Stop the Madness With the Right Job-Search Strategy

Stop the Madness With the Right Job-Search Strategy Stop the Madness With the Right Job-Search Strategy Carefully prepare your job-search strategy and you’ll be one step closer to success.  A survey conducted by Ladders found that nearly 70% of its members considered their job search to be “top priority” right now. However, after carefully reviewing the survey responses, it became clear that not everyone is as prepared for the search as they need to be in today’s marketplace.This got me thinking. For the last week or so, our office has seen a flurry of emails going back and forth about March Madness. Folks are standing around the water cooler (literally) discussing their picks for the NCAA basketball tournaments. In fact, I found dozens of articles online that explain different strategies for building a winning March Madness Bracket.As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, I am not incredibly well-versed when it comes to sports. But for years I’ve watched friends, family and co-workers fastidiously assemble their picks for March Madness. The job search requires the same care ful planning and attention to detail that many apply when building their brackets. This week I’d like to offer up my strategy for the job search by sharing my breakdown of the job-search process: (1) Prepare, (2) Search and (3) Close.1. PrepareIf you want to be successful in the job search, then preparation is key. As a job seeker, you are now in the business of selling a product: you. You need to put on your marketing hat and build a personal branding campaign that advertises your skills and speaks to your target employers’ needs. Begin by taking inventory of your strengths and interests to identify your job goals. Then craft a resume that supports your goals by showcasing your most relevant qualifications. After that, it’s time to review your online presence and make any necessary changes so that it aligns with your professional brand. Lastly, identify good references and develop your elevator pitch to prepare you for the next phase of your job search. While this may seem li ke a lot of legwork up front, I assure you, it will save you a great deal of time and frustration further down the line.2. SearchThe second phase of the job search is all about pursuing job leads that align with your goals and match your skill set. I recommend ” harnessing the power of three ” when searching for opportunities. This means: (1) applying to (and properly following up with) online job listings, (2) networking with your social and professional contacts, and (3) engaging with recruiters. By incorporating all three methods into your search strategy, you will maximize the number of leads â€" published and unpublished â€" you can pursue. And when you combine these methods â€" such as leveraging your network to get an employee referral for your job application â€" you increase your chances of landing the right job, sooner.3. CloseExpect the Close phase of your job search to begin while you’re still pursuing leads. As you nurture different relationships and follow up on job applications, you’ll begin receiving interview requests. Interviewing is a three-step process. How you   prepare  and what you do   afterwards  is just as important as what happens when you’re sitting in the interview room   pitching your skills. Before you begin negotiations, do your research to know your worth and identify your must-haves in a compensation package. Consider the first 90 days of any new job to be an extension of the interview process.Everyone’s job-search experience will be different; however, if you approach your job search as a three-step process and set milestones for yourself along the way, it will be that much easier to hold yourself accountable and see your progress.