How to Kick Start Your Job Search

Friend: “Bob, not everyone knows what they want to do with their career.”
Me: “Then they will never find a job.”

Here are a few tips on how to kick start your job search:

1. Do some soul searching

• Go to a coffee shop, put on headphones, and write
• Make a list of what you like to do and don’t like to do
• Draw charts and graphs
• Play around with some numbers
• Make a list of “I would be miserable if I did _______”
• Make a pros and cons list
• Determine potential work locations (in state vs. out-of-state)
• Develop a personal SWOT analysis
• Do you want to do B2B? B2C? C2C?

2. Google “Job Openings”

• Write down 6-7 positions you could see yourself in
• Find out who is hiring in your parameters based on your degree, experience, etc.
• Diversify the websites you use to find job openings and bookmark them
• Try http://www.simplyhired.com/ or http://www.indeed.com/ on top of the other usual ones

3. Create an Action Plan and Set Goals

• Stick to the plan and your goals
• Show them to people and get advice
• State them publically on a blog or Twitter
• Track your results in Microsoft Excel

4. Write down who you know

• Start with family and friends
• Dig into your LinkedIn Network - if you're not on LinkedIn it is free to sign up
• Think about who you could sit down with for a coffee or a quick phone conversation on potential careers for advice

5. Use LinkedIn all the time

• Join Groups
• Update your profile regularly
• Search the job functions on LinkedIn
• Build your network
• Connect with recruitiers

6. Analyze potential companies

• big vs. small
• financial health
• reputation
• competitors
• benefits
• pay
• career development
• training

7. Ask around

• This is a polite way of saying network like crazy
• Change the “do you know of anyone hiring?’ question to “Steve, I’m really excited about finding a position as a Graphic Designer in California, do you know anyone in that field? I’d love to pick their brain on their experience in this position.”
• Follow up on any referrals people give you.

*Disclaimer – always follow up on these requests. Maybe you’re out at a bar or party and you meet someone who mentions they have a friend of a friend in X role at Y company. People always feel weird introducing you to other people; especially if they don’t know you that well. Make them confident and comfortable setting this up.

8. Customize your resume to match the job requirements

• At a minimum, change your objective
• It is OK to have different versions of your resume for different positions

9. Find out who the hiring manager is 

• Call into the HR Department at the company and ask
• Find them on LinkedIn (their email is first.last@companyname.com, first_last@companyname.com, or firstinitiallast@companyname.com)
• Ask someone in your network for an introduction (if they know the manager or someone at the company)
• Send an email introducing yourself and ask for time to learn more about the position (aka an interview)
• Email and follow up with a phone call (be persistent, but not annoying; try a new contact after two attempts). Keep in mind people are busy.
• If you can't find the hiring manager then ask for referrals to the right person
• Remember your goal is to schedule a “First Interview” (either in person or over the phone)

10. Rinse and Repeat