Two weeks ago, I covered some important questions you need to ask yourself before you launch into the nitty gritty details of a job search. Remember before you read any of this, to read the first post so you have a good solid foundation for what types of jobs will be a good and meaningful fit for you. You gotta know why you’re doing what you’re doing in order to prevent getting burned out, quickly disinterested, and feeling stuck again. 

And if you remember, at the end of that post, I said I’d get into the more tactical and logistical parts of the job search. So as promised, today I will be giving a brief overview of the different parts of the job search. Or what I’ll call in very official language: “The Technical Stuff”.

I’ll share some of my #1 tips to think about when it comes down to the general to-do’s you have to cover in a job search. There’s so much material that can be covered within each of these steps, but that’s not in the scope of this one blog post. Each part of the job search could be a blog post in itself, so I’m giving you my top “pro tip” within each of the steps. Because there are such excellent resources out there who cover each of these steps in such detail, I’ll link to recommended resources.

Keep in mind that the process of job searching, interviewing, networking, etc. can vary depending on your location and job field. However, the job tips offered here should apply to most of you. That being said, I will remind you that I practice in New York City and most of the people I work with have decided to pursue their education and careers here in NYC.

Alright, let’s get to it!

Resume Writing

Pro Tip:

It’s not a job history. Keep your listed job experiences only to the ones that are relevant to the prospective job(s) you’re applying to, and keep the details focused on how it fits to the job to which you’re applying (hint: keywords). List good examples of specific tasks that demonstrate your skills that also match the job.

recommended Resource for resume writing

10 Resume Writing Tips to Help You Land a Job by indeed.com staff writers.

Cover Letters

Pro Tip:

Demonstrate through good examples by using action verbs. Also, make sure you are tailoring your content and examples to the job specifications. If they are asking for “someone who can manage teams and delegate tasks”, be sure you tell them how you have “managed teams and delegated tasks” using specific examples of projects and/or teams you’ve worked on where you did just that. Using keywords from the job specifications will help you tailor your material to the right position.

A brief note about use of keywords:

Be deliberate and wise about your use of keywords. Don’t be disingenuous and don’t give into the temptation to “keyword stuff” your cover letters and resume. Sure, you want your material to be picked up by whoever/whatever scans it, but you also want to make sure you’re applying the most relevant keywords that fit with the experiences and skills you possess.

Recommended Resource for action verbs

List of Action Verbs for your Resume and Cover Letter from the Career Services Network at Michigan State University

(Yes, that’s a career center resource. You’ll notice this is from a Career Services office at Michigan State University. You might think “that’s random”, but this isn’t an accident that I chose this source. Many career centers at higher education institutions have excellent resources. Check out your home institution and/or poke around other institutions’ career center websites for some good stuff!)

Interviewing

Pro Tip:

The key here is to be the best FIT candidate. And by fit I mean, be the person they want to work with. Yes, you need to demonstrate your competence and skills, but really, the reason they’ve invited you in and want to speak to you in real life is because they want to know - is this seemingly competent person also someone I can get to know, like, and trust? So don’t forget to be kind and approachable from the first interaction you have with anyone that has anything to do with the place you’re applying (that includes the administrative staff!).

As for the questions you can expect to answer and how to prepare, check out this comprehensive breakdown of behavioral interview questions you should be ready to answer during an interview:

Recommended Resource for interviewing

30 Behavioral Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer by Lily Zhang at The Muse

Bonus Tip:

You must have a set of interview questions to ask the interviewers prepared in advance.

See more: 51 Interview Questions You Should Be Asking from the editors at The Muse

Networking

Pro Tip:

You have a better shot at applying to a fewer number of good fit, relevant jobs where you’re submitting personalized applications, than applying to a huge batch of mediocre fit jobs where you’re casting your application into the ether with no relevant connections.

Get to know people within your field, ideally connected to the specific places you are applying to. This means you need to network and get in front of the right people. I know this is one of the hardest parts of the whole job search process and most people try to get by applying to jobs without speaking to anyone. While not impossible to get a first look this way, you’re going to be much more efficient by addressing your application to a contact person who you have some connection to (even if it’s indirect)

There is so much more I can get into when it comes to networking so I’m pointing you in the right direction with this resource where the writers covers some good tips:

Recommended Resource for networking and informational interviews

How to Land and Ace an Informational Interview by Jacquelyn Smith at Forbes.com

Additional Resources

• Where to sign up for job listings and job alerts: Indeed.com

• How to find relevant connections and build your network: LinkedIn.com

(Remember to make sure you have a solid Linked In profile and not a Facebook-esque one!)

Conclusion

• Stay Relevant: Keep your application material to the point and relevant to the prospective job specifications

• Use Examples: Demonstrate your experiences with plenty of clear examples throughout your material

• Be Kind: Be kind and approachable every step of the way. Be the one they want to work alongside everyday.

• Connect with the Right People: Get out there and build your network one person at a time

• Most importantly, be confident!

The job search process is stressful. There’s kind of no way around that truth. However, if you have the right frame of mind set up by knowing what interests, values, and skills you have (see previous post: Four questions you need to ask yourself before you start your job search) AND you have a solid plan for preparing your application material that you work at diligently, you can do it.

Need Help?

If you feel like you can use some support and additional help getting through your job search process, schedule a phone call to discuss ways to work together through career coaching and counseling. You don’t need to go through this alone and I can help guide you through this process. Click below to schedule an informational phone call to speak with me about working one-on-one for career coaching.