Within four months of starting his search, he landed a position earning a six-figure income as a major accounts district manager in Roanoke for Automatic Data Processing, a payroll and tax-filing processing company based in Roseland, N.J.
What's the secret to success for Mr. Clements and other job seekers who seem to sail through job transitions? Often what sets these candidates apart is that they take a proactive approach to their job search. "If you sit and wait for [opportunity] to come, chances are it won't find you," says Mr. Clements. No matter where you are in your job search, you can take charge of your career. Following the steps below will help you get started.
Before You Start
1. Determine your priorities. What's most important to you in your job? For example, are you looking for a company that is closer to your home; has telecommute opportunities; involves less travel; or has a broader benefit package? Assessing your priorities will help you identify the types of companies you'll want to target in your job search.
"Do an early assessment," says Jay Schwartz, president of the Richmond Group USA, an affiliate of Management Recruiters International Inc., a recruiting company based in Cleveland. "The more open you are in terms of geography, position and compensation, the more opportunities [become] available."
Schwartz recommends expanding the parameters of your search early in the process. The key is to "get in front of as many organizations as possible," he says.
2. Identify your long-range goals. What's your motivation to leave your current position? Is it lack of advancement? Are you under-appreciated? Are you seeking a company offering tuition reimbursement? Sarah Wilson, director of human resources at Richfield Retirement Community, a nonprofit based in Salem, Va., asks these questions when interviewing candidates.
Consider where you want to be in five years. As a hiring manager, she takes a long-term view. "Turnover is expensive," she says. "I want to make sure the fit is correct, so I also consider whether we can meet the candidate's needs, not just for the short term, but five years down the road."
It may take time to decide a change is a step in the right direction. Don't jump from the frying pan into the fire.
3. Stay on top, educationally and professionally. The job market is changing rapidly, so this is a continuing commitment. Whether through higher education, professional seminars, workshops or conferences, take advantage of opportunities to boost your knowledge. Invest the time, effort and money to earn career- or job-specific certifications that will give you an edge.
4. Realize the importance of timing for both you and the employer when it comes to making the right match. Don't wait for a reduction in force, corporate acquisition or a downturn in sales to make the decision for you.
Mr. Clements had timed his switch before he'd locked himself into a commitment with the new owners of his former employer. "It's better to be proactive than reactive," he says.
Keep your options open, says Frank Lassiter, owner of Dunhill Professional Search, a franchise in Richmond, Va., of Dunhill Personnel Systems, a recruiting firm based in Hauppauge, N.Y. "Always be planting seeds," he says.
Be ready to make a change if an opportunity arises. But think through the possible impact on your spouse's job, children's school, home or rental property, parents and caregiver arrangements. You won't want to overlook these factors, as they're essential in helping to ensure that you make the right decision at the right time.
Your Action Plan
When you're ready to start job hunting, you'll need to develop a plan of action. The following five steps are a basic outline for conducting an effective job search. Take the first step. The remaining steps will be much easier.
1. Write a well-tailored, professional-looking resume. This document will be the first thing from you that employers see. It should reflect how you view yourself as a professional and, to be effective, it should convey your position level, i.e., executive management or sales professional. Your resume should prompt the hiring manager to say, "'I want to see this individual,'" says Mr. Lassiter.
"I wanted a comprehensive resume, so I went to a professional" resume writer before even approaching ADP, Mr. Clements says.
2. Start networking. Don't overlook any contact who might help open doors of opportunity. Professional associations and trade-show contacts often are untapped resources in identifying potential job opportunities. Consider also former co-workers who worked with recruiters when they left your organization, says Mr. Lassiter. Try contacting the recruiter or even several, then narrow the field to one who understands your business.
Mr. Clements found his job at ADP through contacts he knew at the firm. He'd known them because ADP had done the payroll for his former employer.
3. Identify the players in your search field -- geographically and professionally, says Mr. Schwartz. Conduct some research and make a list of companies ideally suited to your qualifications and long-range interests. Include critical recruiters who specialize in the level of employment and types of companies in which you're interested.
4. Send an appropriate resume and custom-written letter to the key decision-maker of the company. Says Mr. Schwartz, when conducting a job search, professionals must realize they have a new job: to market yourself.
The timing of your contact can push the human-resources manager [or other decision-maker] to do something they would not otherwise do, says Ms. Wilson. In front of the right person, your resume can provide the impetus to replace a borderline employee or to add a position the company has been contemplating. This proactive approach gets assertive job candidates in the door.
5. Pursue advertised positions through the Internet, industry journals and/or classified newspaper ads. But use discretion if you post your credentials online. Once your resume is out there, you never know who might see it.
Mr. Clements contacted ADP representatives to let them know of his interest in the company. His personal initiative paid off: he's the company's first representative to live in and service the Virginia territory he covers. "Don't sit back and think [an offer] will come across your fax. It's out there to be had. If you have a proven track record, there are always companies in high-growth mode that want good people," he says.
