Intro to Job Seeking

There are four things that I have seen successful job seekers do that many job seekers don’t, so today we’re going to talk about what those are. A former recruiter turn career coach, and my desire is to help you thrive and not just survive your job. As a former recruiter I know that there are some things that really good job seekers do that many do not, and it helps them not only find a job faster but it also helps them find a job that they really enjoy that helps them grow in a great atmosphere for them that they truly like. So let’s talk today about those four things and the first thing they do before anything else.

They think about who they are, what they offer, and what employers might want. They do a lot of strategy first before they do anything else in their job search. They’re going to think about what it is that they do well that they want to do because just because you do something well doesn’t mean you want to do it. They think about what they are interested in and then based on that they think about what roles could use that and what type of roles fit those strengths. Then they think about what companies would want that and what company environments and cultures they want to work for because it aligns with them.

Job Search Pre Work

That takes some work and I know a lot of job seekers don’t want to do that work because they just want to write a resume and start applying. But when you do that work it makes your job search more efficient because then you are strategic and proactive. You know what you want and you start looking for it. That means that you can articulate why you want a particular job and you will know if the job aligns with what you need. You can make those decisions quickly because you’ve thought through everything and therefore when you do accept a role you’ll know that it is right for you.

The second reason is they spend more time on networking, and this is something that a lot of job seekers neglect. Networking gives you access to opportunities that you may never find on job boards and it helps you get referred which often increases your chances of being considered for a position. They trust the process of being proactive instead of reactive and that helps them progress faster in their job search.

Networking Approach

They spend more time on networking. It’s not that they don’t look at job boards but they don’t spend the vast amount of their time doing that because job boards tend to be reactive. When you are proactive then you want to find those opportunities that best align with you and that is where your network comes in. They can learn of opportunities and let you know. If they are a person that an employer knows, likes, and trusts and they refer you in then that usually puts you at the top of the list because someone has vouched for you.

A referral never guarantees that you get the role but a recruiter will tell you that referrals are usually one of the most popular sources of finding people they hire. So you want to be in that group of referrals and one of the best ways is through networking. The third thing they do is related to their resume and how they approach writing it in a strategic way that supports their job goals and highlights who they are.

Resume Strategy

When it comes to their resume they are very strategic about it. Because they have done the work of figuring out what they do well, what they like to do, and what the employer needs, they put that on the resume. One of the things that job seekers do not do well is writing a resume for what they want to say and not for what the employer needs to know. Successful job seekers get that and they focus on what aligns to the roles they want.

Because they know enough about themselves and what makes them unique and valuable in the job market they weave stories into their resume to show their value. Not only is it targeted but it becomes a compelling read for employers. The fourth thing they do is preparing for their interviews and taking that preparation seriously so they can speak clearly about what they offer.

Interview Preparation

They prep for their interviews. And they spend the time to really understand that employer and they do research beyond reading the job description. They talk to people that have worked in that company or currently work in that company or people who know something about them. They gather information to understand what makes that employer tick and what the interviewers might focus on.

That research helps them when it comes to answering questions. Answering questions is about understanding what the interviewer needs to hear, so prepping involves understanding what you can do, what you provide, what the employer needs, and then figuring out where that intersection is. They practice how they’re going to talk about themselves in a way that shows confidence. Their answers are complete and clear and it helps the interviewer understand why they can do the job well.

Job Search Recap

It may take more effort but you want a job that you’re going to enjoy and not just any job. A lot of people have a job but they’re not very happy in it. You want to make yourself happy and find a job that makes you want to get up in the morning whether that’s going to the office or a home office, something that doesn’t feel like something you dread.

If you act strategically in your job search and figure out who you are, what you want, and you network and remember that your resume has to be strategic and tell the story of you, and then practice interviewing and researching organizations, you increase your chances. You’re more likely to do so when you do these things.