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How to kickstart a successful job search in 7 days
In 2017, 3.6 million executive leaders are predicted to retire, allowing younger employees to move up to management positions.1 This workforce hiring shift has created a competitive job market in favour of job seekers with mid- to senior-levels of experience or proven potential for leadership.
To take advantage of this trend, you’ll need to stop wasting your lunch break aimlessly scrolling through online job boards and create a unique communication plan of action to land the career you want.
No single method will guarantee you a successful job search, but a collaboration of smarter communication skills and savvier networking strategies will increase the impact you’ll make with every application.
You’re guaranteed to get higher hit rates on targeted job search efforts if you start dedicating real time to research, reflection, and preparation, and stop engaging in outdated, inefficient job search tactics.
Hit the ground running with this 7-day strategic plan designed to give you the necessary tools to make your next successful career move. Learn how to plan for a successful job hunt in one week, and download a free goal setting template for you to use in your next job search planner.
DO WHAT SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DO ON SUNDAYS:
How to define your career goals
When it comes to setting and achieving goals, Author and Entrepreneur, Tim Ferriss asks himself one simple question:
“Am I making this harder than it needs to be?”
Remove broad career ambitions and aspirations that are not unique to you and your skills and set aside time to define and write down your quarterly, annual and 5-year goals and priorities.
Struggling to define your goals? You might just need to change your focus. Work your way through this formula to optimise your objectives.
CAPATALISE ON MONDAY’S PRODUCTIVITY:
How to update your CV
On average, every corporate job opening attracts 250 resumes. But only 4 to 6 of these people will be called for an interview, and only 1 of those will be offered a job.2
Limit the time spent re-editing your long-form CV. It’s not a chronicle of your professional career, it’s sole purpose should be to land you a face-to-face interview.
Learn how to collate your competencies in an enticing way that will leave hiring managers curious to continue with your application.
Heard of a portfolio of evidence? Make an impact by presenting an insightful portfolio to your future employer by including this powerful add-on with your CV.
TAKE TIME TO GO ONLINE ON TUESDAY:
How to create a powerful LinkedIn Profile
Stop forgetting to update and engage with your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn was made for getting headhunted: 89% of surveyed recruiters have hired someone through LinkedIn.3
It’s often the first place hiring managers and recruiters look for industry and role-specific candidates. Take advantage of LinkedIn’s powerful networking feature, and improve your chances of being internally referred or recommended.
Want to enhance your credibility and build a strong network of successful connections? Learn how to utilise LinkedIn to impact your career today.
GAIN THE SKILLS TO WALKOVER WEDNESDAY:
How to write engaging emails
76% of resumes are discarded for an unprofessional email address.4 Avoid your email writing costing you your first impression as a result of ineffective communication habits.
Make yourself more marketable and prioritise a professional approach to all of your future cover letters, referrals and follow-up emails.
Follow these simple guidelines to writing effective emails and master the impact of direct, targeted communication.
TAKE BACK THE TALK ON THURSDAY:
How to perfect your interview skills
Skip the part where you think you’ll just wing it. You need to need to be able to answer any question thrown at you with the confidence that’ll convince a stranger they should invest in you.
Brush up on your industry insights, and develop some key phrases and succinct messages that you can rework into a variety of answers. While the average length of an interview is 40 minutes, 33% of 2000 surveyed bosses indicated they know within the first 90 seconds if they will hire that candidate.5
If you only had 60 seconds to win someone over, how would you do it? Read up on the elevator pitch and perfect your skills before your next interview.
RUN FRIDAY BEFORE FRIDAY RUNS YOU:
How to network effectively
Don’t go it alone. A study of 59,133 successful job seekers by a company called Right Management found that networking was far more successful than other job search methods.6
Keep your network activated by reaching out to professional peers, friends, family and social media contacts.
Treat networking, and social networking, like you would a meaningful friendship. When you forge these relationships, the concept of networking doesn’t exist.
Learn how to lose the formalities of networking and forge powerful relationships with these three communication strategies.
SETTLE INTO THE RIGHT SATURDAY ROUTINE:
How to research a company
Don’t scratch the surface of a couple of organisations.
Inform your job search with the right information to keep a professional communication style throughout your emails and interviews. Popular Job search website, Glassdoor, notes that, “The average person job searching reads six reviews posted about a company before forming their opinion on the company.”
Do your homework on the companies or business leaders that you would want to work for: learn about their values, their company culture and their client service.
Take ownership of your career development. Start by learning from reflective and intelligent people, and grow your understanding through their experiences.
Download your job search goal setting template here and use it master your next big career move in a week.
1Mrinetwork
2Inc
3Business.time
4Prsa
5Business
6Forbes