A Job Search Strategy that Works

A Simple 12 Step Job Search Process

A friend asked me to help him with a job search strategy. It is simple, easy to execute and…. (wait for it) it works. Within 60 days of implementing this strategy, my friend was fully employed. He passed it to another friend who had similar results. It has been so helpful that I tailored it a bit to share here.

1. Search. Search the regular job listing sites – the ones that everybody uses. Then find the ones that are specific to the field you are searching in and include them every time you search. Start your day this way. Keep the list simple and systematic. Be intentional about the search. Helter-skelter and willy-nilly are never good strategies. 
2. Connect with recruiters whenever possible. They are ALWAYS looking for quality people and recruiters talk to each other. Just because they “aren’t looking in my field” doesn’t mean they are limited to those fields.

3. Measure. Set a simple goal of the number of conversations/contacts you will make every day in which you communicate “This is who I am and this is what I can do for you.” I made it a goal to have two of these every day, so my “target” was 10/week. Find the target that works for you, and try a stretch goal as well. 
4. Document. Keep a list of ALL of your contacts throughout the week. I initially used my Outlook calendar reminder, then moved to Excel so I could track and make notes on conversations, including when I would follow up.This will be your “Call list” as you market your availability. The headings on my Excel columns looked like this:       
           DATE SUBMITTED
           POSITION
           REQUIREMENTS (This might include degrees, certifications,
           clearances, physical requirements or percent of travel required)       
           HIRING MANAGER
           RECRUITER       
           LOCATION
           PLAN FOR FOLLOW UP.  This should include dates – a hand written
           thank you within a day of the conversation and then a date for a
           follow up phone call at a minimum.

5. Volunteer for activities related to the work you want to do. Sometimes it will give you opportunity to “write yourself in” to upcoming work. It will also give you more networking contacts. 
6. Network. If you are still employed but eyeing a transition, network internally at your present company. There may be an opening you don’t know about within your present company. A word of caution – if you are still employed, keep your outside search to yourself at this point. I organized happy hours for others in my network and used it as an opportunity to expand my contacts. I also had coffee (each of these counted toward my target number of contacts per week) with a number of people in my network.

7. Socialize. Utilize social media. Use things like LinkedIn and (yes) even Facebook. Use social media to let people know you are available. If you blog, use the time to write posts to “brand” your expertise. Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date.
   

8. 
   Follow up. If you can identify their contact information, call the recruiter and the hiring manager for any positions you have responded to. Follow up your networking with a Thank you for the time e-mail. One of my friends gave me a useful template for following up with a “prospecting” e-mail:

Stefan,

How are things going since we talked last? Hope you are continuing to make progress at (Stefan’s current position).

I want to let you know that I am looking for my next assignment. I just completed a successful engagement defining a performance measurement framework for the (most recent client or position) – this is the work I told you about when we met to catch up. It was fascinating work, and I was looking forward to continuing to help them build out their framework. However, they unexpectedly concluded that they were unable to find the funding. So I am available now for an assignment preferably in the area of performance management, strategic planning, transformation or change management.

My latest resume is attached for your reference or forwarding. If you learn of anything that might be a fit, I would appreciate it if you would keep me in mind.

Please pass my greetings to the rest of the team there that know me. I will be sending my “news” to several of them, as well.

Best regards,

(Signed)

9. Retool. Retool your resume to highlight key words related to the positions you are seeking. I checked mine (printed it out and re-read it) every week, looking for areas I could make stronger. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is also up to date. 
10. Join. Sign up for professional networking to keep up with opportunities. These will increase your networking contacts

11. Register. Register and attend (virtually) any webinars or sessions that will enhance your search.

12. Communicate. Enlist the help of friends and keep them updated. E-mail them regularly.

A Dog's Dinner

I grew up in the days before PetSmart. Pets were not as pampered or catered to as they are today. Unless you had a purebred dog that competed for ribbons and championships, it just wasn’t high on the list to feed a dog anything other than “table scraps”. The reasoning at the time was that if it was good enough for humans it was good enough for the dog.

“Scraps” was an elastic term. It is difficult for me to like asparagus to this day because the dogs we had all liked asparagus more than I did. This wasn’t hard because asparagus was “good for you” and like most stuff that is “good for you” it didn’t have enough flavor to be really enjoyable. Every dog I remember as a pet was more than happy to help me get rid of the asparagus, a happy symbiotic relationship. I’m not sure it even hit their taste buds because it disappeared so fast. You could lose a digit or two feeding table scraps to some of the dogs that were pets over the years of my growing up.

Asparagus wasn’t the only thing in the diet of our pet dogs. Other family members saved choice pieces of meat or portions of their favorite meal like the mashed potatoes, which was a favorite with the entire family, including the dog. Who knew mac and cheese is a comfort food to both humans and dogs?!  Burgers, hot dogs, cold cuts and all manner of breakfast foods disappeared into these canine garbage disposals.

There were times when we were “in between” dogs. That was not a problem. There were always neighborhood dogs - not only was this before PetSmart, it was also before leash laws. There was always a dog willing to help. Who needed garbage disposals when Spot or Chief or Sparky would be along making their rounds of the neighborhood. Just put it in the dish out back and it would disappear in short order.

This brings me to Blacky. Blacky was a stray of uncertain parentage that found my grandfather and for reasons I still cannot fathom, they bonded. He (Blacky, not my grandfather) was a few pounds short of lean and stringy when he found my grandfather, a condition which soon changed. Whatever his lineage, Blacky almost certainly had “chowhound” in the mix. Blacky loved food. Table scraps were plentiful. Canned dog food was also part of the diet. Blacky had a skill that he plied throughout the neighborhood – he could beg. And his way of begging made him a neighborhood favorite. Blacky began to waddle but he wouldn’t change his ways.

Many people approach life like Blacky approached dinner, accepting things that were nutritious for other people. Their lives are bloated and they “waddle” through life, carrying weight they don’t need to – if only they had their own life plan.

It is ALWAYS easier to take leftovers and call it a life plan or a winning strategy. Some of what they call strategy is rich – hand-picked originally for someone else. A good strategy or life plan is never a “dog’s dinner”. Like the special food from PetSmart it is tailored to the breed and the age and takes several factors into consideration.

Now I’m curious. Have you seen people living out any “dog’s dinner” kind of strategies or life plans?  What was the result of this approach? Remember, Blacky went from agile to waddling just by not controlling his habits. It’s a matter of asking the right questions and making the right strategic choices.

Do you have a life plan or strategy that is tailored for your unique “breed”?

In the beginning

It all begins with strategy. Every leader that ever led started with a strategy. And this blog is dedicated to strategy - the development, implementation, measurement and discussion of strategy. Whether personal as in a life plan - or organizational as in a business strategy - we'll meet here to "cuss and discuss" strategy and all it's related elements. I look forward to the conversation.