Five Steps to Job Search Success

Relate your background and experience to current job openings.

One of the most important aspects of a job search is knowing the type of job you want. You can then create strategies for finding that specific type of work. Companies usually prefer to hire people with experience. Therefore, center your job search around the types of jobs you've done in the past. Highlight key skills on your resume if you're changing careers, as many skills are tranferable to other positions. Stay positive throughout your search and exude confidence when meeting with various employers.

Update Your Resume

The first step in finding a job is to update your resume. You may not have your current position on your resume, especially if you haven't recently looked for a job. Create a couple sentences that summarize your current job in a nutshell. Add a couple of bullet points on your skills and accomplishments. Write in present tense. Use past tense for all prior job responsibilities. Use action verbs when describing key duties. Include verbs that are common to your career, such as "managed," "wrote," "executed," "conducted" and "analyzed." Limit your resume to a maximum of two pages.

Use Multiple Sources

There are numerous sources you can use for your job search, including classified newspaper ads, online sites, employment agencies, and college career planning and placement offices. Spend as much time on your job search each day as possible. Keep records of the sources you use so you can locate them later, such as a specific newspaper job ad. That way you can check the job qualifications for the position. Networking is another highly effective way to find a job. Join associations related to your career. Attend some of the meetings. Contact old business associates about possible job openings. Some may be in new positions since you last saw them. Hence, they may know about job openings in your field.

Research Companies

There are two ways to use company research in a job search. The first way is by reading about companies in newspapers, periodicals and online articles. Study what companies in your industry are doing. Some may be expanding, for example, and preparing to hire new workers. If so, call these companies and obtain the name of the hiring manager. Send your resume directly to that person with a cover letter. Another type of research is company-specific research. This is the type of research you do before an interview. Visit the company's website. Study its products. Find out who the chief executive officer is, and how many people the company employs. Take plenty of notes. Hiring managers expect job candidates to know about their companies. It demonstrates your interest in working for them.

Prepare a List of Questions

Prepare a list of questions if you get a phone or personal interview. Companies often judge the intelligence and analytical abilities of job candidates by the questions they ask. Therefore, arrange your questions in a logical format. Start by asking about the position, including the duties and projects you'd work on if you got the job. Find out if you're replacing someone, or if you'd be in a new position. Ask about the company's management style. Your questions will help you determine whether the job is a good fit. You can also better relate your skills and experience by asking questions.

Send a Thank You Letter

Always send out a thank you letter after an interview. The letter will help remind the hiring manager who you are. It may also set you apart from those who don't send thank you letters. Keep the thank you letter brief. After thanking the person, write a brief summary of your experience, indicating how your background can benefit the company. Use at least one sentence to "reiterate your interest in the position," according to Virginia Tech University.

References

• Rutgers: Preparing a Resume and Cover Letter
• Monster; Recession Job Search Tips for New Graduates; Margot Carmichael Lester
• Quintessential Careers; What Do Employers Really Want? Top Skills and Values Employers Seek from Job-Seekers; Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. and Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.
• Parade; 5 Ingredients for Job-Search Success; Fred Ball, Career Expert; May 2010
• Quintessential Careers: Questions You Can Ask at the Job Interview
• Virginia Tech: After Interviews/Thank-you Letters/Follow Up

Resources

• Quintessential Careers; Resume Preparation Do's and Don'ts; Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.