Launching a job search campaign
There’s a reason that folks say searching for a job is a job in and of itself.
While it’s unlikely that your job search needs to consume a full 40 hours of your week, there is some truth to the notion that putting in significant effort reaps rewards.
But how do you start? Where do you look? What methods work the best? Below we’ve outlined one way you might choose to approach building a job search strategy: through campaigns. Campaigns can be compared to science experiments – lather, rinse, repeat – where the aim is to set goals, execute, debrief and start again. Often, a more structured and systematized approach such as this one can help you create accountability, keep you focused and help keep you on track.
Here’s how to get started:
1. Know Thyself.
If you don’t know who you are or what you want, it’s going to be hard to take steps forward. As you launch your job search, let yourself dream a little. If you could wave a magic wand and have your ideal job, what would it be? What kinds of people would you be working with? What tasks would you be doing? What is the environment like? Once you’re clear on your goal, you’ll have an easier time checking for your own personal alignment.
Remember, searching for a job isn’t necessarily a numbers game. Rather it’s about finding alignment and making intentional decisions when applying to roles where you’ll truly be fulfilled.
2. Develop a spreadsheet to track your job search activity.
It’s important to track key information throughout your search – things like the companies and jobs you’ve applied to, the dates you’ve applied and a link to the job description. The more jobs you apply for, the more difficult it will be to remember everything, and there’s nothing more embarrassing than a recruiter calling to interview you for a job you can’t recall applying to. Similarly, consider using a separate tab in your spreadsheet to track dates and conversation topics for interviews and networking events.
3. Make a list of target companies.
Think carefully about the kinds of places you’d like to work, then do online research to discover companies that match your criteria. You might choose to add companies to your list based on your goals for size, geography, mission, industry, functional focus, culture, or something else entirely. Target identifying at least 10-20 companies to get you started. You can add/edit/delete as you cycle through your job search campaign.
4. Create a networking database.
Make a list of all the people in your network you might consider reaching out to for support.
This might include current or former co-workers or bosses, close friends and family, personal or professional acquaintances, or alumni from your alma mater. But don’t stop there! Once you have a list of target companies from step 3, do online research to find people who work at those companies that you’d like to get to know. Pay special attention to anyone with whom you have a common connection – warm intros are more successful than cold calling!
5. Set goals, large and small.
It’s great to know what your “macro” goal is – or what you want to achieve at the end of your campaign – but it’s the small goals that will guide your daily, weekly or monthly activities. Choose goals that feel realistic but challenging – and set them for multiple aspects of the search. You may want to set goals for the number of applications submitted each week, the number of networking events you’ll attend monthly, or the number of people you’ll reach out to each week with informational interview requests. If you’re feeling lost, try our starter goals: Reach out to 20 networking connections, complete 7 networking conversations, and apply to 5 jobs each week.
6. Pick a time frame.
Will you run 2-week campaigns? 4-week campaigns? Quarterly campaigns? Shorter campaigns will give you more frequent opportunities to assess and re-strategize, but longer campaigns will give you more time to see progress.
7. Anticipate obstacles and plan ahead.
Do you always get tired at a certain time of day? Are you easily distracted by a pet, child or housemate? Will you lose all steam if you receive a rejection email? Take time to think through the challenges you’re most likely to face and build an action plan to handle them before issues arise.
8. Start your campaign!
There are lots of places you can search for job openings, including LinkedIn (including job postings and Groups), Indeed, Glassdoor, Facebook, other social networks, Alumni Boards, association websites, and most importantly, your own network! Regardless of the goals you choose to set, aim to spend 75%+ of your job search time on networking activities (and only 25% applying online). Most jobs come through a referral or common connection!
9. Evaluate, tweak, and repeat.
At the end of the time period you set, evaluate your progress. Did you meet all of your goals? What were the results? If you’re not satisfied, how can you update your targets or change your methodology to get more from the next campaign? Keep in mind that while most job seekers hope to find a new job quickly, the average timeframe in the United States is 5-6 months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Don’t get discouraged if things don’t unfold as quickly as you expect.
