5 Tips to Kickoff your Job Search

I often get contacted when someone is starting their job search in hopes that we have an open role that is a fit for their background. Typically, we don't have that perfect role so I try to offer up some other ways for them to jumpstart their efforts. These are the top five that I consistently recommend...plus some bonus tips.

1. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile: The resume is the obvious one, however, the most common thing I see missing from the resume is 1-2 sentences about each company you've worked for. Even if it's a well-known company, a description that includes size (revenue, headcount, and/or locations), products, industry, end markets, etc. really helps provide context for the reader. Example: ABC Company, a private-equity owned, $150M manufacturer of engineered metal components with 5 plants and 700 employees, for the material handling, agriculture, and construction industries. As for the LinkedIn profile, the most important aspect is adding in specific keywords relevant to your industry, skillsets, products, customers, etc. The way recruiters find candidates on LinkedIn is through Keywords, similar to a Google search. The more keywords you have in your profile that match that search, the higher up in the results you appear. Depending on your background, different examples could be versions of your title, like "CHRO" or "Chief Human Resources Officer", your industry, like "Food & Beverage" or "F&B", different systems, like "Netsuite" or "SAP", different skillsets, like "international sourcing" or "continuous improvement", or general experience-based keywords, like "private equity", "M&A", "GAAP", "OEM", "big-box retail", "CRM", "bank covenants", etc. Bonus tip: don't be afraid to list the same keyword multiple times throughout your profile - the more matches, the higher up in the results you will appear.
2. Network: Create a list of your top 50+ connections (colleagues, family, former co-workers, and industry connections) to let them know you're looking for new opportunities. Don't worry about not having talked to them in awhile, you'll be surprised how quickly people are willing to help. It's also a great idea to attend industry events and engage with other professionals on LinkedIn. The more active you are, the more opportunities you will create. Bonus tip: don't forget to ask each person in your network how you can help them!
3. Create your ideal job: Define what you're looking for in a job, including the industry, size of company, type of role, and company culture. Not only will this help you focus your search and apply to the right opportunities, but it will also help your network narrow down when they should think of you. Rather than saying, "I'm looking for CFO roles", you can say "I'm looking for a CFO role with a $100-$500M company in the Distribution/Supply Chain/Logistics industry, located in the Midwest that is in growth-mode." Bonus tip: create a 1-pager that includes a high-level summary of your background with keywords, titles, companies, products, industries, and a few recent career accomplishments, along with the parameters of the job your targeting - titles, revenue size, public or private, location, etc., and distribute that to your network.
4. Research potential employers: Create a list of 20 companies, or PE firms, (could be more if you're open to relocation) that you think highly of and start engaging with them on LinkedIn. Add these companies to your 1-pager. Follow their company page, research existing connections that work there, and invite key stakeholders to connect. Use these to get your interest and background in front of the right people, regardless of whether you see an opening or not. Bonus tip: look for Executive Recruiters that are also connected with these companies and reach out to see if they are aware of any roles that are not posted or if they'd be willing to make an introduction.
5. Track your activity: The most successful job seekers are running a process and tracking their activity. Create a spreadsheet that includes your top 50+ contacts, your top target companies (and the contacts at those companies), and any new contacts that you connect with, along with notes on your last activity. When you speak with someone, ask what an appropriate follow up step would be and set reminders for yourself in order to follow through and stay "front of mind".

I'm sure there are many more great tips out there and I would love to hear them! Please let me know what's worked for you in the past so I can pass them along to future job seekers. Thanks!

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