Many people come to me (or visited me in the Career Services office) when they are having trouble or frustrated with finding employment. It could very well be the reason you are reading this blog. One of the first questions that I ask before getting started with someone new seeking career coaching is “Are you ready to job search?” The typical response is a smile (insinuating “Duh, that’s why I’m here”) accompanied by a quick nod of the head or a “yes.” I then ask, “Are you ready to run a 10-mile marathon?” That question is usually met with laughter, a puzzled look, and a big “no.”  

When you are planning to run a marathon, you spend months training. You have the understanding that you are not just going to wake up on the day of the run and be in both the physical and mental shape to finish it. You would probably spend a little time each day pushing yourself, building muscle, and timing your runs. You might change your diet and seek out a trainer for help before the big day comes. Most importantly: You want to spend the time preparing because you know it will increase the likelihood of completing the marathon and doing well. My point? Why do so many people not put in the same hours and dedication when looking for a career? Why is there a lack of understanding regarding the amount of time and commitment that comes with the search for a professional opportunity? When you are getting ready to job search, there is prep work (think of it like training for the marathon) that should be completed before you begin. After all, your career can influence so many other factors in your life, why wouldn’t you put in the same amount of time an energy into your search? Completing these steps will make for a much easier, more enjoyable (and more successful!) job search. 

1. Be prepared

Yes, the good ol’ Girl Scout motto is essential for your job search process. Before you head to the computer and click apply or send, there are some items you should have in order. 

Professional documents 

Your resume should be edited, reviewed, and finalized before getting ready to apply for jobs. If you are considering various types of roles, you will want to ensure you have customized your resume for each industry. If you are seeking an administrative role, you would have a resume geared for just that. If you are seeking a patient facing position, you would create a resume that highlights your skillset in patient care. Looking for management? You got it; you would want to create a resume for that too. Using a “one resume fits all” approach is not a good plan when applying for different types of positions. Recruiters and hiring professionals can tell when you have taken the time to create a document that is appropriate for the industry. You will also want to prepare a cover letter that you can customize. Yes, I know. The dreaded cover letter (I always think of Steve Carrell screaming “Noooo!” when seeing the request to upload a cover letter to the application).

Unfortunately, these are a necessary evil in the job search world. Be prepared to write them. Many of them.  

References are another item that you want to prepare in advance. When you are working on creating your list of references (people that can and will speak positively on your behalf about your work performance), ensure that you have asked that individual if they are comfortable being a reference for you. I once had a graduate use me as a reference that I had not spoken to in over five years. It was very awkward trying to provide a reference for someone that I hadn’t supervised or even spoken to in such a long time. Assuming they are happy to be a reference for you, you will want to have their full name, the name of the organization they work for, their current job title, their phone number, their email address, and their relationship to you. You references should be created and saved as a separate Word document. I recommend that you have three to six individuals that are comfortable being your advocate. Make sure you list your strongest reference first, as this will be the first one that is called. References should NOT be best friends, parents, spouses, neighbors, etc. They should be people who you have worked with in a professional environment that have supervised you, worked beside you, or that you worked collaboratively with for a common cause. These can be managers, supervisors, colleagues, business partners, people you volunteer with, instructors, advisors, etc. 

Lastly, do you know where your identification cards are? Once you are hired, you will need to provide proof of your identity. This could be your driver’s license or state ID card, your passport, or your social security card. Some people keep these documents locked in a safe place. If the company offers direct deposit, you may need to provide a voided check or letter from your bank. Make sure you know where your items are and that they aren’t expired so you are ready to go when you get the job offer. 

Financial preparedness 

Each of you is in a different situation financially. Finding a professional job takes time, and it is important that your bank accounts are set to withstand any gaps in income. If you are already working and seeking to transition into a new role, that is the best-case scenario. Keep working while you search! If you are working in a role where you feel you just cannot do another day, try your best to prepare financially for what it means to have no income for possibly several months while you search before giving any notice. 

Talk with your significant other, parents, roommates, anyone that you live with to ensure that you are supported should you make the decision to leave without another job lined up. Ensure you have enough in your savings to support yourself for at least six months. This does not include luxury purchases. When you quit a job without another one and no additional income, my advice is to not spend your savings on clothes, jewelry, vacations, etc. You need that money to pay your living expenses and put food on the table. Take it from someone who has done it. I left a very high paying position because I was not happy, and it was affecting my mental health and my relationships with my family. I had enough money saved to support my half of the bills for several months, but it was still hard to tell my daughter she couldn’t have the toy she wanted, that we couldn’t go out for ice cream, or take that long weekend getaway. Be prepared to make those difficult decisions. Trust me when I say they are not easy. Think wants vs. needs. 

Regardless of your situation, when it comes to your finances, my best advice is to make smart choices and don’t overspend. It’s nice to treat yourself now and then, but when you don’t have income, that isn’t always an option. If you really aren’t prepared to go without or live off a budget, you will have to find work SOMEWHERE. My suggestion would be the retail and food service industries. Their application process is relatively easy, schedules are flexible, and there is always a need. Money is money. 

Technology 

Gone are the days when you could walk into a store or a business and leave a resume or ask for a paper application. If you are going to job search, you MUST get comfortable with technology. Having access to a laptop, desktop, tablets or smart phones is absolutely necessary for applications in 2022. I have always preferred a desktop computer to any of these other devices, but each person has their own individual preference.  

You will also need reliable access to the internet. If you don’t have internet access, you need to be prepared to get somewhere with it. My recommendation would be a library or somewhere with a secure network. You will be entering data such as your date of birth, social security number, address, phone number, email, etc. You don’t want to enter that type of information on an unsecure network.  

Expect to navigate many different software’s and platforms during your job search process. There isn’t one specific ATS system that companies use; there are many. Each time you click “apply,” you may be directed to a new site where you must create a username and password and a profile. We’ll spend some more time talking about online job search boards later. 

2. Who do you know?

85% of people in 2022 get jobs because of who they know. Networking isn’t something that comes naturally to many of us, but it does help significantly when looking for employment. Now, when I say this, I don’t want you thinking that 85% of people get jobs because they know the person that will be their boss directly. What I do mean, is that these individuals knew someone that helped them in some way connect to the job. Their mom may have gone to high school with the HR Director. Their wife may have interned with the person who is now a secretary there, who can put in a good word for him/her. They may know someone that knows someone who is directly hiring for a role that aligns with what they are looking for.

There are many different scenarios all with a common denominator: The more people you know, the more likely you are to find employment. If you have a large network, you can probably skip over this section. Chances are you know a thing or two about networking and making connections. What do you do if you don’t have a large network? Where do you start? 

Make a list of 50 people you know.  Trust me, you know 50 people. Once you have your 50 names, review the list and put a star next to 10 of them that have some connection to either the field you are looking to get into or that you feel could help you in some way with your job search. If you have more than 10, that’s great but try and pick the top 10. If you don’t have 10, that’s okay, try and come up with at least five.  Now that you’ve narrowed your list down to 10 (or five), take another look at the list and highlight three that you believe would be willing to sit down with you (or have a phone or Zoom call) and offer you some insight into your job search. For example, let’s pretend you are a nursing student. You write down your aunt as one of your three individuals, because she is a nurse! When you reach out to her to ask if you can get together so you can ask her some questions about the field (whether it’s your aunt or anyone else), chances are they are going to say yes. When you get together, have a list of questions that you’d like to inquire about, but the last question should be “Aunt Sue, who do you know within your network that could help me with my job search?” Don’t say “Do you know anyone?” That gives the person the chance to say no. Everyone knows someone.  

When your contact gives you some names, you’ll want to ask if it’s okay to reach out to them so you can get more information. This is how you grow your network. I’ll go over professional email etiquette in another blog. The key is to get a list of as many people as possible and build professional connections. 

Staffing Agencies 

If you feel that you just cannot network, it happens. Lucky for you, there are companies out there that can help you! Staffing or recruitment agencies are a fantastic resource. Staffing agencies typically provide opportunities that are temporary, contract, long-term temporary, and/or direct hire. They typically have a list of job orders from various clients (companies) that they are looking to fill. I highly recommend the use of reputable staffing agencies. Side note – a good agency will NEVER charge you money. The company is paid by their client to supply top-notch candidates. If you encounter a company asking you for money as the candidate, steer clear. 

LinkedIn 

Creating and building your network can also be accomplished virtually. LinkedIn is a professional networking site (think Facebook for professional purposes) that allows individuals to connect, share job postings, articles, and direct message one another, all for professional reasons. LinkedIn has a feed, like Facebook and Instagram that is generated based on your connections, what they post, organizations your follow, articles you like, etc. Anyone that has recruitment as part of their job description utilizes this site to share their openings and search for talented individuals. In other words, if you are serious about your search for a professional job, it is highly recommended that you have a profile on LinkedIn. 

When creating your LinkedIn profile, it is essential that you have an appropriate photo. Ideally, it should be a professional headshot, but any picture that is mainly of your shoulders and head that is appropriate for hiring professionals to view will suffice. I do not recommend personal photos of you on vacation, photos that have other people in them, or photos of your pets to be uploaded as your profile photo. Again, this is for professional use. When creating your profile, fill out as many sections as you can. This includes the summary, educational background, employment history, areas of expertise, classes taken, etc. You want to give a well-rounded view of who you are. This takes time! Be prepared to spend an hour or more creating your profile. 

3. Get online

Now that your documents are ready and you’ve started building and expanding your professional network, it’s time to get online. When I say “get online,” most of your brains automatically assume job search websites. While those are an essential resource, you also need to be checking company websites as well as using the Boolean search method (I’ll explain momentarily). 

Job Search Websites 

You are probably familiar with job search engines (websites) such as Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter, but there are many features about these websites that can make your online applications and job searching easier. I know it’s time consuming but take the time to create a profile on each of the sites that you plan to use. When creating your profile, there is usually an option to allow your profile to be public, which means that hiring managers and recruiters can see your information and know that you are actively job searching. 

One of the best features (in my opinion) that these sites offer is a daily email with jobs that match your profile and that you may have an interest in. It’s like someone doing the job searching for you and sending you notifications when something is found that may be of interest. You can set this up when you are building your profile. Another great feature of having a profile on these sites is that you can apply for jobs much easier. For some positions, you will still be directed to the company site to apply (and yes, you may have to create a profile there as well), but for many positions you will be able to apply much more quickly with your online profile. Take the time to make your profile as rich as possible. Remember, hiring professionals don’t know you. All they are seeing is an online version of you. I know it’s time consuming, but trust me, it will be worth it. 

Company Sites 

When I was actively job searching, I knew the type of industry I wanted to be in, and I went directly to company websites for organizations in my area to see what openings they had. It costs the company money to post on sites like Indeed and ZipRecruiter so many places will post their vacancies on the career section of their websites. 

If you have a specific type of industry in mind, my advice is to research some organizations in your area that you might be interested in working for, go directly to their company website, and look for the “Careers” section. You may be prompted to create a username and password or a profile, but you are more likely to reach the eyes of the hiring manager or recruitment much faster. For all my professional jobs, I have had to apply on a company website directly. 

A great thing about applying on the company’s site directly is that you can probably find contact information for human resources. This will allow you to follow-up on your application because you will know who to contact. Managers like people who are resourceful, think outside the box, and WANT the job. Don’t be annoying but do be assertive in your search. 

The Boolean Job Search Method 

While you are on the computer, you may also want to try the Boolean job search method. Boolean searching is built on a method of symbolic logic developed by George Boole, a 19th century English mathematician. Boolean searches allow you to combine words and phrases using the words “AND”, “OR”, and “NOT” to limit, broaden, or define your search.  

To try it, all you need to do is go to Google, or Bing, and use quotes around the key words you are looking for in your job search. Anything within a quotation area is considered one item.  For example, if I wanted to look for Career Services Advisor jobs across the US that are remote (Indeed doesn’t have everything), I would put in quotations “career services” the word “and”, and then the word “remote” in quotations and press search (ex: “career services advisor” and “remote”). You would scroll down a little until you see Jobs in Google with those exact words.   

Instead of “and” you can use “or” with the job title you are researching. “Or” will give you results for either of the words you entered in quotations. “And” will only give you results that have both words included. You could use things such as “University” and “career services” and “remote”. You could try “career services” or “career center” or “remote” The key is to remember that words you are looking for that would be in the title of your job search must be in quotations. Give it a try and see what you uncover! Here is a sample of what you may find by typing “medical assistant” and “hospital” and “New York.” 

This method works great when you want to do a broad search, pulling from multiple job search sites into one list. I found it very helpful in searching for remote opportunities. 

In conclusion, it is a job to find a job 

It takes time to find a job that is more career related. In my opinion, many job seekers have unrealistic expectations when they are ready to job search. There is a false reality that because we are hearing that it is a job seekers market, that we will get a new job with the snap of our fingers. It is a much more complex process. Keep in mind, with so many people looking for new opportunities, that means employers have TONS of candidates to look through. Focus on the employers needs and you will find success!