You’re ready to start job searching – or are you?
Every job search should begin with a clear and concise evaluation of your next steps. Going through this pre-flight checklist can help you prepare yourself to ensure your job search is successful. Successfully job searching involves much more than just finding a new position and submitting your resume. Instead, prior to job searching, you should go through this pre-flight checklist to make sure you get the best results:
1. Establish clear and realistic goals.
It may sound simple and obvious, but few job searchers actually bother to take this first step. It’s important to establish your goals at the beginning of a search and then write them down so you can measure your performance later on. Otherwise, you may forget your original goals or be tempted to settle for something less. Write down the salary that you’re looking for, the type of job you’re interested in, how long you’re willing to job search, and what type of employer you would like to work for.
2. Create a plan of attack.
Gone are the days when you can show up at an employer’s doorstep hand them your resume and interview the same day. Instead, determine what methods you’re going to use to distribute your resume. Are you going to use LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, Ladders, etc. etc.? There isn’t enough time in the day to use every tool available, so you’ll need to decide where to focus your attention. If you’re choosing a tool such as LinkedIn or Indeed, you’ll want to ensure that your profiles are aligned with modern standards. If you haven’t already, you might want to think about hiring our team to craft a top-notch LinkedIn and Indeed profile so that you put your best foot forward.
3. Line your ducks up in a neat little row.
Although it may be tempting to just dive right into your job search without the necessary preparations, you’ll want to check that all of your documents are in order. We can assume since you’re at this stage that you’ve already received a professional resume, but do you have a nice-looking cover letter to submit with your resume? Remember, 77% of hiring decision makers give specific preference to applicants who submit a cover letter over those who don’t – so you don’t want this important document holding you back. You’ll also want to make sure you have a nice-looking thank-you letter, your social media is squeaky clean, and you’ve prepared yourself to go on interviews.
4. Preparing to interview successfully.
Interviewing effectively is one of the most critical aspects of your job search. You need to be prepared to negotiate your salary, determine the quality of the employer you’re seeking employment with, and set yourself up to boost an interviewer’s confidence in who you are as a candidate. We recommend reading our article on How to Negotiate the Highest Salary or possibly getting some career coaching from one of our trained professionals.
5. Check your references and contacts.
Many great opportunities have been lost because an applicant wasn’t prepared to provide references when requested by an employer. Although it is no longer necessary to submit references with your initial application, you should still have a list of references ready for an employer if they request them at a later stage in the application process. Speak directly with your references and confirm with them that you’re using them as a reference – and it is acceptable to do so. Nothing shouts “lack of professionalism” like an employer calling your references only to find out they don’t remember your name…
While you’re checking your references, you should also check your network of contacts to see what opportunities might be available within your own network. A recent LinkedIn survey found that 85% of jobs were filled via some sort of networking. That means your next big opportunity might just be waiting for you in your contact book!
Once you’ve gone through this pre-flight checklist, you’re ready to get started applying for positions. Remember, it can take some time to find the right position, so stay positive and resilient. The average response time for employers is currently three weeks, so that means patience is critical when it comes to job searching successfully.
