5 Steps to Finding a New Job Fast!

There are 5 key areas in a job search – including promoting yourself with reference letters and creating a powerful professional brand – that can help you find work fast.

There are 5 basic steps in any job search. How well you perform in these areas will determine the speed and ease with which you land a new job. Failing to optimize your performance for any of these steps can dramatically lower your chances of finding work within a reasonable time frame.


Review Your Resources

This is the time to look back over your job history and identify those experiences and relationships that will assist you in gaining new employment. Very few job candidates collect reference letters from previous employers. Any manager or executive you have reported to over the past 7 years could be a valid source for a written recommendation. When you receive a written reference, it could open your eyes to what your previous boss found most valuable about you. That’s information you could highlight later in a job interview.

Fine Tune Your Resume & Branding

A resume that targets the key skills and responsibilities for a specific job position with a powerful summarization of your achievements is absolutely vital. It’s well worthwhile to have your resume developed by a consultant who knows what recruiters want in a top job candidate. Your LinkedIn profile is an additional aspect of your professional branding that boosts your credibility and visibility. Double check any publicly viewable information that’s available through a Google search of your name to make sure your online presence displays you in a positive light.

Expand Your Network

In this economy, there’s no shame in being out of work. Let everyone know that you are looking for a job. This includes social “friends” on Facebook and professional contacts in your industry. If you’re not a member of a professional association, join one now. There’s no telling who might know about a great job opportunity. You could even attend a local pink slip party to get some instant face time with local recruiters and HR professionals who are looking for talent. The more people you have in your network, the better your chances of finding a good job match.

Hone Your Interview Skills

Interviewing is often the most stressful part of a job search. However, if your resume is strong enough to convince the recruiter that you are worth a phone call, you are already a strong contender for the job. You can prepare for interviews just as you would for any other test – if you have the right information. For example, you need to devote your energy to preparing for the questions recruiters are actually likely to ask rather than the ones that you are afraid they might ask. Additionally, you need to know which questions you should ask to gain the respect of your interviewer and establish a good rapport.

Compete Aggressively

This applies to every stage of your job search. Often, it’s about being proactive and investigating local companies to understand their hiring needs. Sometimes, it’s about being decisive (but polite) in an interview instead of beating around the bush when you need an answer to a question. More than anything else, competing means being willing to put in the extra time on preparation and follow up. If you are really serious about getting work fast, invest in job search, resume writing, and interview coaching resources. These services offer the advantage of helping you market yourself effectively without a lot of trial and error.

Source: Forbes