5 No-Fail Job Search Strategies

Here are my current top 5 job search strategies for thriving in the current job market – to land the job you want, one that you’ll love.

1 – Target your search.  Be specific and targeted in your job search.  I find that I am often comparing the job search process to dating. You need to court the company/employer: Do your research.  Get to know who they are.  Express an interest in them, specifially.  Show them how you’d be a valuable employee for them to have.

2 – Get current. Update your resume format and leverage technology (e.g. linked in/facebook/twitter).  Make sure you use keywords!  Use a modern (basic sans serif) font (e.g. Arial).  Set up your profile on LinkedIn.  Use LinkedIn to connect with coworkers from your present and past and get recommendations.  Use Twitter and Facebook to make new connections.  (For great info on how to Twitter and Facebook to network, check out this post: http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/creating-connections/)

3 – Be confident.  Know who you are and what you offer!  Know your strengths, skills and goals.  Know what you bring to the table.

4 – Focus on your accomplishments.  Speak to your experience and accomplishments on your resume, in your cover letter, in your interviews.  Describe how your demonstrated work experience would benefit the new company.  Show  the ways in which you’ve “been there, done that”.  (For more on accomplishments: https://unearthyourworth.com/its-all-about-accomplishments/)

5 – Network.  Network.  Network.  Continue to develop your current relationships and form new ones.  Rather than apply online via a job search site, use your network to find a way to contact the company directly.   Don’t forget to help others find work, and ask for their help find work for you. 

I find many individuals are using some, but not all, of these strategies in their search.  If you’re not getting the results you want, are you leveraging each of these strategies in your search? 

I’d also love to hear about your “no-fail” job search strategies.