Your 'Job Search' Job
part 2 of 2

Now that you have your office and your new "Job Search Job" you need to get to work. If you approach your job search from this perspective, you will be sure to yield higher level results. According to the latest job statistics, it takes an average of 3.1 months to find a new job, so don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen overnight.

To do list.
Every morning go over your "to do" list. Make sure you plan your day to get all of your items accomplished. Chunk your time to tackle the challenging tasks in the morning when you are energized. As the afternoon comes to an end do research and spend the last hour reflecting on what worked for the day and what needs to be followed up for tomorrow.

Apply for jobs.
Passively posting your resume won't get you anywhere fast. The reality is that employers passively use resume searches as a means to find an employee. It is just too time consuming! So look at jobs that you are qualified for and apply! Do not send your resume to a position in which you are unqualified, with the expectation that they might have another position that you are qualified for. This means of sending "blind" resumes almost never works. A good point to remember is that most jobs are never advertised in the newspaper or online. Up to 75% of the opportunities are unadvertised and found through word of mouth referrals or help wanted signs. That is why the next three points are critical to your success!

Take a walk.
Stroll downtown or in the area that you want to work at lunch time and start up conversations with employees on their breaks. Be straight forward in your intentions and ask their permission to ask questions. Use general inquiries that do not put them on the spot or make them defensive. You might be surprised how responsive people can be when you ask their advice. You might just find that dream job you have been looking for - for all of your life!

Cold calls.
Commit to making at least one cold call per day to gather information on potential opportunities and get the name of decision-makers who can hire you. Schedule these calls first thing in the morning. Not only are you in a great mood, chances are those you encounter will be too!

Network, network and network.
Start with your network and go from there, always asking for referrals along the way. Set hourly, daily and weekly goals for networking calls, in-person visits and resumes sent out. Schedule at least one outing to an organizational meeting, gathering, convention, class or online discussion group in your desired profession.

Online or off - research.
Companies are looking for individuals to join their company and help make it successful. Take the time to research those companies that you are interested in applying to or those that are currently recruiting. If you are looking for a temporary or permanent agency, compare them as well. Once a week you should head down to your local library and take the time to read the industry or local magazines for more ideas. This is a great afternoon activity.

Thank You notes.
Write a hand written thank you card, invitation size, after you send your resume to a company acknowledging the person for taking the time to scan your resume. Be brief in your message and reference your enthusiasm for an interview. Also if someone in your network has given you a referral, take the time to thank him or her as well. A quick call or personal note will ensure they keep you in mind. Another great afternoon task to schedule daily.

Pre-paring for the interview.
Sometimes employers will pre-screen their applicants on the phone. To be prepared, write answers down to commonly asked questions and put it on the wall next to your desk. If you have multiple phones, put the list by each phone. Some questions they may ask is, are you currently working, what experience you have, why you want to work for their company, how did you hear about the position and more. Review the questions at the end of day and add new ones at least once a week.

When employers call.
It is imperative that you are prepared when an employer phones to ask you for an interview or do a pre-screening call. There is nothing more embarrasing than for an employer to call and you do not remember applying for thier job! Make an alphabetical list that includes a couple of keyword notes about every position/company you apply to so that you may quickly jog your memory when you need it. Update the list daily and post it at every phone.

When an employer calls and you are somewhere else in the house other than in your office, tell the employer to hold for just a moment and change phones. It is critical that you sound confident immediately. Quickly move to your office and retrieve their information from your files and scan it before you pick up the phone. If you stay on the phone and stall, they will hear it in your voice. Remember that you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression!

Hopefully when you organized your files, you wrote the name/position on each folder tab for easy access! Also It is important that you have filed not only the job description, but also a brief summary of the company so that you may call out special details that proves to the employer that you ARE interested in working for them. Keeping organized is a great way to end every day, so you will always be prepared tomorrow!

Use these techniques to increase your odds of success. Your commitment and hard work will ultimately land you a promotion with a new company and you can quit your "Job Search Job" without having to give 2 weeks notice!