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Before you begin your next job search, take some time to plan ahead by identifying your career goals and objectives. When conducting a search, it's helpful to narrow the playing field by targeting the type of company that you want to work for, and defining your ideal role.
On a day when you have an hour of quiet time, devote serious thought to the answers to a few key questions:
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What type of company would I like to work for? A large publicly held company, a small private firm, a not-for-profit, or a government organization? |
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Which industries are of interest to me? Manufacturing, service, utilities, healthcare, education, etc.? |
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What type of position am I seeking? What title would I like to have? Which responsibilities are desirable or undesirable? Which position would offer me the most opportunity for upward mobility? |
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Which geographical location is of interest to me? Am I willing to relocate? |
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What are my salary requirements? What is the minimum salary that I will accept? |
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Are there benefits that would appeal to me enough to reduce my salary requirements?
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Once you've answered these questions, you should be on the right track and ready to start your search.
Based on what you've learned about yourself, look for companies that satisfy your requirements. You can use a myriad of resources to identify target companies:
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Talk to friends and family in your network to learn more about your targets. |
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Use Internet resources, like Hoover's Handbook of American Business (www.hoovers.com), which provides a comprehensive list of companies by size and industry. |
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Read newspapers and periodicals for current news on your targeted companies. |
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Attend job fairs and talk to the exhibitors about what their organizations have to offer—and what type of employees they might need.
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Visit the websites of your target companies. You're looking for corporate information, an idea of their culture and structure, and job opportunities. It doesn't hurt to peruse online job boards (e.g., Monster or HotJobs) in case they've recently posted career opportunities.
If your target companies have no current job listings, try to set up informational interviews. You will let the recruiters know that you're tenacious, and when you meet them and make a good impression, you'll be on their minds when an opening becomes available.
Before contacting anyone, however, use your research to tailor your résumé specifically to the companies that you've identified. Write customized cover letters for each position that you're applying for. Be sure to clearly state your objectives, qualifications, and reasons for pursuing the position.
When your future boss reads your materials, it will be evident that you're a well-prepared candidate. When you accept the offer, you will know that you're getting the job that you've been hoping for.
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Which job-search strategy is most likely to lead to a job offer?
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