The resume and cover letter are ready and your LinkedIn profile is polished and professional. Now what? Follow these steps to make your job search successful.
Get organized. Create a spreadsheet to track your job search, or use the one shared here.
List the top 20 companies and organizations you would like to work for.
Identify and connect with potential references. Send your resume and highlight key strengths.
Don’t wait until you get the call to prepare. Use these resources to help.
List your top 20 companies and research connections.
Expand your LinkedIn network. Make your ask reasonable, and always give more than you take.
Whether you find jobs through job board listings or by networking (hopefully you are doing both), when you find a job you want to apply for, there are a few steps you should take before you hit submit on the application.
Look to your network first. Have you connected with someone in the company who can give you insight into the role or connect you to the hiring manager?
Review the keywords in the job vs. the keywords in your resume. Are there any opportunities to align the two documents?
Take the cover letter template I created for you and customize it for this position. Demonstrate your interest and knowledge in the company, industry and role.
You hit submit and wait. Take charge of your job search with these steps.
Search through LinkedIn to identify the hiring manager and the recruiter. Connect and send a short note to emphasize your interest.
Look for their email addresses. This might be on their LinkedIn profile or use a tool such as Mailscoop.
Search your network for other connections in the company.