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The Importance of Research

The biggest (and most expensive) mistake job seekers make is not defining their goals before they start their search . For many, this lack of focus adds untold months to the job search.

To determine 1) resume-writing strategy, and 2) the most cost-effective distribution method, you need to know who your target is and what you are aiming for. Using a targeted strategy can get you a job more quickly – saving time and money. Here are some suggestions:

  • Define Your Job Target: What kind of job do you want and what are the typical keywords used in job postings for these jobs? Keywords can be titles, "hard" skills, transferable "soft" skills, personality traits, technologies, products, types of software, etc. Find out which keywords are used most often and make sure they're included in your resume whenever applicable. More....
  • Research Your Industry: Researching your industry will not only help you make decisions about the direction of your job search, but it can also provide great insights into the job market: what the trends are, who's downsizing, which keywords are most important, etc. Research Links
  • Get Up-to-date Salary Info: Researching salary ranges within your targeted industry won't save you money, but can make all the difference later when you negotiate your compensation package. If your negotiation skills are rusty, there are several good books on salary negotiation. To research salary trends and issues, check out the links here: Research Center
Pat Kendall
Pat Kendall, NCRW
pat@reslady.com
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Spring 2008

 

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Featured Articles

Emerging Technologies and their Impact
by Wade Roush

Stretch Your Job Search Dollar
by Pat Kendall, NCRW

Cover Letter Writing Tips
by Pat Kendall, NCRW

 

 


 

 

Pat Kendall, NCRW

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