Managing a job search is like managing any other large project. You have to create a structure that will force you to operate efficiently and productively. When you put together a system to manage the flow of contacts, resumes, follow-ups and interviews you'll find that your job search goes much more smoothly and you're less apt to overlook an important step in your communication.
The first step in a job search is to focus a game plan for different types of job opportunities. One way of achieving this is to categorize the types of jobs you want into three different arenas. The first category would be jobs you think are probably outside of your specific skill set. In other words you think you may not be quite qualified for them but you'd love to work for that company or in that position-your dream job. The second category are jobs you think you can probably get because you are the most likely candidate. They may not be as glamorous what they are respectable and you believe you can qualify for them easily. The third category are jobs you choose randomly that you may warn may not be qualified for but they just might be fun.
By splitting the types of jobs you wish to interview for into three different categories you open up the field for potential employment and allow your mind to explore different possibilities. While jobs in category number one may be dream jobs be employer may have training available to bring you up to speed. Therefore, it's important to keep everything organized and not confuse categories 1, 2 or 3.
Your next step is to define file folders with specific headings to organize your search. Here are a couple of ideas:
1. "A" prospects are the most interesting and hot employment prospects that you do not want to lose track of. These are jobs that you will watch daily.
2. An ideas folder will hold all your brainstorming ideas that can help you later. For example, if you receive a letter with the business reply card in it and would like to have something similar printed it would go into your "idea" file.
3. A cover letters will hold examples of cover letters that you have either written yourself, friends have given you or you haven't gotten your hands on which you believe will help you to write a better letter yourself.
4. A resume folder will hold all copies of your current resume and any changes you make. If you produce 1,2 or three different resumes for different types of jobs this is the folder where they will be stored.
5. Telephone scripts is a folder that holds notes for planned future telephone conversations or a quick one minutes "elevator" speech where you can present yourself, your strengths and reasons why companies would want to hire you within a matter of 60 seconds.
6. Your correspondence folder will hold all correspondence you received and copies of those letters you send to all companies with whom you have been making application for employment. You can separate these companies using paperclips to keep them together.
7. A diary folder should hold a daily journal of all telephone calls that you have made or correspondence that you have mailed so you can remember what was called and what was sent.
Now create a workspace for yourself where only you are allowed. This means your spouse, your children and your guests must stay away from your paperwork, your diaries and your folders. This is the place in the house where you will work to find employment and your dream job. Treat this as you would going to work. This is your workspace and it should stay that way.
Remember that for the most part, perception is reality. Therefore it's in your best interest to have a professional sounding e-mail account from which to send communication to prospective employers. Gmail works really well for that. But it's also important to choose a name that isn't cutesy or fun. A very professional sounding e-mail account can be first name.last name@Gmail.com.
Establish a schedule for yourself so that you know what is expected every morning and afternoon. In other words, in the morning you may choose to handle priority projects, writing thank you notes or sending resumes while the afternoons will be spent making phone calls or a networking. The schedule you choose should depends not upon what you prefer but rather the availability of people in your industry to speak either in the morning or in the afternoon.
Try to touch your e-mail or the papers on your desk only once before deciding how they should be appropriated. When the mail arrives, sort it immediately and throw away useless information. Put the bills aside into a pile "to pay" and put everything else in their respective place. The less frequently you touch each piece of paper is a more efficient your entire day will be.
It's important to develop jobs search management strategies that work best for you. Integrating some of these ideas with your own personal style will help you to stay focused and manage this task to completion.
Presented by Trish King
You can also find Trish at www.trishking.com or http://blog.stayathomebizreview.com
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