It’s common for many job seekers to start their job search satisfying their curiosity. They jump on sites like LinkedIn to see what roles are available. After a few queries they find a role or two that pique their interest.
A quick review of the job description and they think, “I could do that” and in no time they’re hitting the submit button.
Feeling mildly optimistic from this little momentum and relatively small effort, they move on to check out and apply to a few more job posts.
Before they know it, they’re down a rabbit hole applying for a bunch of roles without any clear plan. It’s a known tactical approach. Many call this the “spray-and-pray” method. Unfortunately, it’s rarely effective.
There is a much better way to approach job seeking. One that’s deliberate and strategic. And ultimately more effective.
Start with a goal
So let’s start at the very beginning.
Before you update your resume or LinkedIn profile copy, first decide what you want in your next role. Get specific. This may be an opportunity where you can find the kind of work and company you would do best in.
Yes, think about salary and benefits but go deeper and think about culture, management style, company maturity, number of employees, location, flexibility, commute, representation of diversity, upward mobility, commitment to giving back, etc. Come up with a thorough list of the things that are most important to you.
List the items in order of priority. This will be important to help guide you when making decisions on jobs to apply to or companies you’d consider an offer from. If it doesn’t match your priorities, it’s misaligned so you should not pursue it.
Example job criteria prioritization
Action
- Define your priorities for your ideal role and company.
- Rank your priorities by what’s most important to you.
Let your list be your north star in all your job search activities.
Create a job search plan
From this exercise you will have a clear idea of what you want to go after. Now create a plan to execute on it focusing on finding opportunities that match your priorities. Create a document that outlines the work you will do. Call it a job search project plan. It’s best to break it down into stages.
Stage 1: Preparation
Match your resume to your desired role and update your LinkedIn profile to showcase your professional brand. Both of these should have keywords that match your ideal position.
Further, create a prepared introduction to articulate who you are, what value you bring, and what you’re looking for. These things will be the foundation of how you professionally present yourself in writing, online, and in person.
Action
- Update your Resume and LinkedIn profile
- write out and practice your 30-second introduction
Stage 2: Research
Conduct research on companies that will match most of the criteria you defined. Start with your target industry, location, or discipline to help you hone in faster on companies that match your criteria. Or you can check out lists like Crunchbase or INC’s 5000 fastest growing privately held companies for inspiration. Here’s an article with a number of unconventional research ideas.
Action
- Create a list of 15-20 companies that align with your criteria. Research them.
Stage 3: Networking and outreach
In this job market, it is essential you include networking as a part of your job search plan. The market is competitive and the best jobs rarely make it to LinkedIn. That’s because they’re often filled through word of mouth and loose connections. Be sure to tap into your warm contacts and expand from there. This is a big topic to learn about so grab my free networking guide on how to approach networking more confidently.
Action
- Tell your warm first-degree connections about your target role and companies. See if they have contacts at any of them.
- Use LinkedIn advanced search to find out if you may have any connections at your target companies.
Document and analyze your activities
Find a way to track all your job search activities including networking outreach and any job application submissions. This could be as simple as an excel spreadsheet or a Trello board.
Monitor all job search activities and periodically conduct analysis on your activities to determine where you get your best ROI. In this market, networking will likely yield better results than application submissions even though it may take some more time and effort.
Action
- Set up a system to document all your job search activities (excel document or board such as Trello).
- Update progress, capture notes, and plan your outreaches.
- Every two weeks, review your activity to analyze what’s most effective. You need enough time to spot a trend.
Plan for emotional ups and downs
While all the above planning will be good to stay focused and disciplined, you also need to be prepared for the emotional ups and downs of the job search process. The emotions can include both frustration and excitement and sometimes those feelings are experienced on the same day. Know that the job search may take longer than you expect and may go in directions you hadn’t anticipated. There will be days you’ll want to quit and there will come a day you’ll be glad you didn’t.
Action
- Plan for the emotional roller coaster ride of the job search in today’s market. Here are some tips.
Wrap-up
Embarking on a job search is a big undertaking. It will require a lot of time and attention and patience. Approach your job search with the same attention and planning of a high stakes work project. This preparation and discipline will ensure you don’t waste precious resources like time and energy chasing job leads that won’t make you happy. By staying focused you’ll stay motivated as you zero in on your intended target.
Good luck!