How to Make Your Ideal Job Search Strategy in 2016

It is a new year, with new aspirations. It’s time to make 2016 a spectacular year and with that comes the thought of finding a better job. So, if you want to change things up with your job, then a strategy for your job search should be made.

Needs Assessment

It’s important to think about what will make you happy and where you envision yourself. Take some time to really evaluate what you like to do and what you are good at. Just like when you are looking for a person to spend the rest of your life with, you must choose wisely in who you want to work with. What are the qualities you are looking for? What is important to you? What company has those same core values that are important to you?

Setting Goals

It’s important to set career goals and determine where you want to be 5 to 10 years from now. Paint a mental picture of where you see yourself. Then find some companies that are a good fit and start searching for open positions. You can now either apply to these positions and/or apply to similar companies. You can even pitch companies that may not have a current need, but express an interest in working with them since there could be an opening sooner rather than later.

Networking

Another great strategy for your job search is to network. There is extreme power in networking. Start with employees currently working for the company you want to work for or alumni from your college. Networking opens doors that were previously closed. The important thing to remember is to think outside the box instead of just looking on job boards. Consider using LinkedIn often to drive hiring authority attention to yourself.

Job Search Strategies

I would suggest to start networking by making a list of about 10 employers you would like to work with. From here you can create a strategy of how to go about contacting those employers. This can include contacting their HR department, looking at their job board on their website, or networking with some of their employees (think LinkedIn). It is also a good idea to setup some way to track all this networking. You would want to include who you talked with, when you contacted them, and if you followed up. Make sure your cover letter and resume are updated and that they strongly speak to your accomplishments.