The Job of finding a Job!!

That is right finding a job is a job, if you cannot commit a minimum of 3-4 hours a day looking than you will lessen your chances of success. So where to start? What to do first? Well, the first you need to decide is what you want to do. What kind of job do you want? What kind of company do you want to work for?

Once you have figured that out, you need to write a resume, learn how to write a cover letter, a thank you a letter, and other job-hunting communications. I will discuss these in a separate posting.

So you have your resume and it is time to make a search plan. A search plan is basically the places, resources, and methods you will use to search for a job. Let’s look at some of these:

Social Networking: LinkedIn, Twitter, Zoom Info, etc.. You need to create your brand (see my post on social networking). You need to google yourself and see what is out there about you. Join groups on LinkedIn and Twitter and be involved. Answer questions in the groups on LinkedIn, show you have the knowledge, and are not afraid to share it. Make sure you have a professional profile on Zoom Info. One big key is to remember anything posted on social networks is viewable and trust me companies are looking. Also, keep in mind some of these social networking sites, have areas dedicated to job hunters and jobs such as tweetmyjob and more. In addition, there are tools out there that can make social networking easy, such as TweetDeck and job deck. These tools allow you to post and monitor the main social networking sites and most of the sub-sites, like the ones above all at once. Remember while I have listed a lot of tools and sites, I have not listed them all.

Job boards: These are the Monsters, Dices, CareerBuilder, etc… Remember you need to not only search but post your resume as well. These sites are also good places to do research. Also, look for niche boards that cater to the types of jobs you are most interested in.

Companies: While job boards and social networking are great, they still do not hit every place. You need to check company websites as well. A good place to find a lot of the companies in your area is LinkedIn, you can also check the below web address: http://www.hoovers.com/100003475-1.html.

Associations and Alumni groups: These can be very effective networking tools, and a lot of their own websites with job boards, such as SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management).

Recruiters, firms, and headhunters: These are also great resources.

Classified Adds: That is right, the classifieds. Like it or not they still have some value, and a lot of newspapers have online job databases.

Career Fairs: These can be feast or famine, however, if you go there with the idea of not just finding a job, but also using it as a networking tool.

Internships and Volunteering: These avenues can lead to full-time employment opportunities and are worth perusing, especially for those who have limited experience or are embarking on a new vocation.

Job Hunting Support Groups: These have become more and more common. They can be both in person and online. The best ones are ones that cater to your chosen profession, as they will have and talk about job leads.

So you have a plan, you start implementing, and start getting results. Here are a few bullet points on how to deal with the fruits of your job-hunting labors.

• Keep a spreadsheet with names, companies, numbers, jobs, etc.
• Follow up on resume submittals, with the hiring manager (use LinkedIn and other tools to find out who that is).
• Always follow up on any interview; via phone, email, and in person with a thank you email.
• Find a way to connect with anyone you interview with. If face to face and in the office of the interviewer, look around at the décor, and the pictures, you will find something that you can use to make a connection.
• Do your research, and know as much about the company you are interviewing with as you can.
• Dress for success, do not carry cell phones.
• Be prepared to ask questions as well. Remember you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.

So there you have it, now you have enough to get your job search started properly and be successful.