Job Search Strategies Seminar

The changes affecting organizations today are on a much higher standard. There is the element of world-wide competition, high tech requirements, more project-oriented agendas and then, comes the issue of managing people. All this of course, affects your ability to manipulate and use your knowledge of job search strategies in order to market yourself in the most attractive manner possible to a future hiring manager.

So, what are some of those job search strategies?

Step One: Identify and evaluate your profession and industry.

1. Make sure there are opportunities for the second career or new profession. Research the major trends and growth areas as well as new job opportunities and competency requirements. Use a variety of sources for your search including: networking, library resources, reading articles both online and offline. Top off your search by writing a brief analysis of your findings. The more you know, the better.

2. Know thyself. Make a list of your skills and qualifications. Make sure you also include such things as your accomplishments, transferrable skills, values, interests, your style and personality. This will help you create a more well-rounded profile of who you are thus making the job search a lot easier on you.

Now that you hve a better understanding of what kinds of qualities you can offer a new emerging company or corporation, it's time to develop your communication strategy.

1. Write resumes that are tailored to a specific job. Your cover letter should also be optimal - always aiming at what you can do.

2. Rehearse well and often a thirty second speech that markets who you are.

3. Use online job applications and research the sites of those prospective companies. Always keep a journal of when and to whom you sent your resumes. This is important for the follow up strategies.

Now, comes the part of the actual job search itself. It is a known fact that networking is responsible for 80% of all hirings.

Use your current contacts.
Know how to approach a prospective contact. Job search strategies like: sending an email or better yet a letter, to a prospective GEO about something noticeable on the company's website has a good chance of putting your resume closer to the top.
Take a networking workshop at a career and development office in your local area.

Finally, use all other sources such as the traditional job search method. This includes: recruiting firms, employment agencies, job fairs and clubs, help wanted ads, Internet job postings, placement offices. The key is to employ a variety of job seeking strategies thus making you a much more marketable asset for a prospective company or corporation.