How to Take Control of Your Job Search and Get Results

Interview, Job Search, Resume and LinkedIn

happy woman hands in airSeven months ago, many of us made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight. We joined the gym, changed our diet and followed a plan to achieve results. Few people expect to drop several pounds in one or two weeks, especially without a sound strategy for slimming down.

The same logic applies to saving money for a home, college or retirement — it involves serious planning. But when it comes to finding employment (arguably one of life’s most important objectives), a surprising number of job seekers approach the task far too casually.

“If you ask people who are entering the job market, ‘How long do you think it will take you to get a job?’ they often say, ‘A week or two’,” says Dan Caffee, CEO of JobDash. “If you think of it that way, then it might seem like a waste of time to develop a strategy. But that’s not the reality.”

The reality is that, on average, a typical job seeker can expect to spend one month on the job market for every $10,000 in annual salary they hope to earn. Certainly there are exceptions. Some qualified candidates with strong connections can segue seamlessly from one position to the next. But again, that’s not the norm.

To land the job you want, don’t underestimate the time and energy it takes to get hired — and don’t expect opportunity to fall in your lap. (Tweet this thought.)

Caffee knows a thing or two about hiring, having screened countless candidates to work for his companies over the years — many of whom were recent college graduates when they applied. He has a few tips to help you become empowered and start taking charge of your job search:

 

Develop Perspective

Are you really looking for jobs all of the time? Is no one responding to your applications?

First, Caffee says, it’s worth revisiting what it means to “apply.” One-click applications do you and the employer a disservice by skipping a critical part of the process: research. (More on that in a bit.)

Next, ask yourself whether you’re too focused on the negative outcomes. It might seem like you applied to 50 jobs that went nowhere when you actually applied to 10 positions, were rejected by five employers and heard back from one company that — let’s be honest — you just weren’t that into. When you look at what really went down, it’s obvious you’re still in the game.

So put things into perspective — keep track of your accomplishments to gain an objective overview of your progress. Setting and managing realistic expectations does wonders for your ego. “If you predict it’s going to take six weeks to get a job, then you don’t get nearly as demoralized after two weeks,” Caffee says.

And if you don’t get the job, ask for feedback from the employer so you can make adjustments for the next opportunity. “It’s about being able to visualize every action to see what’s going on so you can make improvements,” Caffee adds.

 

Do Your Homework

From applying to interviewing to even negotiating job offers, the best way to gain a competitive edge is to research jobs and companies like crazy. Caffee says his best experiences with candidates occur when the person has clearly looked into the company “so we can have an intelligent conversation. That doesn’t require years and years of experience — that just requires some effort.”

Where to begin? Look online at a company’s social media accounts and on corporate websites where you might be able to score press releases about new products and recent initiatives. This is your secret weapon to effectively demonstrate your interest in the position. While you’re at it, look for employees on LinkedIn. If other employees share the title, check on their profile to see how they’re presenting themselves professionally. Follow their lead.

Research can also help you chill out. Have you ever left an interview and have no idea what just happened? “People look at interviewing like skydiving or bungee jumping, where they get so filled with anxiety — usually because they’re not so prepared — that they just run in, cross their fingers and hope all goes well,” Caffee says. “Then when it’s over they just relax.”

It’s better to relax beforehand by having a list of responses to frequently asked questions, questions to ask the employer and specific examples of what you’d do to benefit the company.

 

Follow Through

Just as with weight-loss and financial goals, job searching takes serious time and effort. “If you really want to be effective, you might have to spend 20 hours a week doing it — and that’s tough when you’re going to school and have a part-time job,” Caffee says. “You could be looking at 60 hours a week, total, of hard work. There’s no silver bullet that makes it so you don’t have to work hard. But there is a way to work more efficiently so you’re not wasting your time.

Even if you think you have the whole job search process dialed in, there’s always room for improvement. “If you have a good system and you’re able to just get a job, then go for it,” Caffee says. “But that’s really like someone who says, ‘Well, I don’t need a diet because I’m in great shape.’ Sure. But you can always be in better shape.”

Want to learn more about how you can take control of your job search? Join All Things Career Founder Kevin Kermes as he talks with Dan Caffee on a LIVE Google Hangout July 16 at 12 p.m. EST. 

Where could your job search use a little help? Share in the comments!

Image: Photobucket

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