Tools for Organizing Your Job Search

January 1st always seems to bring about the urge to clean that manages to suppress itself during the rest of the year. Suddenly, you are motivated to organize and de-clutter your life. In the same way that we want to reorganize our home life we should be reorganizing our Job Search tools. Now is the perfect time to sit down with your resume, cover letter and job hunting strategy to see what needs to be retired and what needs to be added to your personal branding message.

Resume
Your resume is your opportunity to show an employer why you are qualified for their open position, before you ever meet them. This single piece of paper (for some two sheets of paper), should entice an employer to stop what they are doing, pick up the phone, and schedule a face-to-face meeting to learn more about you. Each resume you send out should be customized to that particular position. This means every section of your past experience that you choose to include should have direct relevance to how well you would fit the role you are applying for. If it doesn’t, get rid of it. This is also a good time to review previous experience that you may have left out of your resume. Even if a job you once held is not in the same industry as the one you are applying for, it may have taught you skills that can be applied to this new position. You may want to make a list of all previous positions and consider what is relevant. Remember, each position you apply to should have a customized resume.

Cover Letter
A cover letter is your introduction to a potential employer. It should tell the recruiter why you are applying to their company and a little about you. Cover letters are meant to be brief. Don’t reiterate the information you already have in your resume. You may want to elaborate on past experience as it relates to this new role, but be sure you aren’t rambling on about information they already have. Review the company website for any information that you can use to show you are a good fit for their culture. The mission and values section is a good place to start. Above all, stay focused. A cover letter should introduce who you are, discuss why you are applying for the position, and why you would be a great fit.

Job Hunting Strategy
This is a big one. Searching for a new job can be an overwhelming process. While it might be tempting to apply to as many jobs as possible, it will serve you better to conduct a focused, strategic job search.

• Identify what is really important to you. Look at different components such as location, salary, distance from your home, etc. This will help you narrow down the opportunities that are right for you.
• Be sure to only apply for positions that you are truly qualified for. You don’t want to be turned down for a position with a company that may post the perfect position for you later. The HR department may not take you as seriously the next time you apply.
• You may consider looking for your ideal position in unlike companies. The Healthcare field is one of the strongest right now. While you may not be a doctor or nurse, there are many non-medical positions necessary to keep a hospital running. Have you checked if local hospitals are hiring for your specialty?

Take advantage of the renewed spirit the New Year often brings and get started reorganizing your Job Hunting strategy. If you are currently employed, it’s a good idea to keep your career portfolio up-to-date. If you are a job seeker, reorganizing your Job Search tools is a great way to enter your 2009 Job Search with a fresh start!

Theresa Maher has been providing career and recruiting advice to the Jobing Community since 2005. As the Nation’s largest locally-focused employment website, Jobing.com is dedicated to connecting great local employers with great local people.

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