Those people who are the most successful in getting the jobs they want do not approach the process of finding a job casually. They work at job hunting.
Obviously, the amount of time you can devote to job hunting depends on whether you are unemployed or still working at your current job while trying to find a new one. If you aren't working, then job hunting has to become your full-time job. If you are working, then you need to devote a specific number of hours each week to this process. Regardless of your situation, the key elements in job hunting are:
- Know what type of job you want.
- Organize your approach to job hunting.
- Do something each day that contributes to your job search.
You can't find the right job if you can't describe it, at least broadly. Many people waste a lot of time and energy responding to ads for jobs that "look interesting," "sound like fun," or that they think will make them money quickly. Avoid wasting time by defining;
- The things you do well.
- The things you enjoy doing.
- The things that you have experience doing.
- Also write down elements of a job that would be unacceptable. They might include:
- Working evenings, nights or weekends.
- Extensive travel.
- Working on a straight commission or other specialized compensation system.
- Relocating to another city.
Some people can't define their ideal job. They can tell you what they like to do and what they've done well in the past, but they can't synthesize this into a specific job definition. If you fall into this category, don't despair. Your greatest problem is that you might waste time applying for jobs that you don't have a chance of getting but which caught your eye because they involved a task you enjoy.
Describe your ideal job as best you can, then use the description as a way of evaluating each job opening. Before you apply for a job you should be able to answer the following questions:
- Do I have the minimum skills required for this job?
- Do I have the minimum number of years' experience required?
- Do I meet the education requirements? If not, could my experience reasonably substitute for some of the education required?
- Does this job represent a step up from my current (or last) position, a lateral move or a step down?
- How does the salary range (if stated) fit in with my salary history and requirements?
- Does it involve any of my unacceptable job elements?
Organizing Your Job Hunt
One of the key things that will determine your success in job hunting is your ability to get organized and stay organized. This means that you plan each day and week around activities that will help you get the job you want. Some of these activities include:
- Reading classifieds in the newspaper, business publications and professional or trade magazines.
- Sending out resumes and cover letters in response to advertisements.
- Meeting with prospective employers.
- Sending follow-up letters to prospective employers after an interview.
- Writing to and phoning friends and business acquaintances to let them know the type of job you are looking for.
- Attending meetings of professional or trade groups in your field.
If you are not working and job hunting, it is vitally important that you avoid acting like you are on vacation. Keep a regular schedule. This means setting the alarm, Monday through Friday, and getting up at the same time you did when you were working. Work at job hunting during normal working hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) with time out for lunch and several short breaks. Many people can treat job hunting more like a regular job if they get up, dress for work and then leave the house and make phone calls, write letters, and so forth. If you are fortunate enough to have office space you can use, take advantage of it. If you have to conduct your job hunt from your home, make it clear that you are not to be disturbed during specific periods. This is sometimes difficult for you and your family, but as much as possible, try to maintain a businesslike schedule when you are job hunting.
Use a Daily and Weekly Planner
If you set up a written schedule of what you will do each day, you'll be more effective.
On the weekly planner shown on the next page are some ideas for the typical job hunter. Use the ideas that apply to you, then add your own to make a daily and weekly plan that fits your needs. Write in the squares what you need to do and when, then pin or tape the schedule up near the phone or your desk. Check off each step as you carry out your plan. Resist the tendency to do things simply whenever you think of them. If you accomplish something every day, you'll feel better and others will see you as a working, methodical person. Conversely, if you won't make the effort to plan or commit yourself to a plan, you are sending the message that you aren't ready to work.
