Organizing Your Job Search

Dave Sparkman

How much do you/should you know?

• Is your tendency to “go it alone” through career changes, or get counsel/encouragement from others?

• What’s the most important thing you can lose in the job-hunting game?

• Do people with positive or negative attitudes interview better?• What should you do first…network or create a resume? Are

thank you notes for interviews appropriate? Could I just send an e-mail?

• Is contact management software necessary to manage your networking list?

• You know you’ll be hired when….

Overview

• Spiritual Preparation• Definitions• Support• Attitude & Aptitude• Time Management• Tools• Organizational Tips

#1 – Spiritual Preparation

Draw Closer to God through Scripture (Joshua 1:8) Seek His Plan for You (Jer. 29:11-13) Trust His Timing Pray for Your Job Search Pray for Others Help Others – Earn the goodwill of your neighbor:

“What can I do to be useful to you?” (Hans Selye, quoted by Bob Buford in HalfTime)

#2 – Define…a change in?

• Occupation – inclusive of employee, consultant, contractor, part-time, franchisee

• Field – healthcare, accountant, advertising, etc• People – they leave people, not organizations….• Work Environment – flowing streams vs. cubicle farm• Goals and Values – “wanted to go a different direction”• Salary – usually, we want more!

What are the logical paths?

• Old Occupation, Old Field• New Occupation, Old Field• Old Occupation, New Field• New Occupation, New Field

#3 - Support

• Family – in every sense of a definition• Small group – light accountability• Networking groups – familiar faces• Church – “just attend?” (help them help you)• Friend – accountability and encouragement• References - insights

How are you doing? “I never understood that for someone of my qualifications and experience, it could be so complex and difficult.” vs. “Fine”

#4 – Attitude & Aptitude

• Accepting Loss and Opportunity:– Denial to Shock– Distraction to Panic– Irritation to Anger– Feeling Down to Depression– Some Stress to Physical Illness

• Discovering Your Unique Qualities– Self Assessment– Reference Assessment– Professional Assessment– Bringing It Together

#5 – Time Management What are the odds??? Where should you spend your time…

Five Worst strategies• Use the internet – 4%• Mail out resumes to employers at random – 7%• Answering ads in professional/trade journals – 7%• Answering local newspaper ads – 5-24%• Going to private employment agencies or search firms – 5-24%

Five Best strategies:• Networking with family, friend, and career center staff – 33%• Knocking on the door of any employer that interests you - 47%• Calling employers in your field of interest and asking if they have vacancies – 69%• Group approach to point above – 84%• Life-Changing Job-Hunt – 86%

Source: What Color is Your Parachute?

#6 - Tools• E-mail: ensure it’s a professional address (i.e. not “machoman”)

• Websites– Commercial service: companies/individuals pay to access… Monster.com, Hotjobs.com, etc.

– Proprietary headhunter: help headhunters earn fees… FutureStep, Leadersonline

– Proprietary corporate: help companies save on fees

– Executive Interface: charge executives… Exec-U-Net.com, NetShare.com, Searchbase.com

– Altruistic – primarily public service…ajb.org, shrm.org, Ritesite.com

• Books: What Color is Your Parachute? Rites of Passage…• Resume• 30 second resume – the elevator speech• Marketing piece• Business cards• Cell phone or business line• PC and printer• Form letters• PDA• Cards – for all occasions

#7 – Organizational Tips

• Call sheets• Home Portal (Crossroadscareer.org, then Career Tools)• Journal• Practice Schedule• Lists, Lists, and more Lists:

– Goals– Websites visited and applicability– Website postings for targets– Jobs applied for at those targets – Companies: both targets and “NO’s”– Networking: Made and to be made– Connections: Remember “how”– Follow up needed