WCT #38: How to Sieze Every Job Opportunity

Do you rely too heavily on the most unreliable storage device of all — your brain?

Every forgotten follow-up is an opportunity that slips through your fingertips.

Let enough opportunities pass you by, and you’ll be seriously behind the eight ball.

It’s easy enough to maximize your chances for success by organizing your search contacts and forming a target list. Doing so will also help you feel more at ease and on top of the search process.

1. Do a data dump of all contacts who could be important to you in your search. A great starting place is wherever you currently keep your contacts: your phone, Google Workspace, etc. Use my free downloadable Google sheet (link in the first comment of this published article) that’s customized for keeping track of your job search contacts.
2. Pare down your list to the people who could be helpful in your search. Some of your phone entries, like a pizza place, may not be relevant to your search. Careful, though. Don’t be too quick to delete names. Even if they are casual acquaintances today, there may be great reasons to reach out to them during your search. Studies have shown that loose ties are often the best for finding jobs.
3. This list is now the foundation of your network for job search purposes. Add people to this list as you have conversations (networking/informational meetings and interviews). Remember to indicate who introduced you to the new person so you can remember the trail of introductions. That way, you can make sure your outreach is personalized by referencing the person who introduced you, and you can thank people who led up to a valuable conversation.
4. Some of the best sources of prospective help are family members. Your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, etc., love you, will put themselves out for you, and want to see you succeed. Schedule time with them to review their personal and business connections to identify people who might be interesting to you and willing to speak with you.
5. Put companies on the list even if you don’t have a contact. Your job search contact tracker is an important place to record not only people you know but also companies that are of interest. As you research these companies, you will soon have people to associate with them. A list of unique company names from this sheet is your target list. Share this list with people with whom you speak. They may have good connections at these companies who can serve as your way in the door.

Once you have this working list, it will help you keep track of your outreach attempts, recognizing that it often takes a few times to get a response from someone to move the ball forward.

Also, tracking your last touchpoint with a person (an email, a text, a conversation, etc.) helps you keep your relationships current.

Organization is essential to a successful job search. Keep organized, track your contacts, and you’ll be on your way to a rewarding job.

Do you or someone you know need help determining what kinds of roles and companies would be great work situations? Conducting an effective job search without endlessly applying online? I coach and advise people 1:1 and in hybrid 1:1/small group settings. Learn more about my career coaching and sign up for a free 30-minute Career Solutions Call. See the link in my bio.

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