Quick Tips to Prepare for Your Job Search

First, figure out where you want to work, who you want to work for and what you want to do.

• This can be as specific as a particular company or as general as qualities you look for in a boss, but whatever parameters you can come up with will ensure that you end up in a job you actually want and will be happy in.
• Use this list throughout your job search to refocus your energies and prevent you from going on a random application binge.

Resume

• Not sure where to start? Use a resume building tool, like CVMaker or Resumonk to create a professional resume in minutes – for free!
• Include these 12 items and exclude these 10 overused resume words.

Cover Letter

• These cover letter tips will help you convince your future employer of what you can do for them and how you will fit with their company.

Application Information – Applying for an hourly position that doesn’t require a cover letter and resume? Don’t think you’re off the hook just yet!

Be sure to have the following information handy before you head out to complete job applications:

• Contact information for previous places of employment, including addresses and phone numbers
• Job dates – When you started and ended at the company and in each position so you can outline any promotions you may have achieved
• Reason for leaving – Be sure you can explain why you left your previous employments and any periods of unemployment in between positions

References

• Collect and notify potential references so they can be prepared to give you glowing recommendations when they’re contacted.
• Consider references from all aspects, including supervisors, co-workers, even clients.

Social Media

• Remember that nothing on the Internet is private, despite privacy settings. That being said, you can take precautions to share information with your preferred audiences by making sure these settings are kept up-to-date.
• Know where you can be seen – Gather all social networking accounts and Google yourself. Then, take action to clean-up anything you wouldn’t want your future boss to see.
• Use social media as a tool! Got a large Twitter following? Part of LinkedIn professional groups that would be beneficial for a future position? Cultivate these bragging rights and include them on your resume!

Follow-Up Email

• There can be a very fine line between persistent and pesky during your job application follow-up. Knowing how to follow-up without being annoying and using these tips from Alison Green will help you follow-up on your job application the smart way.

Now you’ve got all the tools you need to make job search magic happen. Best of luck – Now get searching!

Applying via mobile? Add these tips for mobile application etiquette to your job search prep list.