What’s your job search game plan?

The two top-ranked college football teams recently played for the national championship and the Ravens just beat the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. All of these teams have at least one thing in common: a game plan put together by the coaching staff that they feel gives them the best chance to win.

When a team loses a game, it is not so much that the coaches’ plan was flawed as it is the failure to execute respective assignments by the players or the overall strategy by the coaches. As fans, we often hope that our team, if on the losing end of things, discusses adjustments during the half-time break, and that such modifications to their game plan/strategy will produce a momentum change and ultimately a victory.

Think of your own job search. 

  • Do you have a plan/strategy, which you are following?
  • How are you measuring your degree of success: Number of interviews? Number of job offers? Number of people you’ve added to your network/LinkedIn? Number of months it has taken you to get some serious “traction” regarding your job search activities/efforts?
  • How do you make adjustments to the Plan at “half-time”?
  • Who is assisting you with your job search? Have you put together a team of high-quality talent?

People pretty much develop a plan for just about everything they do, including buying a house or car, Christmas shopping, going on vacation or going out to dinner with friends.

That being said, I continue to find that the majority of job seekers with whom I speak have done little to no planning for what many consider to be the most difficult job they’ve ever had (i.e., finding a new job). You know the old saying, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.”

So, here are some tips on how to put together and execute a winning job search game plan:

  • Assemble great talent. You are surrounded by people who really do wish to assist you with your job search.  They each have unique talents and areas of expertise (e.g., marketing, technology, sales, communications, time/project management). Develop a job search “Dream Team” that can pool the strengths of its individual members to help make your activities as effective as possible.
  • Develop and communicate a clear and powerful message about yourself that can be delivered easily and effectively through all channels: social media, resume, LinkedIn profile, networking events. This message should contain key information regarding your personal brand, core skills and competencies, accomplishments and reasons why your results differentiate you from the other candidates.
  • Be willing to modify your plan/strategy as the situation may require. For example, if your resume is not producing interview opportunities, have it reviewed by someone you know and trust who has the background/expertise to provide honest feedback and solid recommendations for positive change. It doesn’t really make much sense to continue doing the same things and expect different results, does it?

These simple steps can help you develop and execute a winning job search game plan!

Michael Perry

President of Szarka Financial Management

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Volume 5, Issue 3, Posted 10:15 AM, 02.05.2013