Job Hunting To Do List

If you are looking for a job, you certainly aren’t alone. The economy is bad. Unemployment is high. People are desperate. It stinks. Here is a to do list to keep you moving during your job search.

Make an effort every day

It is easy to get distracted and depressed when you are out of work. The best way to fight that is to start every day with three tasks to do. Make a list of employers to call, to email, to visit and to research. Have a plan for every day.

Make phone calls

Emailing your resume is a passive activity. Making a phone call is much more proactive. After you send your resume, call the company and ask to speak to human resources. Make sure that they got your resume and see if you can get them to talk about possible positions. Beyond HR, try to contact the mangers in the departments you hope to work for. This can be uncomfortable work, but if you need a job, it is the fastest way to get moving.

Customize your resume

When you have a specific job description for what you are applying for, take the time to work as many of the words from the job description into your resume as possible. Your goal is to look like the perfect candidate. Don’t fake experience or knowledge, but make sure your resume reflects the most appropriate version of your job history and goals.

Use a job search aggregator

There are hundreds of sites that list jobs. It is a good idea to bookmark the sites that are local or specialized to your career. Beyond that though, you should use a job search aggregator such as indeed.com or simplyhired.com. These sites track the jobs at all of the major job sites, so you are less likely to miss an opportunity.

Have a complete job search kit

If you are looking for a job you should, at minimum, have a resume and a business card. Beyond that you might want to look at creating a portfolio of past work, a compilation of references and even a web site with online versions of these things. Go the extra mile. If you can provide something the other job seekers cannot, you are ahead of the game.

Practice your job interviews

Job interviews make many people nervous. Some of the questions you get asked can be downright silly and others will make you wonder if you are qualified for the job. Good preparation can help you overcome these obstacles. Get a list of practice questions and either practice reading them and answering them aloud (preferably with a friend) or write down your answers so that you can review them in the future. Below are some links to job interview questions and other sites that might help you in your job search.

More on the subject

• Typical Job Interview Questions
• More Job Interview Questions with ideas for answering
• Additional common interview questions

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