Job Hunting Strategies

Well, it’s one of those times…The economy is bad, and there are a lot of people looking for work. Hopefully, you aren’t one of them, but if you are, MindBites has some tips for improving your job search.

First steps:

-Update your resume. This is a given, but don’t just update your most recent info, spruce up your resume. If you haven’t looked at it in a while, it might be time for an overhaul. Instead of simply listing job duties, highlight achievements, results, and transferable skills. So, if you are the sales manager for your division, discuss exceeding your sales goals instead of just your management duties. Also, try to avoid looking like a job-hopper. Stick with jobs for as long as possible, and adjust the dates on your resume so that frequent job movement isn’t the first thing a hiring manager notices.  For example, if you were at a job for less than a year and a half, November 2006-January 2008, remove the months so that the position reads 2006-2008. This looks like you were in that position for 2 years, instead of just 14 months. Finally, if you are looking for different types of positions, tailor your resume for each position.

-Determine goals. Are you looking for the same job? a promotion? A new career? What qualities would you like in the next company that you work for? These are all questions to consider before you start your search.

-Contact your network. Once you know what you are looking for, you can contact the people in your network to inform them that you are looking for employment. This list should include friends and family, professional contacts, association contacts, and anyone else who knows what you do and might know anyone who could help. You never can predict where your most successful lead might come from.

-Make a list of companies for which you would like to work. Start by searching the websites of these companies for jobs, or seeing if anyone within your network works for them, or has connections with them. Often, companies will post a job on their site before they post them to job boards, but employees might know before even these happen.

-Look for companies hiring positions closely associated with your job, and share leads with other job-seekers in your industry. People within your industry will have more leads, and if they do not do your particular job, will be more likely to share these with you.

-Get more in-depth job-hunting advice and Tips from a Recruiter

Good Luck!

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