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Starting a Job Search, Part 1
by Calvin Bruce, CPC |
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If you’re thinking about launching a job search, be focused and systematic in your efforts to better yourself occupationally.
Is it time to start looking for another job? Perhaps things at work aren’t going as well as expected, and some “irreconcilable differences” have materialized between you and your boss. Or the company has begun to lay-off employees who thought their positions were secure. Or maybe you’re feeling burnout and need a change of pace and a new place to offer your services.
In any event, job hunting is a serious matter; so treat it as such. Here are some ways to maximize your search efforts and minimize the frustrations associated with job hunting.
Mental preparation
The first order of business is to decide how committed you are to finding another job. Is it an urgent matter, requiring full-time attention and effort? Or is it a passing interest as you “scout the market” to see if the grass is, indeed, greener on the other side of the fence?
Deciding whether to be an active or passive job seeker is important. For one thing, if you’re working with recruiters, bear in mind that their time is important. It’s discourteous to let them spend a lot of time working on your behalf if you, in fact, are only testing the waters.
On the other hand, if you are actively seeking to change jobs, then be prepared to do whatever it takes to secure an offer that’s too good to refuse. And when the right offer is extended, be prepared to accept it and start a new job. With that goal in mind, you have your work cut out for you.
Get credentials in order
Once you are mentally in gear to start a new job, the next step is to prepare your written credentials for submission to prospective employers.
Your resume or curriculum vitae is the most important document to update and polish. Basically, it’s your professional calling card that makes an impression long before you walk in the door for an interview. Although employers hire people not paper, it’s essential that you put your best foot forward in terms of your written presentation. More than likely, the person receiving your resume or CV will pass it around to others before a decision is made concerning an interview. That’s why it should be in tip-top shape to impress anyone whose eyes land on it.
Tips for resume or CV preparation: It should be typed on standard, 8-1/2” x 11” quality bond paper. Make certain it is thorough and accurate in the information presented. To make it visually appealing, use wide margins and ample white space between sections of the document. Just as important, check carefully for any typos or grammatical errors. You may have a super impressive educational background and work history. But if your “calling card” has glaring mistakes, your job-hunting efforts will be short-circuited.
Take note of something else. It’s best to have two versions of your resume/CV. One is the standard type that can be mailed or faxed to prospective employers. The other is the electronic version of your credentials: the kind that employers scan into a database for electronic retrieval. For that kind of resume/CV, avoid underlining or italics. Use caps and boldface sparingly. Also, and most importantly, at the top of the document indicate the key words that a computerized search can easily detect.
If you are a clinician, also assemble the documents that verify your current clinical skills: medical degrees, state licenses, professional certifications, advanced-training certificates, evidence of continuing education, and so on. Have original copies that are notarized to speed up hospital privileging.
Line up references
Prospective employers will need to do a thorough reference check before extending a job offer. Some employers even insist on doing reference checking prior to an on-site interview. This is typically the case with physicians and executive-level healthcare professionals.
Supplying references is a delicate matter if you’re still employed. Assuming that your job search is strictly confidential, you don’t want to jeopardize your situation by allowing someone to “spill the beans” to your current employer. The persons whom you select for references should be trusted colleagues or former employers who are willing to provide information about you that doesn’t get back to your boss.
Clue them ahead of time that you will be using their name. If possible, obtain from them brief reference letters. These are often as helpful as telephone references—at least during the initial stages of the employment process.
Depending on how long your search lasts, it’s advisable to have more than one set of references (three each) to provide to prospective employers. That way, the same individuals are not contacted over and over. When that happens, their enthusiasm in referring you may dwindle a bit. So don’t over burden them with requests for providing telephone references.
Look the part
Hiring decisions are often made on subjective considerations as much as on objective criteria. Human resources managers—or others involved in professional staffing—might not want to admit this, but it’s true.
No matter what the position involves, the employer wants to hire someone with a good image who makes a favorable impression. The person doesn’t have to be Mr. GQ or Ms. Fashion Model, but he or she should look and act professional in every way.
What does your physical appearance communicate? To get an accurate assessment, stand in front of a full-length mirror. Imagine yourself walking into a prospective employer’s office for an interview. What can you do now to make a better impression then? Suggestions: regular workouts at the gym to tone up; getting a more modern hair style; “soaking up some rays” to look more tanned; getting more sleep to look rested instead of stressed; and updating your interviewing wardrobe. In this regard, buying a couple new suits or business dresses can be a valuable investment in your search efforts.
Now that you are mentally prepared, have your credentials assembled and references lined up, and look like a winner, you can launch your search with confidence and enthusiasm.
Part 2 will discuss some of the mechanics and logistics involved in job hunting, along with some serious questions you need to ask yourself before your first interview.
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