How to Search for a Job Successfully

Most jobs are never advertised.  Depending on which report you read, up to 90 percent of all jobs are filled by internal promotions or as a result of job networking.  This means that only 10 percent are filled by conventional job searches.  That’s why job networking has become so crucial.

Many job seekers are unfamiliar with the techniques of job networking.  Here is an approach that even the first-timer can use successfully.

Dynamite Resume

Begin by updating your resume, just as you would when preparing to answer job ads and postings.  Updating will help you focus your thoughts on your job search and prepare you mentally to job network successfully.

There’s a myriad of resume how-to’s but one common thread is keep that resume short.  Brevity is key.  In general, the shorter the resume the greater the chance it will be read.

The dynamite resume that will result is what you’ll need when your job networking strategy begins to reap job prospects.  

Contact Lists

The next step is to prepare contact lists of people you know.  The list should have columns: names, phone numbers, their employers, addresses, how you know them, shared interests or other things in common, and the last time you were in contact with them. 

Divide this list into five groups: personal friends, family, former work friends and colleagues, people of influence that you know, and contacts you know less well but who will know you from your former job or other associations. 

This latter group will include suppliers to your former employer, competitors to your former employer (competitors are very good re-employment prospects), and contacts you may have made in business and industry associations, or trade unions. 

You also have other sources for potential contacts: groups such as professional or trade associations, educational institutions you have attended as a part time or full time student, organizations you may volunteer for, church associates, people who share your hobbies or other interests, sports contacts through golf, fitness and other sports affiliations like coaching or volunteer jobs for sports teams.

Prepare a Plan

Third, prepare a plan. Think the plan through carefully.  Your success in finding another job quickly will rely heavily on how much effort you put into this step. 

Your plan needs to focus on what specific kinds of jobs are of interest to you.  In general, people are best at what interests them most.  Your hobbies or other pursuits that interest you, such as outdoor interests for example, may hold the key to your future success.  Think these through.  Make notes.  Reflect. 

Similarly, know what sectors you want to work in.  It’s a good idea to research the outlook for those sectors and how they are currently doing.  For example, it might be prudent to avoid the real estate industry just now, unless you have a ‘ground floor’ opportunity with impressive upside potential when the recession ends. 

Draft a Summary

Prepare a few paragraphs on why you want to work in those industry sectors.  Do one for each sector.  Then draft a few sentences for each on why you are interested in certain jobs in those sectors, why you will be good at those jobs, and the skills and experience you will bring to those jobs.

These few sentences are your passport to successfully being hired into a job you will enjoy and in which you will excel. 

Be honest with yourself.  The more honest you are the more confident you will be when using the material you have prepared in discussions with contacts and especially potential employers.   

Down To Work

Once your strategy has been fleshed out and finalized, it’s time to get to work.  Treat your job networking like a job.  It is your job until you find paid employment again.

So get on the phone to all those contacts you’ve assembled.   Start the conversations with small talk.  Get the conversation going by asking questions of the person you are calling.  People relax when talking about what they know best and like best – themselves.

By the way: Do not be shy about calling family.  They are on your side.  They are far more likely to go that extra mile to be helpful to you.   

Be informal with your questions, as informal as you can be according to how well you know the person.  Ask about their family, your mutual acquaintances, their job, hobbies, other interests. 

In no time at all the conversation will get around to the purpose of your call.  When possible, wait until the person you are calling asks how you are doing, or what you are up to.  That’s your opening.

No Job Asks

Never, ever ask the contact to help you find a job.  This is not the reason for these calls. Equally important – never ask the contact if they have a job for you.  

If they or their employer does have a job opening, they will let you know.  The purpose of your call is to let them know you are looking, that you are on the job market and above all to get information.  Request information – not a job. 

Ask them for their opinion on how they think their industry or employment sector is doing.  Then ask if they have heard of any employers with openings in your area of interest or expertise. 

Most will not have any suggestions.  Don’t belabor the point.  And don’t rush the conversation.  Just move on to other friendly conversation, then terminate the call when it can be done graciously. 

Some contacts you call will have suggestions.  When they do have suggestions, always ask for contact names and phone numbers.  These are important.  You will be calling them next. Ask those who provide the names of contacts for permission to use their name.  It’s basic courtesy, but their name can also be an ‘in’, a positive reference, for you.

These referred contact names are what you are after.  They are the core of your job networking. 

When you call them, if possible use the name of the person who referred you.  Tell them briefly and simply that you believe you have the skills and experience the job requires.  Ask about forwarding that dynamite resume. 

Before you know it, you will be launched on your new career.

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 Copyright © 2009 H. James Osborne   All Rights Reserved