“If you can’t control your peanut butter, you can’t expect to control your life.”
– Bill Watterson
So many new grads find me and express the sense of being lost in their job search. I hear them say things like:
“I’m not even sure where to start.”
“I feel like I’m just going in circles.”
“I’ve been sending out resumes but not hearing anything back.”
If you can relate, you’re in the right place.
As overwhelming as your job search may seem, I want to help you break it down into small pieces and avoid the biggest single mistake I see nearly every new grad make in their job search:
Not taking control of your job search.
To wit:
- Do you think applying on line to numerous jobs each day is control of your job search?
- Do you think browsing Indeed.com each day constitutes a job search?
- Do you think reading blog after blog (except for this one of course) is having control of your job search?
Sacre bleu, my friend. Not so!
I want to show you how to get control over the process, so that you can get over the overwhelm, and get on to the great life that’s ahead of you!
Here’s how to get started and take control of your job search.
1. The job search is an inside-out game. So, start inside.
The problem with jumping into the job search by looking for jobs is that it’s focused on what they want, rather than what you bring.
Don’t get me wrong; what they want is important, but only as it relates to what you are capable of delivering.
Your job search starts on the inside, with a clear understanding of who you are, what you’re good at and interested in, and what evidence you have that you can help an employer solve their business problems.
If you need help with that, start with a StrengthsFinder assessment. I have all my clients do it, because it’s great for young adults. It gives you words to describe yourself that you might not come up with on your own.
Another good, free assessment can be found at 16personalities.com.
And frankly, both will make you feel darned good about who you are. They are also far less complex than the other typology out there. That will come in due time.
Paint a picture of who you are, using your strengths, the things you’re interested in, the skills that you’ve demonstrated (ask others if you need help on that). The foundation for a good job search is inside you.
You have control over all of this.
2. Identify what you want in a job, and an employer. [Tweet this.]
If you notice, I didn’t say, “Identify what you want to do.” Why? Because you don’t have enough information to answer that question.
If you know that already, great, keep reading. But most clients don’t have a concrete idea. Yet.
Instead, make a list of the qualities you want in a job. For example:
- Do you want to work with people or animals?
- Numbers or projects?
- Do you want to work largely on your own, or in a collaborative group?
- Do you want to work in a fast, always changing pace, or, in a relatively predictable-everyday is the same kind of pace?
- Do you want to travel and be on the go, or work in the same place every day?
Then, make a list of the qualities you want in an employer. For example:
- Do you want to work in a huge corporation or small agile startup?
- City or country?
- What kind of culture?
- What kind of values and leadership do you want in an employer?
- What industry/s do you want to be in?
I had one client, finance major, tell me, “I see myself going to work in a suit and tie everyday.”
Ok, then high tech firms where cargo shorts and flip-flops rule, was not going to be a target for him. We actually found a company where one corporate value was (believe it or not) “appearance.” They were a suit + tie company.
If you notice, there’s a theme here. These, too, are foundations in your job search that come from INSIDE you.
And, you have control over identifying these qualities.
3. Do a sh*tload of research. [Tweet this]
The most underrated part of a job search, I say!
Sure, your resume and interview skills are important, but if you don’t know what target you’re shooting for, none of that matters.
I suggest clients block out literally a couple of days – weeks if you need to – to do nothing but “click links” and read stuff on line.
But seriously, start on LinkedIn (because, of course you have a profile right?) and use keywords to start looking at employers, job descriptions, and profiles of other people on LinkedIn.
Get a sense of what people and organizations actually do in the areas that interest you.
Let the market tell you what it is looking for.
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Get a notebook and big cup of something, and just dive in. Notice the language they use, notice what the jobs actually do. Notice the career paths of people whose profiles interest you. Look at the keywords they use. Should that be a keyword you use in your research? Take notes.
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- I did a quick video on using LinkedIn for research. Check it below.
- Use sources like Google, Facebook, Twitter, and web search in general to fuel your research.
- Look at your local Business Journal book of lists, for data on companies in each industry segment in your local community.
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Let yourself get lost in the chaos, notice the patterns you see and find what emerges that’s interesting to you.
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You have no control when you send application after application into an HR black hole for jobs you apply to on line.
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You have 100% control over the research you do to lay a foundation for your job search.
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4. Target employers who need what you offer.
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Once you have an idea for what’s out there, and you can come up with options for the type of work – and employers – that are interesting to you.
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Your goal is to have a list of 10 to 30 or so target companies that you want to work for, based on the information that you’ve gathered. You want to be able to say, “I am good at delivering (these accomplishments) and will help your organization by helping you ____(solve these business problems)____________.”
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Once you have a list of target companies, and a general idea of the kind of work you want to do, you’re cooking with gas. Because you can now start looking for contacts in those companies to connect to, and have conversations with.
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And, viola, you take back control of your job search. Because…
- You have control over the research you do.
- You have control over whom you connect to on LinkedIn.
- You have control over whom you ask for an informational interview.
- You have control over the conversations you have with colleagues.
- You have control over the follow up and professionalism you demonstrate.
- You have control over how you treat people in your network.
- You have control over how you ask people to help you.
- You have control over what introductions you ask for.
- You have control over what cold calls you make.
- You have control over your attitude, thoughts, and decisions you make each day.
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There is so much in the job search you DON’T have control over, you MUST pull the levers where you do.
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You can’t control if people call you back. You can, however, control if you follow up when they don’t call you back.
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When you cede control of all this to simply applying on line, or, if you leave your job search destiny in the hands of everything you do not control, you’re cheating yourself of the great opportunities you could be getting exposed to.
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And, you’re going to be super frustrated in your job search.
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When you take control of what you DO control, you are buidling a Job Search Strategy rooted in action.
Image: https://www.123rf.com/stock-photo/
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