Looking For a Job Is...

...frustrating, depressing and seems like an endless cycle with little that is positive.

This is especially true if your main job hunting tactic is "Click and Apply".

You know the one, everyday, checking out the different job boards, finding a job you are suitable for and then clicking on the link and applying for the job. Wondering why you are not getting called.

And in fact you do know why, you are one of the thousands of other people doing the same thing. The reality is that the chances of getting a job with the "Click and Apply" tactic ranges from poor to useless.

The best way to get a job is to be in front of an employer before they post the job, to be in front of the employer when they say to their staff, "Do you know anybody that can fill this job? ".

Here are top 10 job hunting tactics that start you along that path.Since this e-mail is intended to be short, they are only summarized here, you can find more detail by contacting me directly at: sarah@ic-solutions.ca

Here is a popular list of top 10 Job Hunting Tactics:

1. Have a list of the top 20 companies you want to work for. This doesn't mean limit your job hunt to these 20 companies, it means focus on this this list as your starting point. The focus will bring other opportunities to you. Make sure you know everything about these companies, Where they are growing, Where they are experiencing problems, Who their top 3 competitors are, Which recruiters they use, Where they have offices. Become an expert in these companies.

2. Know 12 problems that you can solve in your 20 companies that increases sales or saves the company money. Companies hire people to solve business problems. If you know the problems you can solve, and how, then the you will be the person being hired.

3. Know your three strengths. Yes, I know you can do many different things. But, there are three things you can do better than anybody else you know. Know what they are, know how well you do them. Using these three strengths are how you solve the 12 problems.

4. Create a cover letter and resume for each of the 12 problems you can solve. These cover letters and resumes must demonstrate how you will solve the business problems. For every job opportunity that you discover, you will modify one of the 12 cover letters and resumes for the company.

5. Write a White Paper that clearly demonstrates your knowledge of a topic . Use the white paper as a way of marketing yourself. The last page will be a brief summary of your experience. Have a different white paper for each of the twelve problems.

6. Have a dollar budget to spend on getting a job. Getting a job is a marketing problem, nobody starts a marketing program without a budget. Decide how much money you are going to spend getting a job. The budget can include clothing, a website, job hunt training, getting your resume reviewed, and business cards. The amount for each each item should be equivalent to how many days you can expect the item to save in finding a job. For example, if you need help creating a resume, and you feel a good resume will shorten your job hunt by a week, then the template can be budgeted at less than a week's pay and you have make money on the investment.

7. Have a detailed plan for getting a job. Create a detailed plan of all the things your are going to do to get a job. Assign milestones and deliverables for each of the tasks. Set a date when each milestone will be completed. Finding a job is not one single thing, its a combination of many different things. Serious job hunting takes at least 40 hours a week.

8. Schedule 10 job information meetings a week. This is two each and every day. They can be on the phone or in person. The better ones will be more effective in person. Your goal is to know what is going on. You need to find out what people are doing. You need to know what is working and what isn't working. The best way to by talking to people. When you talk to people they get to meet you and feel comfortable with you.

9. Have a powerful LinkedIn.com profile that sells you . The profile is not your resume online, it includes your LinkedIn Answers and questions, who and how you recommend, and the size and depth of your network.

10. Each day find a new job hunt tactic. Not every tactic works for every person in every situation. But, if you keep finding new tactics each weekday, and two work for you, then at the end of the month you have 8 more tactics beyond "Click and Apply". Each new job hunt tactic you use, shortens the time before you start your new job.

I have to give thanks to Zale Tabakman for this. We are of the same mind, so i borrowed his list...I mean, why reinvent the wheel? :)

Last but not least...don't give up hope as its the consistent effort that wins the race.

Happy Friday!

SS