In today's competitive job market, conducting a successful search can be extremely intimidating and time consuming. While most people have enough self-awareness to recognize when a change is needed, actually taking the initiative to dive into a new career is a completely different story. Here are a few steps you can take to narrow down your job search and land your dream job!
Engage in Self Reflection
One of the biggest challenges in the job search process is identifying exactly what you want to do. Job titles and descriptions won't mean much if you don't first identify who you are as a person and the skills or tasks that energize you at work. Take a pencil to paper and write down a list of tasks you enjoy doing in your current role. This will help serve as a guide as you browse descriptions online. If a particular job doesn't use your desired skill set, you can move on to the next opportunity.
Network
Don’t underestimate the power of good networking in the job search process. Knowing names in the industry, and getting your own out there can do wonders for you. Make sure you connect with people that you know can help get you an in. Throw out your resume to people you know can get you an interview. Also, don’t be afraid to look into alternative careers or fields. You might like technology jobs, but can find similar work installing TV for semi trucks with EpicVue or another television or internet company.
Conduct an Industry Analysis
Another way to narrow your search is to identify a few industries that interest you. Sometimes it helps to think of what you enjoy doing in your spare time. For example, if you enjoy reading, perhaps a position at a library or educational institution would be a great fit. If you love personal finance and investments, you can narrow your hunt to local banks or investment firms. Either way, writing down a few areas of interest will allow you to explore and unveil new companies in the area.
Sketch a Personal Budget
Lastly, money does play a factor in your job hunt and decision. You don't want to waste time browsing through jobs you couldn't accept even if you were offered. To avoid this time trap, consider sketching out a personal budget. This sample budget should unmask a comfortable salary range for you. From here, you can do some research on careers that pay within this range and you can focus your energy on jobs that meet this requirement. You can conduct salary research on sites like Glassdoor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
These are just a few of the many ways you can tackle the job hunting process. It's extremely important you begin your search with a great base that includes your skills, interests, and desired salary. Having this solid base will make the process much more enjoyable and you'll be able to reduce the amount of time it takes to land your next career move!
