At the moment there are a lot of people looking for a new job. For some, this may be the first time they have ever had to do this. Their career to date may have pretty much moved smoothly from one job to the next. They may not have had to really think about it all that much. For a lucky few, they may even have always found a job through a recruiter, and even been headhunted.
So much has changed in the last few months, some good and some bad. It is now time to take stock of where you are at in your career. What is next for you? Where do you even start?
Your message
A big part of doing all of this means you should consider your personal brand, and the overall message you are telling the recruiters and job market. This is not just made up of your resume, LinkedIn, and cover letter but even what you say, and how you sound, when you leave a voicemail enquiring about a job.
For example, say you have called a recruiter about a job advert you think you are good for. Be prepared they may not answer the phone, so you will need to leave a voicemail. Practice your message beforehand, just in case. Keep your message short, under one minute. Be precise about why you are calling but also be positive too, even although you might not always feel positive!
Keep in mind, the recruiters I am speaking with tell me they are getting triple the number of applicants applying for roles. That is a lot of emails and voicemails to get through!
It is also worth remembering that only 30% of jobs are found through job boards and recruiters, the remaining 70% are found through networking. This is what many people refer to as the hidden job market. This refers to jobs that are not advertised or posted online. They are jobs that are primarily filled through people’s network.
How Do You Set up a Routine?
To look at structuring your day to get the most out of it, try approaching your job search with a daily routine. As humans we love routine. When you are job searching it is really important to have a routine. No one wants to get to the end of each day realising they have just spent 5 hours watching Netflix, and conducted zero job search activity!
To create a workable routine, set clear time goals each day and week. For example, Monday to Friday job searching 10am to 4pm.
1. Each week, ensure your resume and LinkedIn are always up to date and selling your skills. Page one of your resume must tell everyone who you are and what you can do. Your LinkedIn headline and profile must do the same.
2. Create a list of companies you would like to work for. It also helps to be realistic about the list. Not everyone can work for Google, although it is always worth a try! Then follow them on LinkedIn, connect with who would be your boss and also peers. Like and comment on their LinkedIn posts. Doing this makes you more visible to people.
3. Each day spend 1 to 2 hours applying for jobs through the job boards, including LinkedIn, and speaking with recruiters.
4. Each day spend at least 2 hours networking. Do this by reaching out to your contacts and asking for their advice. This is an informational interview and is not just asking if they have any jobs.
5. Now we can meet people again, dedicate one day a week to booking meetings. Get out of the house and meet people face to face and ask for their advice. Always make sure you pay for the coffee!
6. Think about your story and what you are looking for. Practice your “tell me about yourself” story.
7. Track everything you do, use an Excel spreadsheet or a journal or a relevant app.
8. Ensure you always follow up and thank people within 24 hours of meeting them. This is so important, and I cannot emphasize this enough. It’s not just good manners, it also reinforces the positive impression you made and reminds people that you are out there. Thank them for their time, tell them how much you enjoyed meeting them and you appreciated them being so helpful. Remind them again that if there is ever anything you can do to assist them then you would be happy to help.
9. Then at 4pm, or whenever works for you, give yourself a break! Go and meet friends, spend time with family, get outdoors and refresh and get ready to start it all again tomorrow!
Don’t Give Up!
Never give up! Persistence and patience will eventually pay off, so just keep on keeping on!
At the end of each day, make a list of the things you need to do tomorrow. At the end of each week, make a list of what you need to do on the Monday. Keep your journal or spreadsheet that you are continually updating. Remember, once you do find a job you can keep all this info in case you need it again in the future. Many of the people on your list may have moved jobs and have new things happening they can tell you about.
This can all take months, but it is something you control. The more effort you consistently put in the more you will get out of it.
Looking for a job can definitely feel like a full time job, and it kind of is. Having a clear and consistent routine and plan will definitely help!
Finally, once you find a new job, then make sure you email or call everyone that you met. Send a final thank you note with the good news and your new contact information. The people who helped you will feel pride in your success. Also, you will find that every city is really like a small town, particularly among peers in your industry. You will keep running into the same people in your field again and again in the years ahead.
If you would benefit from some one on one career coaching then get in touch today.
