*By Kathleen Winsor-Games*
It’s the start of a new year and time to find a new job or, perhaps, a new consulting gig. Do you have a cohesive, well thought out search strategy to execute efficiently while measuring your progress weekly?
If your current plan consists of responding to online job postings or want ads in the newspaper, then it’s time to create a comprehensive strategy. That is just one of the new rules for job search in the current economy.
By starting with a well-designed strategy, you increase your chances of success and condense the job search process. For the best results, be sure your strategy integrates each of these steps:
• *Success criteria* — Define your personal values and your idea of meaningful work. Integrate that as best you can in your search. Don’t be tempted to discard this as a luxury, due to the economy. Job-seekers who appear to be strictly interested in a paycheck are finding it much more difficult to compete with those who show a genuine interest in a company and position.
• *Personal brand* — Clarify and articulate your marketable skills consistently. How do your skills and abilities position you as unique, better or different from other candidates? Once you have defined your personal brand, express it consistently in your networking, resume, online profile, cover letters, interviews and so on.
• *Define a target market* — Before you write your resume, conduct enough research to understand and profile the companies who have a critical need for your unique skills. Get to know one or two industries that fit your values, interests or background. If your job is functional and cross-industry (like accounting or human resources), then profile companies by revenues, values match and growth potential. Then move quickly from research to action.
• *Strategic, targeted resume and cover letters* — Avoid marketing yourself as â open to lots of things.â ? If you have done a thorough job of identifying your personal brand and identifying a manageable target market, writing a targeted and persuasive resume becomes simpler. Quantify your accomplishments and demonstrate how you add value. Keep your resume concise and leave plenty of white space.
• *Networking* — Practice your networking pitch and get feedback to improve your message and delivery. The best networking pitch includes positive, dynamic imagery of what you can contribute (make money, save money or both) and identifies the types of companies where you would fit. Find new places to network that include both employed and unemployed professionals. Be willing to help others.
*Put Linked In to work*
• *Social networking media* — Having an online presence through a Web-based resume and a compelling profile on Linked In or other social networking Web sites is now a necessity. Go beyond developing your profile to actively building a quality network in your target companies. Focus on quality, not quantity.
• *Uncover the hidden job market* — Go beyond job postings to identify companies that could need your specific skills. Find new contacts (hiring managers) and network to those companies and contacts to learn of openings before they are posted.
• *Company research* — Before you interview, gain an understanding of the company’s competitive market, challenges and opportunities. Form concrete ideas on how to contribute to their growth and profitability.
• *Interview skills* — Master the skill of interviewing on the phone, in person and with several people on a panel. Apply your best listening skills and be prepared with specific examples of how your expertise applies directly to the challenges of the position. Formulate strategic questions that position you as informed and committed to a mutually beneficial employment relationship. Prepare in advance for salary and benefits discussions, but save those questions until mutual interest is established.
• *Create a weekly plan* — Write out your weekly plan on Sunday evening. How many new contacts will you develop this week? How many new companies will you research? How many networking meetings would be productive for you? Where can you get another interesting job interview?
By identifying the strategies that work best for you and embracing new search techniques, you will ensure that your network is continually expanding and routinely uncovering new opportunities.
Reach out to peers and colleagues who have mastered some of the skills that are new to you and ask for help. Be willing to share your insights and provide a sounding board for others. The savvy job-seeker knows the value of creating and executing smart, innovative strategies. By integrating these practices in your search, you will be ahead of the pack.
_Kathleen Winsor-Games is the principal of The Winsor Group (www.thewinsorgroup.com), offering career coaching and transition services for professionals and executives, a weekly job club, and group and individual services._