culled from:careerealism.com
You do not want to be a serial applicant. It is a quick way to enter
the deepest, darkest, blackest location of the application black hole.
You really want to be discerning about the roles you apply for. To do
that, here are a few tips and tricks to try to make sure you are really
going for the jobs that can get you closer to career nirvana.
1. Know what you want
Before any big life change (and changing jobs is a big life change),
it’s key to know what you want. Because you cannot find what you want
unless you know what you want. This is going to include a deep
understanding of your professional goals and personal needs. You should
try to document these things and keep them close by. Look at them before
you apply to a job and re-read the job description to be sure there are
no red flags in the marketing-speak of the position listing. Do not
apply for a job that will not help you meet your professional goals nor
force you to sacrifice your personal needs.
2. Get feedback on your accomplishments
When I am applying to jobs, I like to write really tailored cover
letters that tells a few stories that are aligned with the job
description. The best stories come from people I’ve worked with. I like
to gather feedback from people who I reported to as well as people who
reported to me. I like to talk with teammates to see what they thought
about our work together and I ask them to share with me what I did well
and where I could have improved. And now, I have already answered the
“strengths and weaknesses” questions in the interview because I have
stories from others to back up what I am saying. You can also use this
feedback to see where you may or may not shine against the job
description.
3. Know what you can deliver
You know what you want to achieve in your career and what other
people think you rock at. Now, you should figure out what you can really
deliver to a new company. I always focus on accomplishments and
achievements. It is measurable and it is easy and quick to communicate.
And when you know these things and the stories that back them up, it
makes the application and interviews a much for focused and engaging
experience, because people love stories!
4. Network with companies that fit
You should be focusing your job search on specific companies that
align with your values. You should not be looking at companies that are
not family friendly if you are a mom re-entering the workforce. Research
companies to create a list of employers who align with your values and
needs. Study up on them and then start networking with them in social
media. Find people you may know that works there and then set some time
to chat with them or meet for coffee. Finding a job that fits starts
before the application, it starts in your targeting companies that are
going to be really aligned with what you need and can deliver.
5. Get your stories together
There are countless ways to stand out to recruiters and it doesn’t
need to be gimmicky. You can reach out directly to recruiters to learn
more about the company and the job. You can use your connections to
become a referral because those are a top source for employers. You
should consider visual ways to stand out. I’ve written about them
here and
here.
Tools I’ve referenced in the past were: Word Clouds, SlideShare,
LinkedIn, CredHive, Prezi, Adobe Voice, and Haiku Deck. You can use
these tools to share your story in a more visual and compelling way.
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