IT’S A FULL-TIME JOB FINDING A FULL-TIME JOB…

It’s a well-known phrase and there are many who are lucky enough not to understand what this means. If you’ve been headhunted into a job, then perhaps you might scoff at such a statement. Perhaps you haven’t needed to update your resume for 10 years! Lucky you…

Similarly, there are those of us who aren’t happy in their job but the thought of finding something else causes palpitations. It’s a common feeling to be totally overwhelmed and often the end result is inertia, put up or shut up.

Of course, then there is the majority of us who have no choice but to face the reality of a job search. You have been made redundant, you’re a full-time mum attempting to return to work, you’re moving countries or cities or it’s time for change as is often the thinking for people at this time of the year. Gotta start thinking about those New Year’s resolutions! The reason for looking for a new job doesn’t necessarily alter the level of effort required in finding one. We’re juggling so many things in our lives today – work, families, children, ageing parents, education, sport, social activities, long commutes, reading Facebook, walking the dog…we are being bombarded from all angles.

So how can we possibly squeeze in time looking for a new job? Before I continue (sound the drums) – you must treat this as a serious activity. A professional approach to your job search will save you time and more importantly help you find the right role to keep your career on track. A half- hearted, uncontrolled process will damage your reputation and waste everybody’s time.

Now, I could write in detail about ALL steps in a job search which includes research the market, write a resume, update social media presence, attend networking events, find a good recruiter, set up job alerts, apply for job, prepare for interview etc…but I won’t drag you through information we all mostly know. I want to focus on an often-overlooked part of the job search. If done properly – this is the step that ensures you remain confident in your search, keeps self-esteem at the right level, protects your brand and ultimately saves time. You are in absolute control of this stage – it’s a simple yes or no to the following question:

“SHOULD I APPLY FOR THIS JOB OR NOT?”

So many employers and recruiters reading through resumes find themselves saying “What was this person thinking in applying for this role?”. The other element to consider is that while technology has made it easier to apply for jobs (just hit SUBMIT), it has also enabled hiring decision makers to easily reject a candidate’s job application (just hit REJECT) and back comes the lovely “thanks but no thanks” email.

But that’s not the end of the story. Most recruitment systems can track the number of times you’ve applied for different roles. You don’t want to be Jack Smith who’s applied for ten different roles in 2 weeks, this will have a negative effect on your job opportunities with that organisation, potentially for a while to come.

So, let’s rewind – you’ve seen a role advertised that peaks your interest, where do you start?

1. Critically assess your skills and experience against the criteria of the position.

At the first level do this by comparing to the actual advertisement. At the second level, read the detailed job description if available. Look for the “special mentions”. Have they highlighted specific skills that they want? If so – do you have some experience in this area? If so – great, keep on reading through the job description. If not, be brave enough to think this may not be the right role. It’s fair to say that if you don’t have the qualifications or you don’t have any experience in relation to specially mentioned skills – then you will not be suitable for this position. Accept this and move on. This will prevent you wasting any more time and will also prevent a knock to your self-esteem when that rejection email arrives.

2. Seek an opinion

Do you have a mentor, old boss, referee or friend who you trust to share with them the position you’re considering applying for? They might have insights that support your suitability for the role, equally they might find deficits in suitability that you should consider. I recently had a friend who sought such advice in considering a job application to find out that their connection knew a board member at the company. Suffice to say, a good word was put in and interviews eventuated.

3. Contact the Hiring Manager before applying for the role

I can hear grumbling… Granted this can often be difficult to do as so many people don’t have the time to answer their phones these days. But it is worth trying simply because a five to ten minute phone call or email inquiry can save many hours of time down the track. I know that employers/recruiters are often pleasantly surprised to receive a call from a candidate who might say they are interested in the role but want to be certain they are a suitable applicant because they have a, b, c experience though are limited in d, e, f. That conversation may progress that application (or not) OR steer the individual toward something more suitable. Whatever the outcome, it is a small time investment and often a more positive experience for the potential applicant. Another huge benefit in having a preliminary discussion such as this is that the information gleaned will help you tailor your resume for that role – a really important step in maximising your strike rate for interview.

4. Tailor your cover letter

Many people ask if they should write a cover letter as part of theirapplication. I believe it’s a personal thing as to whether hiring managers take time to read them. If written properly though, a cover letter will show why you consider yourself to be a worthy applicant for the position. You can align your skills, experience, culture fit and motivation towards the role. These are all factors a hiring manager wants to quickly glean before looking at your resume in more detail. Experienced hiring managers can spot a weak, templated cover letter easily so don’t give them an excuse to discount your application – make your cover letter impactful and persuasive.

Armed with these common-sense tips, your time will be better used as you search for that exciting new role without too much compromise in your current lifestyle and with the confidence of someone who knows what they want in life.