Job Search Strategies

 

            99% of those who are actively looking for their next (or the right) job have little or no strategy whatsoever. They regularly and routinely ask everyone they meet or know if the have heard of any openings, and leave it at that. The “throw the words against the wall and see if any stick” approach works for some people.

            This, of course, is in addition to the traditional résumé and cover letter approach that everyone else uses. Supplemented by a little Monster here, some CareerBuilder there and maybe going back to school to take a few courses in computers, the Internet, or nursing. Job search strategies, I mean real strategies, based upon your unique strengths and the contributions that you alone can make to the success of a company, team, or mission are rare indeed.

            It’s time (at least the people with whom I have been working on creative job search strategies believe) to establish some new methods and strategies that enable you to change jobs, change careers, and move ahead on your career path.

            How do you do that?

            It’s simpler that you might think. And, it can all be done in about 24 hours. That’s all it takes, in addition to your trusty old résumé and cover letter, which you may still use, sort of like a security blanket. You won’t really use them if you have a great job search strategy.

            Here’s how you begin.

First, you analyze yourself. I’m not talking about going to a shrink. I mean, you find out how you naturally act and react, what are the things that come naturally to you? Where are your strengths? (If you don’t know, click here to find out.)

Next, you go back over all your successes. Don’t go much farther than 10 years. What were the things you did, the accomplishments you achieved? What did you do? With whom? How? These successes, whether you can see them at first glance or not, do have a pattern. To begin with, they show you what you feel is an accomplishment. But, way beyond that, someone, other than yourself had to benefit. Make a list of them. (For a good example of personal successes and a checklist you can use to capture yours, click here .)

The third step is to determine whom you want to work for. This is easier than you might think if you give up the idea that THEY create the jobs for which you apply and that if THEY don’t have any openings that fit you, you’re out of luck. Reorient your thinking to “Who can I help?” and/or “Who would benefit by my strengths?” And then determine how you could help them make their business (non-profit, association, etc.) better.

We’ll talk more about job search strategies in our next session .