Published on: Wednesday, September 22, 2010
5 Ways to Use Precision During a Job Search
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There are a number of ways to perform a job search. There's the old way that many use still today. Some call it the shotgun approach: blasting résumés as far as the eye can see. Filling up the inboxes of recruiters certainly feels productive.
Is this you? Are you using a very general strategy to find a very specific job? The biggest fear I have for you is that this might have worked in the past when times were better and the job search community accepted a more passive effort. Being an independent person, you try that approach again — in this tough and significantly more competitive market.
If so, I'd like to fill your mind with a few practical tips to get you thinking with more precision. A more precise strategy will be more efficient, and, in the end, much more productive.
While I know that many of you are open to many different opportunities, your fellow networkers need specifics to remember you — to help you. And it should build your confidence to know that you are executing against a smart plan. Instead of blasting away with hopes of a random hit.
Here are the five ways to use precision during job search:
1. Create specific and tangible job search objectives
I'm amazed at how many executive job seekers do not have their specific objectives ready to communicate. I hear vague "like to haves" when what I want to hear is: "I am looking for a VP- level position in apparel sales based on the West Coast. My target companies include Nike, Under Armour and Adidas." I can help with those objectives.
2. Identify and build criteria for your ideal networkOnce you know the specific role you want to find, you can build a network to support that objective. You'll know whom to tap within your current network and you can be much more targeted in finding influencers via ExecuNet, LinkedIn and other powerful networking resources. Now, as the hours are planned for the forward week, you can compare your efforts with the plan you established up front.
3. Build a set of targeted marketing materialsMany try to create a résumé that will become the ultimate fly trap. To attract as many eyes as possible. But "all things to all people" means that the bulk of those eyes will look past you. To candidates that ultimately appear to be a better fit for the job. Also, make sure that your precision is apparent on your networking business card and one-page networking bio — The more specific the better.
4. Become a person of influence in the job search and local communityTake your strong presentation skills, thought leadership, content expertise and do something great with it. Write a blog, be a speaker at an upcoming event, create a Linkedin group or start a movement. Each focused on building awareness of your personal brand within your industry or local community.
5. Write weekly and monthly objectives for your searchDecide what you will do each and every week and measure yourself accordingly. Start an accountability group with three to four other executives. Meet for coffee every Friday and help each other stay focused.
Done right, this process can be very rewarding. You'll meet great people to help along the way, but you'll also pay attention to the small wins and the momentum that builds as a result.
What are your examples of using precision in the job search?
Tim Tyrell-Smith 
Lessons learned from and about six-figure leadership and executive career management
