How to be 'ALL IN' on your Job Search

Are you 'all in' on your job search? Maybe you think you are by logging a few job search activities a week, scrolling through job postings while the kids are at practice, or when you wake up in the morning, hitting the 'Easy Apply' button on LinkedIn a few times a week.

STOP- please stop! I know that may sound harsh, but you are not doing you or your family ANY favors. All you are doing is frustrating yourself. It's kind of like starting a new exercise routine. You go from not working out at all to maybe twice a week for four weeks and expect instant results of lower weight or muscle mass. Sorry- that's not quite going to cut it.

If you want the biggest bang for your time and to actually be sitting in a new role, say two-three months from reading this post, you must decide to be 'All In.'

Here is a checklist to follow in order to be 'All in' on your job search:

1. Spend 10-22 hours per week on job search activities.

   1. Job search activities include interviewing, searching for roles, networking and updating your job search tools.

      
      

2. Reach out to AT LEAST 2 people in your network per day or 10 per week to hopefully get 5 networking or informational meetings for the following week.

   1. Keep in mind- most jobs are found through networking, though the statistics vary between 70-85%.

      
      

3. Volunteer. One of the best kept secrets to networking is to give back and volunteer.

   1. Remember- networking is NOT asking for a job; it's gathering information.

   2. You may want to go back and read some of my networking related tips here.

      
      

4. You have an ATS (applicant tracking system) compliant resume to reduce your chances of being caught in a filter and/or not getting through an employer's ATS. Yes, Canva has some amazing templates, but they aren't amazing for ATS.

   1. With 200+ ATS on the market, this can be quite confusing and challenging.

   
   

5. Update your LinkedIn profile to reflect best practices including:

   1. a professional photo

   2. an updated 'About' section including keyword nouns

   3. at least 2 key accomplishments under each position

   4. no dates on your education and at least 3-5 recommendations.

   5. Your headline is reflective of your target job and your target job titles are clear.

   
   

6. Continue to work to prepare to present your best self in interviews so that you can answer accomplishment based questions as well as negative stress questions effectively, efficiently and in a timely way all that tells the 'why you' story for the position.

   
   

   Here are a few key questions you must be able to answer:

   1. Tell me about a problem you solved.

   2. What is one your greatest accomplishments?

   3. Tell me about a challenging workplace relationship (co-worker, customer, client, patient, etc.).

      
      

7. Develop your USP - Unique Selling Proposition. You are crystal clear on your value proposition as it relates to your target jobs and target companies/organizations.

   
   

8. Research and create a top 10 list of organizations and positions you are considering and targeting.

   
   

9. Think about and write down your ideal job description; think about what you enjoy and what your strengths are as well as what is a good culture fit for you.

   
   

10. Track your progress daily, set daily and weekly goals and re-evaluate every Friday.

    
    

If you are not doing at least 70% of these key steps, you are not maximizing your skills nor your time in your job search.

You are a gift to a potential employer.

I'm here to help you strategize, but you must take the first step!

Let's Chat!