5 Ways to Prepare for Your Job Search

You’ve recently been laid off or left that a job that wasn’t working out and you’ve begun to gear up for an intensive job search. However, before you get to the point of applying for jobs there are a few things you’ll want to get done in order to be better prepared for the process.

Here are five ways to prepare for your job search.

Identify resources for job openings. Create a list of the job search sites that you intend to follow and review regularly and are most closely related to the type of position you are applying for. You might add LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor to this list, along with sites that offer freelance opportunities such as Upwork. In addition, identify a group of companies you’d love to work at and plan to check out their job postings on a regular basis.

Contact friends and colleagues. We’re not talking about a general Facebook status post or a tweet (though that approach could be helpful) but think strategically about your network and identify those who might have some connections to companies, employers, or jobs of interest, and send them a personal note or give them a phone call letting me know about your needs and what you are looking for.  

Get your references arranged. Identify a few individuals you will ask to be your references and create a document with their contact information, email and phone number, to have readily available when completing applications online or in person.

Prepare info about previous work experiences. In addition to your references, you will want to create a document that lists your previous employers, including address, phone number, and the name of your supervisor. You’ll want to note at least your last three employers, and perhaps more if you’ve changed jobs frequently over the last five to ten years.

Create cover letters in advance. You’ll save time in the application process if you create a cover letter template that you can tweak and revise, as necessary, for each specific job you apply for. Your cover letter should be different for each application and address some of the specific needs identified by the prospective employer as mentioned in their job posting.

Finally, be prepared for silence. It might take some time for the right job to come along and, until then, you will likely face some rejection from prospective employers. Remember that every “no” is leading to the “yes” that will be the best opportunity for you.