On the Hunt: What you Can do to Ease the Headache of Job Searching

Performing a job search is easy  if you know what you're looking for.

By Annabelle Reitman, Career Management Consultant

Before the Job Search

You know the type of position you want as well as the skills and capabilities you can offer to a potential employer. The next step is targeting the type of companies that are hiring people with your background and experience or have problems that you can help them solve. Where do you begin?

If you're working with a recruiter, they'll have a clear idea of the best positions for you depending on your goals and objectives. If you're performing the job search solo, research is the key to finding employment opportunities. The Internet, libraries, associations, or media resources are all very valuable tools. Done correctly and prior to initiating a job search campaign, a well-organized research plan provides you with information needed to market yourself more effectively and efficiently. You can use these resources to:

• Target in advance the types of companies that would be good prospects for you to approach.
• Position yourself more precisely to meet an employer's needs.
• Sell yourself in an interview.
• Discover opportunities in the hidden job market.
• Create a job opening or position.

The best relief is working with a recruiter... they are trained professionals who make it their job to help others find one.

Hit the Information Superhighway

For speed and ease in your research efforts, go online for the Internet's wide array of information and data. Schlesinger and Musich in e-Job Hunting state that while the Internet has simplified the way we conduct a job search, it has also made it more complex and sophisticated requiring refined research skills. Use the Internet in conjunction with traditional research method to be as focused as possible in your inquiries. When scanning possible positions, scan the job description carefully and look for common threads among employers. Are they focused on experience, years in training, level of education? If you have been unsuccessful in your job search, one of these factors could be missing from your online resume.

WANTED: The Perfect Job

The biggest mistake job seekers make is thinking the perfect job is out there and those that don't measure up get thrown aside. While the perfect job may be more of a myth than a fact, the right job for the right person does exist and is very real. When working with a recruiter or performing the search on your own, consider these factors:

• What are the leading or most reputable companies in the area in which you are looking?
• What are some popular positions most desired by employers?
• Which industry trends are most common?
• How does the position you are pursuing fit within your career goals?

Get Help

Looking for a job doesn't have to be a headache. The best relief is working with a recruiter who can measure your needs and expectations against the most the fitting position. They are trained professionals who make it their job to help others find one. Don't carry the heavy burden of searching all on your own.

Resource: Schlesinger, E. and Musich, S., e-Job Hunting: Planning your Career and Searching for Jobs Online, Sams Publishing, Indianapolis, IN, 2000.

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