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A 12-month guide helps you prepare for new opportunity. (January 14, 2013) |
You're working but you're not exactly thrilled with your job. But you're getting a paycheck and paying the bills, so you can't complain, right? Maybe, but if you'd like a job that gives you more fulfillment than paying off your Visa's monthly minimum, you should probably start thinking about looking for a new job. But that's the problem – you have no idea where to start.
"Most working professionals don't update their resumes and don't practice their interviewing skills," says Henry Mace, a career adviser in San Jose, Calif. "They talk themselves out of looking for a new job even when they dislike their current job simply because they either don't know where to start, or are afraid of actually getting started."
Don't let complacency or fear of change keep you from the perfect profession. Whether you're considering changing careers or simply mulling over your options, you need a long-term strategic plan to change jobs.
"There's nothing wrong with starting slowly," Mace says. "Take some time to get yourself back into job-search mode before you decide to look."
Here's a monthly plan to get prepared for the job search ahead:
January
The first month of the year is a great time to assess your resume. Do so by asking yourself these questions: Does the document do a good job of selling your talents and skills? Does your resume portray a person who's more interested in helping a company succeed than receiving personal accolades? If the answer to either question is no, it's time to get to work.
February
February is the perfect month to create a template for cover letters. Most recruiters scan cover letters quickly, so be sure to keep the introduction short and to get right to the meat of your pitch. You want to reiterate the highlights of your resume, pointing out your major accomplishments and how they have helped your current and past employers. Once it's time to actively pursue a job, you'll plug in information that's specific to the job and company you're courting.
March
Spend the month of March creating a contact list for networking purposes. Call up your high school and college for an alumni directory and go through your holiday card address list. Gather up old phone books, yearbooks or any other collection of names from your present and past. Use them to select 150-200 people who you could use to create a network.
April
Join any relevant professional organization in your area. A good professional organization offers mentoring, industry insight and special training. It also offers numerous people in your profession who share the same talents and dreams as you. If you impress someone, it's likely your name will come up when their company is looking to hire new employees.
May
Look into any volunteer organizations in your area, whether it's a tutoring center, homeless shelter or an assisted-living facility. It's a great way to help others and to meet people who may be able to help advance your career. Since many volunteer agencies count on large numbers of people to help them fulfill their duties, there should be plenty of management-types offering their time. And they could be of great assistance when it comes to finding a new job.
June
Drop a quick card, letter, email or phone call to the people on your networking list. A list of great contacts doesn't do much good if people don't remember you — or are offended by the fact that you only contact them when you're looking for work. Find a way to keep your name fresh in their minds at least once every six months.
July
Read up on the job market. Check out websites and recent business periodicals to get a gauge on the industries that are thriving and the industries that are dying in your area. Are you working in a field that's slowly being phased out in your region? Is there something you should be doing to strengthen your skills for any upcoming career changes? Are companies leaving your region?
"Most working professionals don't update their resumes and don't practice their interviewing skills," says Henry Mace, a career adviser in San Jose, Calif. "They talk themselves out of looking for a new job even when they dislike their current job simply because they either don't know where to start, or are afraid of actually getting started."
Don't let complacency or fear of change keep you from the perfect profession. Whether you're considering changing careers or simply mulling over your options, you need a long-term strategic plan to change jobs.
"There's nothing wrong with starting slowly," Mace says. "Take some time to get yourself back into job-search mode before you decide to look."
Here's a monthly plan to get prepared for the job search ahead:
January
The first month of the year is a great time to assess your resume. Do so by asking yourself these questions: Does the document do a good job of selling your talents and skills? Does your resume portray a person who's more interested in helping a company succeed than receiving personal accolades? If the answer to either question is no, it's time to get to work.
February
February is the perfect month to create a template for cover letters. Most recruiters scan cover letters quickly, so be sure to keep the introduction short and to get right to the meat of your pitch. You want to reiterate the highlights of your resume, pointing out your major accomplishments and how they have helped your current and past employers. Once it's time to actively pursue a job, you'll plug in information that's specific to the job and company you're courting.
March
Spend the month of March creating a contact list for networking purposes. Call up your high school and college for an alumni directory and go through your holiday card address list. Gather up old phone books, yearbooks or any other collection of names from your present and past. Use them to select 150-200 people who you could use to create a network.
April
Join any relevant professional organization in your area. A good professional organization offers mentoring, industry insight and special training. It also offers numerous people in your profession who share the same talents and dreams as you. If you impress someone, it's likely your name will come up when their company is looking to hire new employees.
May
Look into any volunteer organizations in your area, whether it's a tutoring center, homeless shelter or an assisted-living facility. It's a great way to help others and to meet people who may be able to help advance your career. Since many volunteer agencies count on large numbers of people to help them fulfill their duties, there should be plenty of management-types offering their time. And they could be of great assistance when it comes to finding a new job.
June
Drop a quick card, letter, email or phone call to the people on your networking list. A list of great contacts doesn't do much good if people don't remember you — or are offended by the fact that you only contact them when you're looking for work. Find a way to keep your name fresh in their minds at least once every six months.
July
Read up on the job market. Check out websites and recent business periodicals to get a gauge on the industries that are thriving and the industries that are dying in your area. Are you working in a field that's slowly being phased out in your region? Is there something you should be doing to strengthen your skills for any upcoming career changes? Are companies leaving your region?
