STEP 3

III. Job Search

Three important factors for a successful job search are the ability to articulate your goals and skills, an understanding of the employment market, and a well-planned job search campaign.

As you seek career opportunities, it is important to be prepared and knowledgeable about the proper strategies to plan and implement a successful job search campaign. Creating a strategic plan will help you focus and better manage how you spend your time. Use the steps below as a guide for your job search. Know that this is a process; it takes time and energy to find what you are looking for.

Doing the Research 

Once you have a clear view of your strengths, interests, abilities, and other attributes you need to explore what is "out there" in the word of work. This is the Exploration step.

As you are able, keep seeking opportunities to learn about career options that interest you.  Try to find a balance between applying for job postings online and building your network. Research your career area of interest and roles you want to pursue so your options are clear. The more you are able to identify your target positions, the more likely you will be to end up there!

The job search typically first looks for job vacancies or employment opportunities. Consider the following action steps:

Action Steps

• Based on your career research, focus on a few job titles for the jobs you are drawn to

• Create a target list of employers who employ people in those roles

• Research those employers thoroughly online and through your social contacts

Getting Ready 

Step 1 in the CEC's career development process, Assessment, provides invaluable information for your career decision-making and prepares you to market yourself successfully. The focus is on you! To prepare for an effective job search, it is important that you can articulate your strengths and professional goals. How can you seek a position if you don't know what you want from a job and what you have to offer prospective employers? Review the information in yourself before proceeding to the next step. If you are not clear about your strengths and goals, you may also want to consider meeting with a career coach.

Creating a Strategic Plan

If you have completed the first two steps in the career development process and have a clearer understanding both of yourself and opportunities available, you are ready to move to the next phase of your job search.

Begin by creating a strategic plan to serve as a compass to guide you in the job search process. If you haven't met with a career coach, plan to arrange a meeting. Begin this process 9-12 months before your target date to be employed since on the average it takes 6-9 months or more to land a job.

However, locking yourself into a plan with the goal of finding an "ideal" job is too limiting. Rather, consider other options, broaden your scope and create strategic Plans A, B and C. Think "outside the box" and be creative. Consider an interim position, such as a bridge job that gets you closer to your ideal position. Look into internships, or explore temping as a possible way in to an organization. Have a back-up Plan C to earn income if you are unable to implement Plan A or B within your timeline.

Action Steps

• Review the steps in the CSC's Job Search Checklist

• Review and prepare the Self-Marketing Plan

Developing Your Job Searching Skills

With your job search plan and new information learned from your career research process, now is the time to develop and fine-tune your job searching skills. Follow these action steps:

Action Steps

• Get started early and stay organized. The length of a job search will vary, but the average job search can take up to 6-9 months. Impacting factors include the type of position targeted, hiring practices in a particular industry, your skill level and the amount of time you devote to your search.

• Develop effective marketing tools - spend the necessary time to create a powerful resume and cover letter focus on demonstrating to the employer that you have what they need. Be sure to emphasize your strengths and accomplishments and have a CSC career coach review your documents.

• Prepare to market yourself "verbally" to people you know and meet, including during networking activities and interviewing. Develop a brief and compelling "speech" as well as a two-minute infomercial to capture the listener's attention and highlight your skills, accomplishments, and experience.

• Build your online brand by creating a profile and getting connected on LinkedIn, a professional networking site with over 100 million registered users. You can research companies, set up informational interviews, and build your profile up to effectively market yourself.

• Join a local job search networking group or job club

• Prepare for the most frequently asked interview questions. Write down your answers and practice out loud with a friend who can give you constructive feedback.

Executing the Plan

Now your job search is in full swing! In the CSC's career development process, you are at the step of Implementation.

Since employers may receive an overwhelming amount of resumes for a particular job opening, competition can be extremely high. It is not usual for job seekers to respond to 50 job postings in order to land just one interview. How can a job seeker possibly stand out amidst the competition? The answer is to be proactive, not reactive. Having connections (networking) is the best way to find job leads and tap into the hidden job market. Continue to research organizations online, and take advantage of a multitude of job posting sites. There you will find job sites specific to career fields, such as nursing, accounting, and human services. Once you identify an organization and a position of interest to you, consider how you can network your way into the organization, get a referral, and have your name stand out in the applicant pool.  

Job Search Resources

Job Searching Resources

• Live Careers

• Indeed: Best Overall

• Monster: Runner-Up, Best Overall

• Glassdoor: Best for Employer Insights

• FlexJobs: Best for Remote Jobs

• AngelList: Best for Startup Jobs

• Linkedln: Best for Connecting Directly with Recruiters

• Linkup: Best for Up-to-Date Listings

• Scouted: Best for Recent College Graduates

• Snagajob: Best for Hourly Jobs

Internship Listings

Additional job and internship listings can be found via Runningstart.org and Thirstproject.org.

Selected Regional and National Resources

Regional

• Careerbuilder

• Employgeorgia

• Metroatlantajobs

• Jobs2careers

• Jobseekers

Evaluating Options and Making Decisions

Congratulations! You've received a job offer. Now what?! This is the last Step in the job search process, Decision-Making. it's the moment you've been waiting for:

Action Steps

• Analyze the offer, using criteria you determined earlier in your job search, including fit with your goals and the outcomes from your self-assessment exercises

• Weigh your options. What option feels most sustainable for you given your needs? What option aligns with your values, goals and who you are?

• Review the CSC document Steps for Effective Negotiations

• If you want, meet with a CSC career coach to assist you with the decision-making process and to prepare for negotiation

• Negotiate

• Decide!

 A Final Note 

• Throughout your job search, remember to strive for the three P's - be Proactive, Persistent and Patient:

• Have confidence and remain optimistic about finding a job

• Set goals, follow through, and actively engage in the process outlined above

• Create a weekly plan, keep good records, and build in accountability with a friend or job search buddy

• Focus on what you have control over - your job search campaign — not the overall economy

• Lean into your support systems, and don’t hesitate to get professional support with navigating stress around this transition - finding a job can be a full-time job and it takes much of your energy!

• Be realistic and manage your expectations - your next job may not be that perfect job, but it's a next step. It may also take longer than you expect to secure a position, which is especially true in a tougher job market.

• Be gentle with yourself. Remember this is a lifelong process, and finding a role, job or career that aligns with you takes time. Acknowledge how far you have already come!

Congratulations! You've received a job offer. Now what?! This is the last Step in the CSC career development process, Decision-Making. it's the moment you've been waiting for:

Action Steps

• Analyze the offer, using criteria you determined earlier in your job search, including fit with your goals and the outcomes from your self-assessment exercises

• Weigh your options. What option feels most sustainable for you given your needs? What option aligns with your values, goals and who you are?

• Review the CEC document Steps for Effective Negotiations

• If you want, meet with a CSC career coach to assist you with the decision-making process and to prepare for negotiation

• Negotiate

• Decide!