Career
Quick Tips for Successful Job Hunting
CBN.com – Listed below are 12 proven "tips" for making your job search efficient and effective. These strategies will help you cut your job search time by as much as 50%, helping you attain your new job as quickly as possible!
1. Spend at least 30 hours a week on your job search process (10 hours if you are working full-time). If you are between jobs, consider your job search to be your full-time job. Plan and structure your days as though you were being paid by someone else to conduct a successful job search.
2. Use as many different job search methods as possible, emphasizing those that will help you to find jobs in the "hidden" job market.
3. Allow as many people as possible to help you. The more people who know the specific type of job you are seeking, the greater your chances of finding suitable employment quickly. (See How Personal Contacts Can Get You into the "Hidden Job Market".)
4. Take the initiative to talk with employers directly. Eighty-five percent of employers never advertise their open positions; instead, they fill positions with people they already know; those who find out about the job openings through word of mouth; or, people who take the initiative to contact the hiring manager directly. (See Contacting Employers Directly to Get into the "Hidden" Job Market.)
5. Be "gently persistent" in contacting potential employers. More than any other trait, persistency is the key to your job search success. Being gently persistent means that you may need to become more assertive than you have been in the past. It means that you will be willing to hear many "no's" from employers. It also means that when you hear a "no," you will be willing to ask again at a later time (and possibly hear a "yes").
6. Apply to small businesses as well as large ones. Two-thirds of all new jobs are created in companies with 20 or fewer employees. While large companies are still laying off employees, small companies are the ones that are growing and hiring new employees-people like you.
7. Send brief thank-you notes each night to those who have helped you in your job search that day. Notes can simply say the following: “Thank you for the information (or job lead) you provided to me. Should you think of anything else that might be helpful for my job search please feel free to contact me at (phone number and email address). Sincerely, ________” You will stand out from the many job seekers who do not do this. (See our article, Writing Your "Thank You" Letter After An Interview.)
8. Take the time to know yourself well. One study found that a major reason for extended unemployment is that 80% of job applicants can’t prove the top 10 skills for their job target. You need to know which of your marketable skills, abilities, values, personality traits, motivations, etc. will help you to do the type of work you are pursuing. God has gifted you in a special way to make a difference in this world. Understanding your God-given design will allow you to prove to employers what makes you different from others who are seeking the same type of work. (See our articles, Career Planning: Essential Life Skill for the 21st Century and Career Master Planning: How to Find Work You Love to Do.)
9. Describe yourself in terms of skills you have rather than in terms of the jobs you have done. For example, someone is not only a car mechanic, but also a person who is good with tools and diagnosing problems. (See our article, Now What? How to Determine Your Next Job Target.)
10. Stay well groomed and appropriately dressed.
11. Stay organized. Develop a written weekly plan of action and keep a careful record of your employer contacts.
12. Develop a strong support system. Job search work can be stressful and challenging. When you have an increased amount of “challenge” in your life, you also need increased support. Take the initiative to create the support system that will work best for you!
If you would like to find out how career coaching could increase the success of your job search efforts, check out the professional career counseling/coaching services at ChristianCareerCenter.com.
 Kevin Brennfleck and Kay Marie Brennfleck, National Certified Career Counselors, are the authors of Live Your Calling: A Practical Guide to Finding and Fulfilling Your Mission in Life. Their websites, www.ChristianCareerCenter.com, www.ChurchJobsOnline.com, and www.ChristianJobFair.com,feature hundreds of job listings from churches, ministries, and Christian employers; a resume bank; and many other career/job search resources and articles. They also offer career coaching and testing to help you discover work that fits your God-given design, as well as assistance with writing a powerful resume, interviewing effectively, finding job openings, and other aspects of a successful job search. You can schedule a free consultation session today!
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