Are you one of those people who just “wings it” when it comes to the job search? If so, you could be missing out on that perfect job without realizing it.
There are 4 important reasons why you should be carefully planning your job search.
1. Gives you a goal
One of the most important things that job search planning will you do for you is to provide you with a goal. When you have something to strive towards each day, you are less likely to give up on the job search.
Create realistic goals for yourself, such as how many applications you send out a week, follow ups to those applications, etc. Hold yourself accountable by setting a time each week to sit down and review your goals and make sure you are staying focused.
2. Allows you to see progress made
CAREEREALISM points out that planning your job search can provide you a clear picture of the progress you are making. This not only helps you to see what you’ve done versus what you could do differently, but it will also help you to eliminate the burden of stress that job hunting can lay on your shoulders.
It can become very discouraging if you realize that you have gone two or three weeks without a follow up to your application. When you are carefully planning, you will be able to see what you have done and brainstorm about what you can do better. Even if it’s something simple such as modifying your resume or cover letter, whatever changes you make along the way, your documented planning will help you see what really works.
3. Nothing falls through the cracks
When you are carefully planning your job search, you are less likely to forget to follow up with hiring managers or HR departments regarding your application or interview.
If you are forgetting to follow up the next day after a face-to-face interview, you have a good chance of losing the job because the hiring manager may think you are not interested.
In addition, if you have sent an application to your dream job with no reply, it may be helpful to call the company and make sure your application was received. With HR departments being flooded with applications, they may have simply overlooked your application.
4. Hiring managers will be impressed with your organizational skills
A job seeker who carefully plans out his job search will be clearly obvious to a hiring manager. Believe me, there are many job seekers out there who are just “winging it” when it comes to their job search and it is apparent to hiring managers when those job seekers are unorganized and forget to follow up.
Most hiring managers want to hire someone who has it together and will be organized at work. When you display great organizational skills during the interview process, this is a good sign to the hiring manager.
What’s been preventing you from planning out your job search?
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