Step 1: Identify your work and career goals, not a job title.
Sure, job titles are useful, and they’re even important. Every job ad you’ll find has some sort of descriptive title that helps to classify the job and tell you what it’s all about. But jobs are more than just the duties you read about in an advertisement: before you tie yourself to a specific title, prioritize your goals. Do you want to work with people? Are you a leader? Do you prefer to work behind the scenes or interact with clients each day? Do you prefer a large or small company? How far do you want to commute? What types of activities do you want to fill your day? What tasks and FUNCTIONS in the workplace do you enjoy (yes, tasks are important, but you want to think beyond just your specific work tasks) – think about things like customer service, sales, project management, teaching people, categories of job types, rather than individual job duties such as filing, answering the phone, or performing statistical analysis.
O*Net OnLine is one resource you may find particularly useful to your effort. This website, developed by the Department of Labor, maintains a database of job descriptions based on functions and titles. These descriptions are often more useful than job advertisements, because they include information on the knowledge, skills, abilities, and work activities involved in a specific career type.
You may also find it useful to explore ads on online career sites – but try searching by job category, which will give you a wide range of job titles. At this stage, explore the various titles that you discover within a category – but don’t tie yourself to one specific title necessarily. If you are interested in sales, you may find 20 different titles or types of positions listed in that job category: take time to explore them and see how the various positions are similar or different. If you know of a specific company you might want to work for, visit their website and see how they advertise and describe a wide range of positions.
Step 2: Fitting into the cookie cutter: when the job title does matter.
Now that you have a better idea of the type of job or workplace you would like, it’s time to see what positions are out there. Make lists of the jobs you see, and the companies that offer those jobs. Are the jobs you want concentrated in large companies, small companies? Or, if you want only small companies or large companies, limit your list to only jobs at those types of firms. Determine which specific job titles are the most appealing to you based on the functions and tasks of each.
Next, chart out which positions you would like to apply for. Consider creating a checklist in a computer spreadsheet that details information about how to apply, what materials you need, and any other information you may want to remember.
Step 3: Why do you want the job?
You know what you want. You’re starting to get an idea of what’s out there – your options in your job search. Now, think about why those positions appeal to you. Refer back to your lists of goals and aspirations from Step 1. Cross-check them against the job ads you’ve looked at. Are there tasks you’ve done before that you like, functions that you’re really good at? Chart out the connections between your past jobs and your new possibilities: how does what Employer A wants match up with what you can offer as an employee and what you want to do?
But don’t stop there. This is also the time to think about the accomplishments you’ve had on the job. Maybe you identified a need in your workplace and created a process or solution that helped your past employers, such as writing training materials. Maybe you filled in when staff members were on vacation or sick leave, which helped maintain workplace efficiency. Maybe you converted a payroll system to a new program, or developed a new training program. Whatever it is – whether you think it’s large or small – write down your accomplishments from past jobs!
Step 4: Spotlight on YOU: Your Résumé
Now it’s time to get you résumé ready. This is when you put all the other pieces together: think about the jobs that interest you. For each job ad that appealed, create a slightly different résumé. Tweak your objective to match what the employer is looking for; for example, if Employer A wants a marketing assistant with strong customer service skills and computer abilities, craft an objective that communicates that you are a marketing assistant with strong customer service skills and computer abilities.
Then, play to your strengths. You don’t need to include every task you’ve ever done for each and every one of your employers – instead, highlight the duties that reflect your capability to do the job at hand. For example: if you have two long paragraphs or 12 bullet points that describe all of your job duties, pare down your information. Ask yourself, “What were my five most important duties at this job?”
Finally, incorporate those accomplishments! Your potential employer wants to know how you’ll be a benefit to them: let your accomplishments shine in your résumé by selecting two or three that showcase skills and successes relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Step 5: Don’t forget the cover letter!
Whether you apply online, mail the résumé, or drop it off in person, nearly all employers will want to see a cover letter. However, they don’t want to read a lot. Keep your cover letter short and sweet. Reference the job title or job ID number to which you’re applying. Write three or four sentences that describe how your skills and experience relate to the job at hand; if you have accomplishment stories that didn’t fit in your résumé, perhaps one will work well in your letter. In short, you want to entice the employer to want to know more, to read your résumé closely because you’ve got what they want.
Step 6: Know your Resources
But wait a second, you say: This is a lot to think about!
In fact, it can be overwhelming at times. Fortunately, there are resources that can make it a little easier, including your Vandover consultant, friends and family you can discuss your job search with, and online sites such as job search engines and O*Net.
Step 7: Remember – you’re not alone!
Don’t forget about the people you know! Your family, friends, past co-workers, and others in your life can be invaluable to your job search process. Ask them what skills they think you’re strong in. Get feedback on the job types that interest you, your goals, and your résumé and cover letter. Ask them to help you as you think about your career highlights, which can be some of the most challenging things for job applicants to identify.
Step 8: Do your company research
Before you send in that résumé and cover letter, take a look at the company’s website, too. Familiarize yourself with their goals, their mission, and what they do. Some of that information might work well in your cover letter, but it can also be vitally important during an interview process.
Step 9: Follow up and wait
After the interview, don’t forget to follow up with a brief thank you note to the interviewer(s). Let them know that you enjoyed meeting them and learning more about the company. Refer back to the skills you have that you believe would be valuable in the position to which you applied. Thank them for their time, and note that you look forward to hearing from them soon.
And then…
Step 10: Rinse and Repeat while you wait
All right, a job search may be nothing like shampooing your hair, but the above idea still holds true. Don’t sit back and wait on one job: keep looking and identifying possible leads and companies of interest. Talk to people you may know in industries that interest you. Look for networking groups in your field, and find out if you can attend upcoming events. Finally, don’t forget to tweak your résumé and cover letter each time you apply to a new position!