10 steps to help you find a job in 30 days
Looking for a new job is hard work – especially if you’re not prepared and don’t have a clue where to start. So we consulted with Christiane Côté, a Senior Consultant of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Development with André Filion and Associates, to put together 10 helpful tips to organize your search and hopefully land your dream job in 30 days.
1. Organize your search time
According to Côté, to land a job in 30 days, you have to organize your search time, and spend 30 minutes a day on it. No one wants to devote an entire day to updating their resume. Be realistic and check off a few tasks every day.
2. Know what you want
To guide your job search, ask yourself some key questions: What don’t you like about your current job? Why do you want to change jobs? As Côté points out, “this is when you stop and think long and hard about your values, needs and the type of work environment that would suit you” And don’t forget to consider your desired salary, working conditions, work environment, etc.
3. Emphasize your skills
Côté believes this is a crucial step. Make a list of the skills and qualities that set you apart from the crowd. “What makes you exceptional?” Pinpoint your main skills – you’ll need them in the next step.
4. Prepare your promotional tools
Your resume, LinkedIn profile and cover letter are all promotional tools for selling your product: you! That’s how Côté sees it. “These tools should tell us how this person made their mark,” she explains. This is your chance to describe the major achievements for every job you’ve had.
5. Have a search strategy
Now that you’ve identified your job search goals and the skills that make you a desirable candidate and polished up your promotional tools, it’s time to narrow down your job search. In other words, target the areas where you’d like to work: would you prefer to work for a small, medium or large company? In the public or private sector?
6. Maintain a presence online
If you haven’t already done so, create a profile on LinkedIn, the largest professional network in the world. With 12 million Canadians on LinkedIn – including employers, head-hunters and human resource professionals – it’s an essential step for every job seeker.
7. Use local resources and your own network
People tend to forget about local employment centres and job search clubs. But these types of organizations have resources to facilitate your job search. The same applies to your own social network. Conduct a discrete survey of the people around you, track down people who work in the target sector you’ve identified and try to contact senior managers who work there. As Côté reminds us, “a large percentage of jobs are never advertised, so you have to be resourceful.”
8. Prepare for your interview
Do your research: on the company, its key projects and the person you’re meeting with. Many employers also like candidates to ask questions at the end of the interview; it demonstrates genuine interest and serious intent.
9. Follow up
Once the interview is over, they’ll generally promise to be in touch “soon.” Don’t let this sort of evasiveness stop you from reaffirming your interest and following up with your interviewer. Tell them you appreciated meeting with them and that you’re eagerly awaiting their response.
10. Keep looking!
And finally, Côté advises that these steps might not work the first time around. When searching for a job, “you have to keep looking; don’t focus all your energy on a single job.” In time, your efforts will be rewarded!
Original Article found on Workopolis written by: Peggy Bedard
