Are you graduating from college and ready to look for your first “real” job? 

Or just ready for a change and want to look for a new position?

Make your job hunt less stressful and more productive!

Before you begin applying for jobs, set yourself up for success by asking yourself:

• What type of job are you looking for? 

• Do you want to go to the office?  Work remotely?  Or both?  

• What characteristics are you looking for in a company’s culture? 

• What values will you not compromise on in a working environment?  

Do not compromise!

Find companies that align with your values and working conditions. 

To make sure you stay on track with your job search:

• Write your goals down and review them frequently.

• Use the acronym SMART to help you write your goals.

Get started:

1. Pick a date that you'll have a job.  Post that date everywhere to remind yourself to not give up, even when the job search gets challenging. 

   • For Example, "I'll have a job as a teacher by the start of the upcoming school year."

2. Make mini goals each week that help you accomplish your large goal of getting a job. 

   • For Example, "I'll apply for 5 jobs each week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings."

Job searching doesn't need to turn into a full-time job. There's no need to spend hours every day on your job search. 

Set a schedule that works for you.  

Decide when you'll commit to searching. Will you block off a few hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings?  

Write these commitments on your calendar to ensure you follow your schedule.

If you're serious about finding a job, make your job hunting session an appointment on your calendar and stick to it! 

If you had a doctor’s appointment, would you skip it?  Or let a friend or family member influence you to reschedule to make other plans?  

Promise you won’t cancel or postpone that commitment you made to yourself. 

Remember, you have goals to reach!

People stay organized in their own way, so find what works best for you. 

To stay organized in your job search:  

• Keep a list of each job you apply for and the date you submitted your application.

• Mark on your list if you were contacted for an interview, who you spoke to, and when the interview will be.  

• Did you receive a rejection email?  Mark that on your list and when you received it.

• Did you receive feedback on why you didn’t move forward in the hiring process?  Keep those notes to help you improve moving forward.

  

You may feel alone in the job search process, but let me tell you that you're not alone. 

So many people are going through the same thing and can offer you support along the way.  

Join groups on social media sites such as LinkedIn or Facebook with other professionals looking for jobs in the same field as you.  

Not only will you find people to connect with, but also job postings or hiring managers looking for people to fill positions at their company.

Reach out to recruiters for positions that interest you, even if it feels intimidating.  You never know who you may meet or what opportunities may open up by being bold and assertive in your job search!

I know you're excited to start your job search and want to ensure it's as productive and as unstressful as possible.

Use this list to help you on your journey to finding the new job that's just right for you!