in the latest industry trends and technology, or you want to stay one step ahead of your competition, consider upgrading your skills and training through the industry governing association or your local college. The additional training will benefit you for years to come and keep your skills in demand.

5.      Join Industry Related Organization

Become a member of associations or organizations that pertain to your current job sector or the industry that you’re transitioning to. Be an active participant in industry events and dialogue and establish yourself as a knowledgeable and enthusiastic 'player'. The goal is to stay informed and be recognized as an industry professional.

6.      Maintain an Industry Contact List

Maintain an industry contact list and keep in touch regularly through industry events, social media, online industry forums, and networking. Remember that co-worker that you shared an office with 10 years ago; they may be in a position to offer you a new position within their organization. Never underestimate your efforts to stay connected with industry workers and leaders.

7.      Protect Your Reputation

If you’re active in various social media platforms, ensure that your profile doesn’t contain any discriminating information and/or photos that will tarnish your reputation. Prospective employers search social sites for any information that they can find regarding prospective employers so if you don’t want the world to see it or read it - don’t post it online. Create or update your LinkedIn profile to network and connect with individuals from varying backgrounds and industries  

If you follow these seven steps before embarking on a job search, you will be ready when a new job opportunity comes your way.

Christine Cristiano is a Certified Career Strategist, Career Coach and Resume and Linkedin Profile Writer with a genuine passion to help jobseekers to navigate the job market and maximize their job search efforts through her comprehensive 1-1 coaching program and resume writing service. She is moderator of Transitions Job Club and Networking Group. She can be reached at info@idealresumeandcareercoaching.com or www.idealersumeandcareercoaching.com