From the course: Plan Your Next Play in IT
Developing a strategy
- [Instructor] Now that the pre-work is completed, it's time to create a plan for finding opportunities and carrying through with the job search and applications. While we all count our lucky stars on occasion, do not believe for a minute that luck will carry you through the job search process. Finding and landing the ideal job at any stage of your career will take planning and hard work. Of course, your goal is to land a great IT job, but before you get there, we've got work to do. It's not something you can do halfheartedly or haphazardly. The process can be an emotional rollercoaster, so expect ups and downs. Make commitments to yourself, both in the amount of time you'll spend and determination. Set weekly goals. How many applications will you send out each week? How many companies or agencies will you check out? Keeping track of all of it in a calendar or diary will help you stay motivated and give you a sense of achievement when you see you've reached your goals at the end of the week. What do you want in a job? While this may seem obvious, there are likely several answers to the question. Are you looking for that first step into your IT career? Or is your current job rather static and not as challenging as it once was? Is it time to advance your career with a job that provides the next step? Your long-term career goals? Write a description of your ideal job. Specifically identify the must-haves and optional elements. This will help you recognize it in the job postings you read during your search. Now that you've detailed your ideal job, take a realistic look at yourself and ask, what can I do? What do I know? Do I have what it takes to land this job? If not, adjust your image of the ideal job for this point in your career path. Having a clear understanding of the positions you're suited for before you start the search will save time and disappointments. And besides, you'll need to list your skills in your resume to have a chance at an interview, so figure it out now. Being organized for the job of getting a job will make the process more efficient and less stressful. So my suggestion is to gather the important documents and details into an employment file. Create an organized job search contact list of individuals you wanna reach out to about possible jobs. You'll need space to record the date you contacted them, the results of your contact, and notes about following up. We'll go into more detail in some of these documents in later videos, but for now, round up your resume, the names and contact information of your personal references, written reference letters, and certificates, diplomas, and awards. Then employers will want you to email or upload your documents online, so scan any hard copies and save electronically, ideally in at least two places. Make multiple copies of your documents in case you're asked for them, but keep the originals protected and stored in a safe place. Think of the documents in your employment file and online content as personal marketing tools. Their importance cannot be overstated. Before an interview, employers will only know you because of what they see and read in them. A few things to think about until we dig deeper into each. Is the information up-to-date, accurate, and fitting to the type of job you're applying for? Do they show you in the best light? Would you hire the person that's represented by these documents? With a goal, commitment, and a plan in hand, it's time to start looking for that ideal job. Let the search begin.
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