Looking for Basic Career Change Advice? - Have a Targeted Job Search Strategy

The best career change advice is this -- have a laser like focus in your approach to job search. Without this, you're setting yourself up for frustration, disappointment and rejection, and possibly a very long wait before career change becomes a reality for you. The current jobs market is tough with a recent article in USA Today describing the 2011 jobs market as being a buyers market. 

Therefore, to be successful in your job search, you will need to be selective about which employers you approach. You'll also need to communicate with them in a way which clearly sets you apart from other job candidates.
Developing a targeted job search strategy involves three basic steps: 

1. Complete a detailed self/career review
2. Fully research your options
3. Develop and implement your targeted job search strategy

Step 1 - Complete a detailed self/career review Can you answer these questions about yourself?

• What are your five strongest employment related skills?

• How would you describe the key characteristics of your personality? What is it about these personality traits that makes you suited to the type of work that you want to do?

• What are your five most important career/life values?

• What have been your most significant career achievements or contributions so far?

• Can you describe to a prospective employer concisely and compellingly what it is you have to offer them as a future employee? That is.....can you explain why they should hire you?

• What are your preferences or needs in relation to level of income, location of employment, work/life balance, level or scope of responsibility in relation to future employment?

If you are having difficulty in answering any of these questions you will certainly find it difficult to implement a targeted job search strategy. The answers to these questions are also necessary before you seriously get involved in step 2.

Step 2 - Fully research your options The outcomes from your self/career review means that you can then begin to research future employment opportunities. Options research means finding answers to some of the following questions:

• What skills would you prefer to be using in your next job?

• What job roles have you identified which will utilise your preferred skills, and which are also a good fit with your key personality characteristics and strengths?

• What are your preferences for industry sector in your future employment?

What preferences do you have regarding being employed in the private or public sector?

• What preferences do you have in relation to the size of your employer - large, or small to medium sector?

These questions provide a filter for seeking out potential employer organisations. The best advice is to actually have a written list of employers you'd like to work for. These organisations would meet your needs in terms of:

• Employment location

• Industry and/or job type

• Size/scope of the organisation

• Security of employment

• Future career progression opportunities

• Remuneration and benefits

The importance of having a written list is a key requirement for having a targeted job search strategy. Using this list you can begin to research each organisation so that you know what their needs are, and how and when they are most likely to recruit. Armed with this information you can then get stuck into step 3.

3. Develop and implement your targeted job search strategy

Having done your homework on the type of job you want, and the type of organisations you want to work for you should now be in a position to develop and implement your job search. You should be in a position to:

• Plan your job search time so that you have the right balance between searching for advertised employment and being more proactive by networking

• Know where/when/how employers on your list advertise job vacancies, if, in fact, this is how they typically recruit staff.

• Know to what extent you will need to implement a networking strategy. Read up on networking tips if you're not sure how to network effectively

• Conduct information interviews if you are doing networking

• Choose a resume style that is appropriate to your job search target

• Write a targeted cover letter or email - whether this be in response to a job ad, or cold call.

Summary The best, most effective career change advice from any job search coach is likely to be - have a targeted job search strategy. This means being very clear about what you have to offer an employer, who your employers of choice are, and being able to communicate information that is appropriate to their needs in a way that sets you apart from other job seekers.

By Anthony McAvaney