Having difficulty finding a job or making a career change? Perhaps your strategy needs some work.An effective job-search strategy will keep you grounded, less stressed, and ultimately more successful. If your search needs a boost, think as a journalist would—but with yourself as the lead story. Focus on the “Who, What, When, Where, and How.”
Who:
- Target a specific industry and position. Don’t waste time searching or applying for jobs you don’t really want.
- Identify the type of employer you think you’d be interested in—large, small, entrepreneurial, nonprofit?
- Identify “age friendly” employers by visiting the AARP National Employer Team and RetirementJobs.com Web sites.
What:
- Assess yourself. What are you looking for in a job? What are your “must-haves” and your “nice-to-haves”? What are the things that don’t matter to you?
- Look at all options—full time, temporary, part-time, contract, or seasonal work; consider a broad swath of jobs and industries.
- Know your skills and match them to the job you are seeking.
- Consider a job with less responsibility if you’re changing careers.
When:
- If you have recently been laid off, take a couple of weeks if you can to get that experience behind you. Rather than jumping in and trying to get interviews, focus on developing your job-search strategy. If you have to, consider a part-time job to generate needed cash.
- Carve out a specific time to begin and end your job-search efforts each day.
- Spend about 4–6 hours a day on your search, but make sure you add some variety. For example, do industry research for an hour, research employers for an hour, then do some networking and follow-up with contacts.
- Be sure to take time for yourself and your family. A balanced life is as important when you’re looking for a job as when you’re working.
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Great post! Care to link exchange with my engineering job search blog?
ReplyDeleteI found this article very informative and I learned some new ways to continue on in my search for employment. I am also going to go back to college, update my skills and seek employment in the areas that I am passionate about. Apparently retail is no longer for me, I am burned out after fifteen years in this industry and several of these companies have cut back on hiring that their current employees are worked into a frenzy and great customer service is the last thing on their minds, as they have too much pressure on the job today.
ReplyDeleteAre you going back to college after 50??
ReplyDeleteThe trick in finding a job is being patient and confident. There are plenty of places that hire based on attitude.
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