Job Search Techniques

• Take advantage of your career transition. Use it to get to know yourself.
• Do a personal assessment. Understand what skills you bring to the marketplace. What are you options with your skill sets-particularly if you are considering a career/industry change. (If you are unable to do this yourself, seek professional help.) This is no time to go it alone.
• Develop a mission statement of where you want to go.
• If you are unhappy in your current position, make your thoughts, feelings and ideas known in a POSITIVE manner. Don't keep things hidden. People have to be aware of your position or they will be unable to help.
• Network, network, network. Improve your networking techniques. Don't contact people to ask for jobs. Don't put your job search on someone else. Instead, ask for information and referrals--and follow up on each suggestion. You never know where it's going to lead.
• If you are unemployed, become visible. Join alumni organizations. Volunteer. This can lead to permanent employment and widen your network. It will also fill in time gaps on your resume. There is no reason a potential employer has to know you weren't being paid.
• Take advantage of all available technology. E-mail, Internet, on-line services, resource library. Make sure all your information is current. Call to make sure.
• Use the Internet, job fairs, and career expos for gathering information.
• Use the newspaper to know and understand local business climate.
• Understand how you create value for the company you work for or want to work for. Start researching what you can offer employers. Study company needs and be prepared to tell interviewers how you can help them. Find out the challenges facing the organization.
• Target only four companies at a time. Find out about:
  • Product
  • Philosophy
  • Who works there
  • Corporate culture
  • Mission statement
  • Financial statement
• Learn marketing concepts for re-employability
  Target the opportunity--what you want
  Position yourself
  Differentiate yourself from your competition
• Be prepared for multiple interviews. Don't wing it.
• Be assertive. Ask for what you want and need. Be clear and specific.
• Socialize with other individuals--join a support group.
• Take action. Don't wait for others around you to do something. Do something for yourself.
• Stay focused. Keep on track. Be persistent and consistent. Plan and implement. Be adaptable and flexible.