Define your wants and a way to obtain those wants
A process begins with a ‘need’ or ‘want’ and ends with the ‘need’ or ‘want’ fulfilled. It is best to have formal processes for business needs, project management and just about every other ‘need’ or ‘want’. Processes are used to guide us through a workflow that is not second nature to us. We typically do not need a process to buy groceries or put gas in the car as they are second nature to most of us. However imagine you are from another country and there are no cars in that country. Putting gas in the car would not be second nature to you and thus you would need to consult a process, or directions, on how to put gas in a car.
McDonalds and Pizza Hut and Subway have basic simple processes to create a burger, pizza and subs. As time goes on those processes become second nature to the fast-food employee. If you don’t believe that, then ask anyone who has worked at any of these establishments. I bet they remember those processes to this day. I do!
With that in mind, we have to follow a process to find a job. Your old process of looking on Monster, Dice, want ads and company websites for a job, applying to the job and then waiting for a phone call is not a formal process. It is actually a poor way to find a job!
The “Finding a Job” Process
1. Desired Job: Define what you want in a job. Determine your desired job responsibilities, desired job title, desired salary and so on. Determine how much, if any, travel is acceptable. You can also determine a location and industry if you desire. Keep your desired job expectations realistic.
2. Target companies: Look for companies that fit your desired job. Create a list of target companies you want to work for in your new position.
3. Update Résumé: This needs to be done before you even look for a job. Make sure your résumé is up-to-date and edited.
4. Network: Reach out to those in your network. Where are they working and where have they worked? Do any of your contacts work at companies on your target list? If they do, reach out ASAP!
5. Apply to job openings: Apply to jobs on your target list. If there are no jobs posted on your target list, then send your résumé to key individuals at these target companies. You can also apply to other jobs you may come across that fit your ‘desired job’.
6. Did you get an interview? If not Repeat steps 1 through 5 until you get an interview. You may add or subtract target companies, then go back to Step 2. You may need to modify your résumé. If the old résumé is not working, start over at Step 3. You many need more or better contacts. Thus Network better! Back to step 4.
7. Prepare for Phone Interview
8. Phone Interview
9. Prepare for Face-To-Face interview
10. Face-To-Face Interview
11. Important: After the interview ask yourself, "Does the company and position match my ‘Desired Job’ as defined in Step 1?" If not you have a decision to make should an offer come your way. At this point you may want to go back to Step 1.
12. No Offer: Repeat steps 1 through 5
13. Offer - Accept or Decline: If you get an offer, then you will need to Accept or Decline or Counter. Note that ‘Counter’ is step that will eventually take you to Accept or Decline. Decline: Repeat steps 1 through 5. Accept: Start your new job.
14. Review Period: 30 to 90 days into your new job, repeat steps 1 through 3 on a regular basis.
Your “Finding a Job” Process begins with your want to find a satisfying and good paying job. Your “Finding a Job” Process ends with you finding and accepting that satisfying and good paying job. However if you don’t adhere to a process, then you will miss key step and you won’t find the job you want or it could take you a long time to find that job. Without a process, you are playing a game of hit and miss and hope. So when you are serious about looking for a job, I suggest you define your wants and a process to obtain those wants.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
So when is the best time to update your résumé?
The answer is simple; right now today. Regardless of the economy it is good to be proactive rather than waiting until the day you need an updated résumé. There are critical times you need a résumé and the most important is when someone un-expectantly asks you for your résumé.
Most people wait till the day they are laid off. If this is you, then you are already one day late. People often think the best time to look for a job is when they need a job. (That is, the day after they were laid off or have been given notice or have had enough of their current job.) These same people also think the best time to update their résumé is the day after they have been laid off, have been give notice of a lay off or have found a job that they want to apply to and thus these candidates are unprepared.
A good general rule is to review and update your résumé 2 to 4 times a year. That may seem excessive but ‘things’ in your current job change. How many times in a year do your job responsibilities change, roles change, software change and other tools change? Thus because of these changes, it is important to update your résumé often. Always update your résumé after you have completed a major accomplishment for your employer such as reducing cost, saving money, increasing sales exceeding quotas.
A smart candidate, that is currently working, keeps their résumé updated often. When a Headhunter calls them, they are ready. They are also ready for when a friend calls with a good job lead. They are also ready for when their current employer posts a job internally. These smart candidates can act instantly because they are ready. They have updated their résumé in advance and have spent good quality time on their résumé. They have good business smarts! And let’s face it these are the type of people that employers want to hire!
I worked for a manager that kept her updated résumé in the top drawer of her office desk. Let me give you some background on her. She was one of the most dedicated employees the company has ever had and she lived and breathed this company. Yet she wanted to move up to the next level which was a director level position. So she wanted to be ready for the day the director position opened. She was prepared, her résumé was updated often. She was not going to waste time updating her résumé at the last minute. And yes, the director position eventually opened up and she got that job!
If you find yourself in the middle of this recession without a job and looking for a new job, then spend some time on your résumé. As a matter of fact spend a couple of hours a week on the content of your résumé until you land a job. Spelling and grammar are important and it is best to have someone edit your work. Ask yourself, “Does my résumé read well? Does my résumé properly describe who I am and the success I had in previous jobs?” If you can not answer yes, then go back to the computer and start again.
If you are employed and not really looking I suggest you mark one day a quarter on your calendar, organizer or Outlook as ‘résumé review’ time. This is the time to update your responsibilities, roles, titles and tools. Reread your résumé and ask yourself, “Would I hire this person?”
Crafting a good résumé takes time. Therefore if you are updating a few hours or even a day before you need one then I can guess it is not your best work. How many times have you used the same version of a résumé when someone pointed out an error in dates or spelling? Your résumé is the first thing an employer or hiring manager sees. Your résumé represents you. It may be the single most important tool in your job search. Shouldn’t you spend more than a few hours on your résumé?
Most people wait till the day they are laid off. If this is you, then you are already one day late. People often think the best time to look for a job is when they need a job. (That is, the day after they were laid off or have been given notice or have had enough of their current job.) These same people also think the best time to update their résumé is the day after they have been laid off, have been give notice of a lay off or have found a job that they want to apply to and thus these candidates are unprepared.
A good general rule is to review and update your résumé 2 to 4 times a year. That may seem excessive but ‘things’ in your current job change. How many times in a year do your job responsibilities change, roles change, software change and other tools change? Thus because of these changes, it is important to update your résumé often. Always update your résumé after you have completed a major accomplishment for your employer such as reducing cost, saving money, increasing sales exceeding quotas.
A smart candidate, that is currently working, keeps their résumé updated often. When a Headhunter calls them, they are ready. They are also ready for when a friend calls with a good job lead. They are also ready for when their current employer posts a job internally. These smart candidates can act instantly because they are ready. They have updated their résumé in advance and have spent good quality time on their résumé. They have good business smarts! And let’s face it these are the type of people that employers want to hire!
I worked for a manager that kept her updated résumé in the top drawer of her office desk. Let me give you some background on her. She was one of the most dedicated employees the company has ever had and she lived and breathed this company. Yet she wanted to move up to the next level which was a director level position. So she wanted to be ready for the day the director position opened. She was prepared, her résumé was updated often. She was not going to waste time updating her résumé at the last minute. And yes, the director position eventually opened up and she got that job!
If you find yourself in the middle of this recession without a job and looking for a new job, then spend some time on your résumé. As a matter of fact spend a couple of hours a week on the content of your résumé until you land a job. Spelling and grammar are important and it is best to have someone edit your work. Ask yourself, “Does my résumé read well? Does my résumé properly describe who I am and the success I had in previous jobs?” If you can not answer yes, then go back to the computer and start again.
If you are employed and not really looking I suggest you mark one day a quarter on your calendar, organizer or Outlook as ‘résumé review’ time. This is the time to update your responsibilities, roles, titles and tools. Reread your résumé and ask yourself, “Would I hire this person?”
Crafting a good résumé takes time. Therefore if you are updating a few hours or even a day before you need one then I can guess it is not your best work. How many times have you used the same version of a résumé when someone pointed out an error in dates or spelling? Your résumé is the first thing an employer or hiring manager sees. Your résumé represents you. It may be the single most important tool in your job search. Shouldn’t you spend more than a few hours on your résumé?
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