Friday, July 24, 2009

[NE-Financial-Services-IT-Jobs] Digest Number 345

Messages In This Digest (1 Message)

1.: Job Search Checklist From: Gary Wright - Wright Associates

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1.: Job Search Checklist

Posted by: "Gary Wright - Wright Associates" gary_wright@verizon.net wrightassociates

Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:54 am (PDT)

Job Search Checklist

by Julie Miller -

Looking for a job can be a daunting task, even in good times. To help you
organize your efforts, use this checklist. Being buttoned up is especially
important if you're working and looking for a new position, because you have
to stay on your game even while you're scoping out new positions.

1. Do What You Can To Keep Yourself Employed
* Step up to help out; be a utility player - you might find a satisfying new
role in the organization.
* If things are getting unbearable, look to what you do outside of work to
stay sane and carve out time to devote to your career strategy.
* Take the high road - resist the temptation to do job search activities on
company time.

2. Revive Your Resume
* Develop an all-purpose resume that's ready to go on short notice, but also
develop a Master Resume document you'll tailor to reflect different
opportunities. See the "tailored" vs. "off the rack" resume comments here.
* Be sure your bullet points answer the "So What?" question. Emphasize
context and results, and de-emphasize job responsibilities.
* Lead with verbs ("Managed," not "Responsible for managing"). Search
"resume action words" online.

3. Order Personal Business Cards
* Name, cell phone, personal e-mail address, brief descriptive title ("CFO")
if appropriate.

4. Set Up A Personal (Not Family) E-Mail Account If You Don't Have One
Already
* Keep it simple: Jane_Smith@xxx.com - not Racquetball_King@xxx.com

5. Revisit Your Voicemail Greetings (Home And Cell). Are They Appropriate
For a Job Search?
* "You've reached the cellphone mailbox of Jill Moneypenny" -- let the
caller know they've reached their intended number.
* Nothing silly, please -- no singing children.

6. Determine Your Minimum and Ideal Salaries

7. Develop an "Elevator Pitch" and Practice It Out Loud Till It's Second
Nature
* Concisely describe who you are and what you offer, ideally in about 30
seconds.
* If you're unclear on exactly what you'd like to do next, it's fine to say
something like, "Right now I'm evaluating ways to combine my background in A
with my personal interest in B."
* Leave yourself a voicemail with your elevator pitch -- it's always a good
thing to get an idea of how you sound.

8. Read Articles From Efinancialcareers.Com's Career Toolkit Daily - They're
Relevant To Everyone

9. Subscribe Online to a Regional Business Journal to See Who's Growing
* Visit www.bizjournals.com and click on "Choose Another City" to find your
area.

10. Interview For Information
* Connect with a college or work alumnus/a or friend of a friend -- have a
phone conversation, or meet for coffee. Ask candid questions as you develop
your job search strategy: Where should I be looking for job opportunities -
online, recruiters, networking, finance professional organizations? What are
typical salary ranges? What backgrounds are successful in the role you're
in? What surprises you about the work you do?

11. Revisit Your Online Presence
* Employers do look. Is your online image (or lack thereof) in synch with
the professional image you'd like to portray?

12. Start Lining Up References
* Identify a cross-section of references, brief them about your career
plans, and confirm that they're willing to speak confidentially on your
behalf.
* Give each reference a heads-up every time you provide their name to an
employer, and brief them on the specifics of the opportunity.

13. Reconnect With Your Alma Mater And Their Career Resources For Alumni

14. Consider Meeting With An Independent Career Counselor To Map Out Your
Strategy And Options

15. Dust Off the Interviewing Cobwebs
* Examples, examples, examples - build an arsenal of great stories about
your accomplishments.
* What are the current trends? Ask informational interviewing and HR
contacts.
* Phone interviews are increasingly common; look online for tips for
successful telephone interviewing.
* Practice at home - talk out loud, watch yourself in the mirror.

16. Critique Your Appearance in Anticipation of Interviews
* Have at least one up-to-date suit or outfit tailored and ready. Shoes in
great shape. Hairstyle, eyeglasses, accessories up-to-date. Nice-looking
portfolio and/or briefcase with handsome pen.

17. Circulate!
* Tune in to career conversations even when socializing - get an idea of
what other people are doing, which organizations are growing, the nuances of
the job search for different careers and employers.
* Attend professional organization meetings to keep current while expanding
your network.

* Connect with recruiters if relevant.
* Expand your mind and your network to keep things interesting - attend
lectures at local colleges/universities, teach a community education course,
pursue that long-put-aside hobby, join a round-robin.

18. Fine-Tune Your Job Search Strategy and Start Applying
* Integrate what you've learned from your research and your informational
interviews and determine where the jobs are - Online? Via recruiters?
Networking? Combination?

19. Interview and Evaluate
* Ask about next steps when you interview so you may follow up
appropriately.
* When you receive an offer: Get the facts, say "thank you," and stop
talking! Digest the information and talk it through with a trusted partner
before negotiating.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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The New England Networking Group is Moderated by:

Gary L. Wright - President/Principal - Wright Associates

Wright Associates specializes in High Technology Recruiting Services for the New England Market Place.

Phone: 508-761-6354
Email: mailto:garywright@prodigy.net
Website: www.WrightAssociates.org

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