Your Job Search Plan - Start With This Checklist

You have decided to find a new job. Or maybe yourquestion in a job interview. So it may be a good idea
last employer decided that for you in the last roundto have more than one. Take this seriously and write
of company job cuts. Whatever the reasons forone or two speeches out. For practice you should
your new job search you have quite a task ahead ofgive it to your family (start with your mom), friends,
you. You need to have a job search plan.and anyone who will listen.
Here are some things you need to prepare as you· Practice your job interview. This one is a
begin your search for a better career:little tougher, but you have to do it. Find the common
· Know what kind of job you want. Maybejob interview questions on the internet and come up
you want a job in the same field you have beenwith thoughtful, honest answers to the questions.
working in. Maybe you want to start a new career.Then have someone you know interview you. While
Well, now is the time to decide. But, even beforeyou may feel a little uneasy with a practice interview,
you make that decision there are other things youit will be much less stressful in the actual interview if
can get started on.you prepare ahead of time.
· Get your resume ready. If you haven't· Now, look for a job. Use every means
kept your resume up to date, get to work on it now.available to you to find jobs to go after. Rely heavily
Even if you need different versions for differenton friends and business contacts. Most job openings
career directions you can start on the basic(some say up to 80%) never make it to the want
document.ads. They are filled with people that were referred to
· Clean and press your interview clothes.the company. So, if you know what you need to
What? You don't have any good clothes for anknow, it then becomes about who you know. Or,
interview. Then go buy some. You'll need at least onewho your friends know. Make use of all your
set of decent clothes for an interview. Two sets ifcontacts.
you can afford it.Think about your job search like you would a project
· Get your "elevator speech" ready. That's aat work. You have an end goal (get a job) and need
little spiel you give telling someone how you cana plan to accomplish that goal. Use this information as
contribute to their company. You'll need that if youa guideline to get your job search plan together and
happen to meet a potential employer. You can use athen focus on your plan until you get the job.
similar speech for the "Tell us about yourself,"