Optimising Your Job Search – Part 2

“A goal properly set is halfway reached.”

– Zig Ziglar

Last week I started talking about the two different steps in a job search: the preparation and the job search itself and the better you prepare your job searching the more effective and less frustrating the actual job search will become.

This week’s blog is about optimising the job search itself.

So you did your preparation; prepared an elevator pitch, polished your resume, are on top of the trends in the industry and networked as much as you can.

Now it’s time to actually search for and find that dream job!

The first thing to do is to focus your job search. What’s the job title you’re after? What type of organisation do you want to work for? What is your specialised field? It doesn’t work to try to get “any job”. It is not just any job; it is the next step in your career so choose positions that truly interest you. It is crucial to focus and specify the job you’re after. You may need to take the time to write your goals of what you are actually hoping to achieve from your career, and the more defined this process is and the more people you can speak to the better. Identify what it is that your career actually involves.

Use multiple channels to search for a job. Only a few people get a job by sending a resume and a cover letter to a job posting. Utilise your network! Go to events, use social media and reach out to peers in your field. Somebody might happen to know a job opening that’s not posted yet, or have advice on how they found their job.

When you find a suitable job opening, put time in investigating the company, the role and your qualities that you bring to the table. Tailor your resume and cover letter. Hiring managers have developed a special talent to pick this up. They exactly know when your application documents are especially written for them, or when they are “one-size-fits-all”. The latter one will definitely end up in the bin.

Having patience is another piece of advice. It takes time before a company gets back to you (remember that some job openings receive 200-300 applications and you’re just one of them). Don’t start spamming them as of the next day asking them why they didn’t come back to you yet. Also handy to check whether there is a closing date mentioned in the job opening. Big chance you won’t hear anything back before that date.

On the other hand, too much patience is also not good. If you haven’t received anything back after a fortnight, send them an email or call them for a follow-up.

Don’t have too high expectations that they will follow up with you. Even though we at Career of the Day always send follow up emails, we also know this is not commonly done by companies. It’s on you to follow-up on a timely basis so that you stay in consideration. We value candidates calling us for an update, but there needs to be a common-sense approach, make sure it has purpose.

Good luck with your job search!