5 Things to Do Before You Apply to Any Job

5 Things to Do Before You Apply to Any Job5 Things to Do Before You Apply to Any JobImagine that a new restaurant is about to open in yourneighborhood. Youve heard great things about the chef, the place looksattractive and you cant wait to try the food. So you rush in within the first few days it isopen for business, only to find that the restaurant really hasnt finishedthe shakedown period. The food is unevenly prepared, the wait staff isntwell coordinated and your hopes for a perfect evening are dashed. Had the management given itself a little longer to work outthe inevitable bugs before opening, your first impression would likely be muchstronger. The restaurants chances for your repeat business would also havebeen much stronger.Career transitions are rarely easy, and there is apropensity to want to take shortcuts. Often new job hunters with greatpotential are in such a rush to get hired that they hurry the process, like therestaurant that opens its doors without ample preparation. You may be eager toapply to the first sttte of interest, but the effort is likely doomedwithout adequate planning.When you think about what you need to do for any largeproject, it can become overwhelming. And when you do things out of order, onesmall mistake early on can have larger ramifications later. This is especiallytrue for job seekers.The key to laying an effective job-search strategy isunderstanding the various parts of a job hunt and putting them into place inan ordered fashion. Its not about writing down everything youve beenresponsible for and calling it arsum, setting up a bare-bones LinkedInprofile or staying up late at night, applying to everything you see advertisedon a job board.For example, take this situation where things are notwell-ordered A job seeker meets someone at a gathering who might be interestedin helping. Can I see a copy of yourrsum? he asks.A reply like, I have to write it Ill get it to you when Ican immediately damages credibility, and it demonstra tes little reason for theperson to go out of his way to help. Here are five things you should do beforeapplying for a job1.Figureout what you have to offer an employer.If you are in midcareer and simply want to do what youve been doing somewhereelse, or you want take a step forward in a linear path, this may seem obvious. Still,it is well worth the time and effort to catalog your skills and achievementsbefore you move on to crafting yourrsum.If you want to change your career altogether,or if you are just starting out, rather than saying, I want to be a XXX, youmay benefit by taking advantage of a variety of self-assessment tools such asthe Myers-Briggs. Moreover, it makes a great deal of sense to arrange forinformational interviews to learn mora about your intended path forward fromthose who have already traveled it.2.Figureout employers needs. Think of this phase as the market research you needto do before you are ready to launch your campaign. Check out what openingslook like for the types of jobs for which you have great interest. And, if youhappen to find a job that excites you, take a breath and remember that speeddoesnt necessarily trump the quality of your application.Note the responsibilities needed to befulfilled, the skills it takes to accomplish them and the specific experienceemployers seek.3.Craftyour marketing materials. Remember that the purpose of yourrsumandLinkedIn profile is to draw people to you, not tell them all the things forwhich you have been responsible. Usethese keywords and concepts youve learnedabove as you draft yourrsum, LinkedIn profile and cover letters.4.Dig infor the long haul.There is atendency for newly unemployed people to express statements like Im great Iwont have any trouble finding a job. While it is important to maintain apositive self-image and sense of self-worth during what is often a depressingtime, when you are overconfident, you set yourself up for a biggerdisappointment when you dont gain traction immediately. 5.Dont reinventthe wheel. Collaborate. Find others who are going through what youare experiencing, and learn from each other. Practice you networking and interview skills in a safe environmentbefore you take them on the road. Consider getting a coach, counselor or mentorwho knows the ropes and can help you hone your message.When you sequence your hunt properly, youll be better ableto capitalize on every networking opportunity with the knowledge and confidenceit takes for success. Youll then provide employers with a carefully crafted,well-integrated message demonstrating how you are the answer to their needs.Happy hunting