5 Steps to Jump-Starting Your Job Search for 2008
It's hard to believe that December is well-nigh upon us, but that is the horrible and shocking truth.
Since this is a time when many companies slow down or halt their hiring activities altogether, it also means that this is a good time for job seekers to take stock of their career aspirations and job-search resources.
It's not surprising that you can find a wealth of job search advice on the Web. There is everything from the copious compendium of job search resources known as The Riley Guide to the step-by-step instructions provided by Job-Hunt.org. And much, much more.
While thinking about the next stage in your career could involve a lot of soul-searching - "What do I want from life?" What is my passion?" "Who am I?" - there are also a number of nitty-gritty, practical steps you can take before, after, or during this self-interrogation. Here are 5 we recommend:
1. Update Your Resume
We usually don't revisit our resumes until we absolutely have to. Believe it or not, scrambling to find the most current version of your resume and hastily amending it to reflect what you've done in the last year (or five) so that you can quickly apply for a job your just saw on Monster is not the best way to go about things.
If you are reading this now, and don't think you could send me, more or less immediately, a resume that accurately represents your skills and experience as of October 2007, then you've got some work to do.
If you don't think your resume, current or otherwise, is "killer," here's some detailed advice on constructing a killer resume.
2. Ditto for Your Portfolio
Whether your portfolio lives on the web or in one of those huge black cases, it should always represent the most impressive work that you have done lately (as well as the impressive stuff that you did a while ago). If you have not yet created Web-friendly or even interview-friendly versions of your most recent stuff, what are you waiting for?
Again, hustling to do it tonight because you have an interview tomorrow morning is not a recipe for success.
If you need some guidance, here's what erstwhile guest blogger, Nomi of Sessions.edu, says about building a strong portfolio.
3. Make a List (or Two)
Aside from having a resume and/or portfolio ready to send off at a moment's notice, the item that can be most useful to your job search is a list (or two). At the most basic level, you should list out the criteria you are seeking in a new role: What will you be doing? What types of projects will you be working on? What does the environment look like? What kind of money are you after? Etc. This list will provide you with standards against which to measure any opportunities that do arise.
Getting down to the next level of detail, your list should include the names of specific companies or agencies that you'd like to work for. Knowing where you want to be will focus your efforts on every level, from how you structure your resume and what pieces you include in your portfolio to how you approach networking (see Step 4).
If you are having trouble articulating about what attracts you, or turns you off about different work environments, then these these tools at Harvard Business Online might be just what the doctor ordered.
4. Network, Network, Network
While people may still find jobs by trolling job boards, most new opportunities are going to come via referrals and networking. If you are thinking of changing jobs in the near future, now is the time when you should start tapping into and expanding your existing network.
It's important to remember that networking needs to be an ongoing and iterative process that involves a lot of give and take. Although networking is kind of all about you, it only works if it's not all about you. That being said, I don't recommend contacting the folks you know with the message, "I hate my job. Do you know anyone who's hiring?" It's much better to start with an interest in them: "Hey, I heard that you got a promotion. Congratulations! So what are you working on now?"
And another thing: The kind of job opportunities that come through networking can sort of sneak up on you, which is all the more reason to stay in the regular habit of updating your resume and portfolio pieces.
Among other things, the Riley guide I recommended above also has a useful overview of job search networking tactics.
5. Get Help
Asking for help can and should belong to your arsenal of networking tactics; people will often be more than willing to give you feedback on your resume, cover letters, and, if they are so qualified, portfolio.
But there are also a lot of dedicated "helpers" out there who can assist you in your job search. Although it may seem like shameless corporate promotion (I do work for Aquent, after all), recruitment firms and staffing agencies can provide you with useful insights concerning the marketability of your skills, the quality of your resume, and the strength of your portfolio. If they think that they can effectively represent you, they can also be valuable allies which it comes to actually landing a job.
If you don't feel ready to approach a recruiter, however, it's worth remembering that professional associations like the AIGA and the AMA offer a lot of programs aimed at promoting the career development of their members. Consulting their websites, attending events they sponsor, and even becoming involved at an organizational level, will not only get you valuable career assistance, but will also help fill your network with people who can potentially help you get where you want to be.
And getting a new job is all about getting to where you want to be, right?
Image courtesy of Dano.
