Whether you have built your career working on the line in a factory or you’ve held a position of power in a Fortune 500 company, the current economy makes it likely that you could end up looking at finding a new job. The key to ending up in a position you’ll love is – quite simply – focusing on conducting an effective job search.
In order to best identify effective job search techniques, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at the dos and don’t of finding a new job. Rather than ending on a negative, let’s first take a look at what not to do.
The Dont’s of an Effective Job Search
When you are looking for a job, there are some things that you’ll want to avoid doing. Here are just a few of them:
1. You’ll want to be sure that you aren’t just waiting for the perfect position to come to you.
2. You’ll need to be sure that you aren’t applying for positions that are too far above or below your skill and experience level.
3. It’s important to make sure that you aren’t simply looking for jobs in one place.
In other words, when it comes to finding a job and conducting an effective job search, it’s important to make sure that you are being pro-active. This is especially true if you are not working when you start to look for a new position.
The Dos of an Effective Job Search
By looking at and taking advantage of effective job search techniques, you’re going to find that the process of finding a job is a lot easier. Therefore, you are going to want to make sure that you are considering the following:
1. The best job opportunities are not going to be found simply by taking a look at the classifieds section of the newspaper or by scanning through listings on popular, web-based job search sites. You’re going to want to be sure that you’re talking with people you know and taking the time to contact companies that you would like to work for – even if you aren’t aware that they are hiring.
2. If you’ve wanted to make a career switch for a while, this may be the perfect time to explore something new. While you’ll want to be sure that you apply for positions in your current field, be sure to consider other options as well.
3. Tailor your resume to the company and position that you are applying for; be sure too that your cover letter addresses both your skill set and the needs of the business at which you are applying.
The more that you focus on your strengths, take advantage of the network that you’ve built and are able to communicate effectively with those who make hiring decisions, the more you will be conducing an effective job search. Stay positive, stay focused and take advantage of the resources available to you and you will be able to avoid the mistakes others make when it comes to finding a new job.
Copyright 2009, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved
