Preparing Early and Planning Ahead for Job Search Success

I previously shared that the best time to look for a job or internship is when you don’t need one because then you can take the time to more effectively learn about the job or internship search process without any of the pressures often associated with an actual search.

Here are some specific actions to consider taking before the actual job or internship search to get ahead in the process:

• If possible, well before the actual job or internship search begins, consider thinking about the kind of job search candidate you would like to be. Be mindful that job and internship offers often go to qualified or very qualified candidates. Think about what kinds of activities you could consider participating in to help build your experiences so that you can stand out from the crowd of other applicants. These activities and experiences might very well make it onto your resume. If you have access to a career center, you can ask them for more related ideas. Examples of activities include:
  • relevant class projects
  • leadership position in a campus club
  • membership in a professional association
  • volunteering

• Most open job positions require a resume. You can research ahead of time for the best tips and strategies for crafting an effective resume. Visit your career center if you’re in school to check out resume writing books and meet with a career advisor. You can also visit your local library or bookstore for resume writing books. Joe has written about how students without direct work experience can still create an awesome resume. He also reminded us of the importance of being honest with what you write on your resume.

• Speaking of career centers, if you have access to one, then consider visiting the career center as early as you can to see what specific services, programs or advice they have that can help you with your goals.

• I’ve seen many students searching for a job or internship with great resumes. Such students usually confirm that they’ve spent countless hours honing their resumes. But I usually receive blank stares when I ask them how much time they’ve spent honing their interviewing skills. With so many interviewers asking many similar types of questions, consider spending time researching commonly asked interview questions, especially for your field, as well as practicing answering these questions. Imagine your confidence level if you were asked an interview question or more that you were already familiar with.

• Some might think that great networkers are simply born with the ability to meet people and easily strike up conversations with them. In reality, anyone can be an effective, if not excellent, networker because you can improve your networking skills through practice, such as through conducting information interviews. And by practicing early and often, you just never know when you might meet a wonderful mentor, friend, colleague, or better yet, get a job or internship offer that you hadn’t planned for but – upon reflection – actually have time for.

• The most recent, big trend in career planning and development is the intersection of self marketing, social media and the Internet. And with the growing habit of people Googling others, plus the continuing popularity of online social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, there is a big push in the career development world to educate the masses on the significance of social media, starting from protecting and managing your online presence to leveraging your personal brand. You can learn about such trends sooner than later and consider implementing related strategies to help maximize your job search success.

• Make a list of the top job sites to research the companies and organizations that are hiring in your field. Keep track of pertinent job listings to see what the typical qualifications are for your field, especially for entry-level positions.

• Consider familiarizing yourself with the leading companies and organizations in your field. Make a list of their individual websites so that you can begin researching what each specifically does, as well as keep track of their job openings and job application process. Perhaps some companies have formal internship programs to consider pursuing. Check to see if any of the companies or organizations will be visiting your school’s job fair.

All of this takes a lot of time and energy, but as is the case with most pursuits in life, success often directly correlates with the amount of time, effort and planning put in.