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Job Search Action Plan

 
1. Identifying your interests, skills, and values in order to determine Career Options - decide what you would like to do:
 
  • Identify skills, interests and values you use and want to use in the future
  • Identify work values
  • Complete must and want list (salary, location, housing, schools for children, rural versus urban, career opportunities, etc.)
  • Complete ideal job description
  • Decide where you would like to be in one year, five years, and even ten years

 

2. Gather information about types of jobs you might be interested in:

 

  • Contact people (start with friends) for informational interviews (ask people who are working in the job or company you are interested in how is there daily live, working conditions, social benefits, career opportunities, etc.)
  • Make notes on your job objective and write a concise statement
  • Read about job trends in specific careers
  • Research potential employers
  • Read career and organizational literature (available for instance in public libraries or in our bookstore).
  • Search job ads in newspapers, specialized journals, online job databases, etc.

 

3. Write your resume:

  • Develop your resume information “database” (all information you need to write your resume) - get free support from our resume guide

  • Choose a format and try alternative resume layouts

  • Prepare one or more resume drafts

  • Have the resume draft critiqued

  • Finalize resumes - a different one for each objective

  • Compile Reference Letters

4. Prepare drafts of cover letters to use in employer correspondence:

5. Identify specific organizations where you want to work:

  • Research these organizations

  • Make a list of employers with their addresses and contact persons

    • Best prospects

    • Other prime prospects

    • On-campus recruiting

    • Secondary prospects

  • Send cover letters and resumes

6. Prepare for interviewing:

  1. Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer - Check our free Interview Assistant

  2. Prepare a list of questions you expect the interviewers to ask

  3. Prepare answers to difficult interviewing questions

  4. Do dry run practice sessions

  5. Contact employer by mail and telephone and arrange for interview appointments

  6. Prepare your interviewing clothes

  7. Practice Interviewing

    8.  

7. Have Interview:

  • Send a thank you letter after the interview. 

    • It should be sent immediately after the interview.

      • It’s the courteous and thoughtful thing to do.

      • It will set you apart from the other applicants.

      • It will help the employer remember your strengths and value

    • It should include:

      • An expression of gratitude for the interview.

      • A brief restatement of the reasons for why you believe you’re right for the job.

      • A statement stressing your value – what you will do for the employer or company.

8. Follow-up important initial correspondence which went unanswered.

9. Obtain job offers and decide on the most satisfying position.

  • Write acceptance letter

 

       10. CELEBRATE! THANK GOD FOR YOUR SUCCESS.

 

 

 

(Modified from Career Handbook of Career Development Center of Andrews University in Bell Hall)

 

 

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