HOW DO YOU START A SUCCESSFUL JOB SEARCH? 2/2

HOW DO YOU START A SUCCESSFUL JOB SEARCH 1/2

To be continued ...

07. LINKEDIN PROFILE

MANDATORY FOR ANY MID-TO-LATE CAREER JOB SEEKER.

• It should not duplicate your resume. It should amplify your resume. Resumes are tailored for a specific job application, showcasing your qualifications for a particular position.
• LinkedIn profiles, on the other hand, serve as an ongoing professional presence, helping your network, building your personal brand, and connecting with a broader audience.
• You’ll need a professional headshot with a nice background.
• You must also be "Active” on LinkedIn, doing something on the site minimum every 2 or 3 days.
• Exploit LinkedIn Groups of professionals or associations in your industry i.e., #clinicalresearch #biotech

08. SOCIAL MEDIA

Everything you have ever posted on the internet will be reviewed as part of the background check.

Clean it up! Keep it clean!

• Your social media must be current, professional, and reflect your current interests and skills.
• NO Sex, Drugs, Alcohol, Dangerous Behaviour, or Strong Political or Religious Views. NOTHING negative about a previous employer. Block that crazy relative or friend who’s always sending you the latest conspiracy theories, or who thinks it’s funny to tag you in explicit pictures.
• LinkedIn IS NOT a dating site. Set your privacy settings carefully.

09. OBJECTIVE – YOU WANT TO HAVE 2 OR MORE JOB OFFERS

It takes a lot of TIME, networking, and activity, but it’s greatly to your advantage.

• Soon you will be doing a lot of interviewing (I'm crossing my fingers for you). That way each interview matters less and you will be more relaxed, and you will interview better, and be more likely to get the job offer!
• Having two offers at one means you have negotiating leverage. Way to go! ??
• But You can’t fake it. What if they call your bluff? You’ll have to walk away from a valid job offer.

KEY: Always track all your activity, so that you know where you are active and can track your metrics that show you how effective you are at your Job Search. You will learn what works, and what doesn’t. You need to know where you are with all your contacts, and with all the places you’ve applied. A spreadsheet is fine.

10. STRATEGY – PURSUE TARGET COMPANIES, NOT JOB POSTINGS

More than 60% of Jobs are NEVER listed nor posted anywhere.

• Companies prefer to hire by talking to people who know the Hiring Manager. It’s the cheapest and produces the best results. It’s called “The Hidden Job Market.” That’s why your most valuable networking contacts are people with whom you worked in the past. They can find out about the unpublished openings, and they can also connect you, and they know you and can advocate for you.
• You will be doing a lot of Company Research - Get to know the Reference Librarian at your local public library. They will teach you how to find companies that employ people with your particular focus. Once you have targeted companies, you can begin seeing who you know who knows someone at those companies. That’s how you “Crack the Hidden Job Market.”

KEY: Update your Marketing Plan weekly. It will help you avoid wasting time with “rabbit trails.”

KEY: You can apply too often to a company website. More than 6-8 times in 3 or 4 months and you will be identified as a “Spam Applicant” and you will be blacklisted.

11. JOB BOARDS

DO NOT WASTE TIME ON JOB BOARDS! Only spend an hour or two a week. Use them for Research instead.

• You have less than a 1% chance of getting called for an interview by applying online through a job board. This number never changes, no matter how many jobs you apply for.

KEY: NEVER apply through the job board. NEVER apply Easy Apply on LinkedIn. Instead, go to the company website and make sure the job is still open. Using Your Master Resume will help you fill out the app quickly.

KEY: No matter how wonderful the job is, never apply to a job that lacks a company name. It’s always just a recruiter and often the position has been filled long ago. They are just collecting resumes.

• Instead, use job boards to find companies that have hired in your specialized job area in the past. Then network your way into the company.

Exception-Niche Job Boards part of professional associations or associated with specific fields can be good.

12. RECRUITERS

Contingent Recruiters DO NOT WORK FOR YOU.

• But they can be very helpful, and sometimes they can connect you with a good position.

13. SALARY RESEARCH & NEGOTIATING

• You must be able to talk about compensation during your first phone interview. They always ask.
• Before you take that phone interview, you must research what your specific job is worth based on industry, years of experience, special skills, and region. Hello GLASSDOOR
• Keep in mind there are multiple other factors affecting compensation that aren’t obvious.

14. INTERVIEW PRACTICE

Interviewing is too important to “just wing it.”

So, you need to practice, practice, and practice, so that you are comfortable with yourself and your answers. That will help you interview well.

15. WHEN YOU LAND

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most jobs last about four years. You might be back doing this again. Do things to help prevent it, or at least to make it easier for the next time.

a. Never stop networking. Build a new network inside your new organization. Keep seeing how many other people you can help. “Dig a well before you’re thirsty.” They will remember you when you come around again. Keep your LinkedIn up to date and active because it is likely to be how you next land.

b. Pay off all your debt and build a financial reserve. Money is time! Time is money.

c. Enhance your value. Get that degree, license, or certification. Not only will it make you more valuable to your employer, but it will also be easier to land next time.

d. Take care of your physical and emotional health. You can’t afford $$$$ a breakdown in any of those areas. Remember that this has to include your spouse and your family

The sooner you can follow these steps and get started on your search, the better off you’ll be overall.

If you have any questions you know where to find me ...