How to Optimize Your Job Search Now ?

Many of us have lost our job, or know someone who has. Looking for new opportunities can be a daunting challenge, but certain strategies can significantly improve your search. I have developed the wheel of job search for my clients transitioning in their career. It is a simple, but powerful tool that helps them visualize all the important areas of career search at once. By looking at a visual representation of all the areas at once, the wheel helps them to better understand which areas need the most work and laser focus on those specific areas.

To create your own wheel of job search, start answering the following questions:

1. Professional Goals

• How clear are you with your short-term and long-term career goals?
• Have you checked which opportunities are available for these goals?
• How is your targeted industry performing? What other industries are you a good fit for? 
• What transferrable competencies could you leverage in a new industry?

2. CV

• Does your CV show measurable results from your previous experiences? Ensure it showcases transferable skills backed up with quantifiable achievements.
• Is your CV ATS-friendly? Recruiters will use ATS, or Applicant Tracking System, to quickly evaluate how suitable your application is for the role.

3. LinkedIn Profile

• Does your headline strike a good first impression?
• This is prime real estate space on your LinkedIn profile. Make sure you spend real time on it!
• What headline could you write if you have lost your job? The job titles you seek e.g. Project Manager | Program Manager | Change Manager.
• Do you have a professional profile picture? It is the first thing recruiters will look at.
• What about your summary? Does it demonstrate your skills, passion, and unique qualifications?

4. Elevator Pitch

• How do you tell your story in 30 seconds?
• Start with a brief introduction of your professional persona.
• Then, don't just tell them what you do. Highlight how well you can do it.
• Last but not least, tell them why you are the best person for the role you target. 
• And don't forget to convey passion when sharing your story. Body language is as important as your words. 

5. Networking

• Did you know over 85% of open positions are filled through networking?
• When approaching someone, either face-to-face or virtually, how do you open the conversation?
• What commonalities do you have with that person? The more personal it is, the better! It is not just about finding a job.
• In this age of social distancing, how well do you prepare your online presence?
• Do you engage on LinkedIn to expand your network? The LinkedIn's algorithm likes engagement with visibility in recruiter and other searches.

6. Interview

Are you using the C.A.R.L framework when preparing your answers? 

• C: What is the Context?
• A: What were your Actions? 
• R: What Results did you achieve?
• L: What Lessons did you learn?

Without a clear strategy and strong time management habits, it can be easy to lose focus. This simple approach will help you regain a sense of control and motivate yourself to get out there and make it happen!