HOW TO FIND A NEW JOB IN 60 DAYS

I have always found myself thinking more about the job industry in our country than any other thing. Despite the fact that jobs are very few in our economy, many job seekers have not taken steps to get found by Recruiters. Its on that note that I grab my weapons (Pen and Paper) like I always do and tackle this complicated problem of unemployment. The following points are both helpful to those who are fresh from University & Colleges and those who have lost jobs in the past but are still actively seeking opportunities.


1. Maximize your use of time. Use your time well and find out the factors that are hindering you from being hired. If it’s driven by the lack of long-term career growth, lack of experience, then start scratching, get involved in as many charity organization campaigns as possible. This will actually inform the recruiters that you are a serious team  player and it is most likely that they will now under look that factor of 3 to 4 years experience.

2. Be found. Recruiters spend more time searching for candidates on LinkedIn than reviewing paper resumes of those that apply. Use the LinkedIn advanced search function to see if your profile turns up using typical keywords for the jobs you’re likely to land. If not, you’ll need to reengineer your profile to match those that do show up on the first two pages.

3. Be noticed. Once you’re found you’ll only have 10 seconds to make it into the “worth reviewing in detail” category. Make sure your best stuff shows up in the snapshot LinkedIn provides when you’re searching for people. The line under your name is the most important, followed by job titles, the types of projects you’ve worked on and the quality of the companies listed.

4. Expand your target. Rather than applying to a single job posting, use the “hub and spoke” concept to find companies with multiple job openings for similar jobs. This will help you identify the companies with the most hiring needs. With this list try to enter through the back door before applying. This way you’ll have a better chance to be a fit for one of many jobs rather than one specific job.

5. Find some keys to unlock the back door. Getting referred to a job increases your odds of being interviewed and selected by 2-3X over applying directly. Even better: You don’t need to be a perfect match on skills and experience.

6. Spend 60% of your time networking. Start networking by influencing people you know to introduce you to people you don’t know. Networking  isn’t about meeting as many people as possible. It’s about meeting a few people who can vouch for your performance and who are willing to introduce you to other people who might be willing to vouch for your performance after they meet you.

7. Be different. Come up with something you think can attract the attention of organizational heads. An unsolicited mini-project sent to a VP or director is a great way to land a meeting. Then convert the meeting into a job meeting.

8. Practice. Interviews can be a very challenging bit most especially if you have not prepared well. Going to an interview does not mean you must know everything about any subject but its important to practice answering some common interview questions before the D-day of the interview. Make use of the web and browse some common interview questions and their answers.

9. Make sure you’re interviewed correctly. Most interviewers will ask irrelevant or misguided questions to assess your ability and fit. By asking about real job needs and describing related past accomplishments you’ll be able to improve your odds of being assessed accurately.

10. Find out where you stand. At the end of the interview say you’re interested and ask about next steps. If the interviewer is noncommittal, assume you’re not going to be called back. In this case, ask if there’s a gap in your experience that’s of concern. Then attempt to disprove it using an example of a major accomplishment.

Finally, do not ever underestimate a job opportunity that has been put before you. Its very common that people who are already employed are likely to get exposed to more opportunities because they have better chances of networking. However its also important that though opportunities should not be rejected, ensure that the opportunity presented to you is not against you wish, beliefs and feelings.
I there fore encourage to start your 60 days today  to find out what the results are. I would love to hear your comments about this article inform of additions and any deductions where necessary. Despite the effort, consider that the risk of not changing jobs and not growing is often bigger than moving on to something new.

By Mwebya Fred,
On twitter @Ugaman01
mwbyfred@gmail.com
+256750061250