Job Search Flow Chart
The job search process can be overwhelming, especially if you don't have a clear plan of action. A job search flowchart can help you stay organized and focused on your goals. In this article, we'll explore the steps involved in creating a job search flowchart and how to use it effectively.
Job Search Flowchart
Phase 1: Create a Career Map
The first step in creating a job search flowchart is to define your career goals. What type of job are you looking for? What industry do you want to work in? What are your salary expectations? Answering these questions will help you create a targeted job search strategy that aligns with your career goals.
Determine Your Options
To create a career map, write down all of your job targets. Job targets are job titles or job functions that you want to do next. You could start with your long-term goal and work backward to your short-term goal or it may involve only mapping out your next step. Keep in mind that linear career paths are not as common today as they were in the past, so don’t be worried if yours doesn’t look like the traditional career ladder.
Conduct a GAP Assessment
A GAP assessment lists out the qualifications for each of your target jobs and compares them against your current qualifications and experiences. Look for any skill or experience gaps between what the job requires and what you possess today. If your gap is too large, this job target may not be viable until you obtain experiences that fill those gaps. If you’re unsure how important a particular skill, experience, certification, or education level is for obtaining a job, a/b test a couple of resumes to find out.
Evaluate Your Options Against the Market
Now that you’ve narrowed down the potential job targets you are most qualified for, it’s time to evaluate the current job market. There are no right or wrong answers here, but if you need to find your next job sooner rather than later, you’ll want to be highly selective about the jobs and industries you decide to target. Here are some things to consider:
How many job opportunities exist for your target job? The more the better.
What is your competition level? If you target an industry with layoffs, you may be competing against others with years of direct experience. That means you will need a fair amount of experience to break in as well.
Phase 2: Market Readiness
Phase 2 of the job search flowchart is all about preparing the marketing collateral that you’ll need to implement your job search plan later. Preparing and updating things like your resume and LinkedIn profile, among other things, will ensure you don’t get bogged down with this stuff later. It’s easy to get wrapped up in checking these things off your list, but the most important thing is to have conversations with people doing the work you want to do so you can develop your unique messaging. Your message must resonate with hiring managers, differentiate you from your peers, and substantiate your claims.
Create Your Resume and Cover Letter
Your resume and cover letter are two essential tools in your job search arsenal. Your resume should highlight your relevant work experience, education, and skills in a way that takes an employer through narrative transportation about how you are the most qualified individual to solve their problems. If you write a good master resume or have it done professionally by a qualified resume writer, this will save you countless hours in resume tailoring later. Take the time or spend the money to do this right.
Your cover letter should demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job, make reference to any previous conversations you’ve had with current employees at the company, and help the hiring manager understand any parts of your background that may not be self-evident from your resume. Unlike your resume which may not need to change for every job, your cover letter most likely will need to be customized each time you use it; however, you can set up a cover letter template now which will make it easier and faster to customize later.
Do an Online Audit and Update Your LinkedIn
Performing an online audit before starting a job search can be a useful way to ensure that your online presence accurately reflects your professional persona. Google is your new resume.
To do an online audit, start by searching for your name on popular search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo. Check the results for any information that is publicly available and might be relevant to potential employers, such as social media profiles, blog posts, or news articles. Review your social media profiles, ensuring that your posts and photos are professional and do not contain any content that could be considered offensive or controversial.
Consider creating a professional website or LinkedIn profile to showcase your skills and experience. Finally, set up Google alerts to monitor any mentions of your name online, so you can quickly respond to any negative or inaccurate information. To set up a Google alert, go to google.com/alerts and type in your name.
Related Article: Can LinkedIn Prevent You From Getting a Job
Write any scripts
If you’re about to embark on a job search, you’re about to sell the most valuable thing you’ve ever sold - yourself. The best salespeople have scripts to help guide them. You’ll want to do the same. How will you introduce yourself to new people online and in person? What will you say when you follow up on a job opportunity? What will you write in an email to the hiring manager when you apply?
You’ll want to think about all the potential scripts you will need and write them out ahead of time. You can refine them as you go, but having a starting place will help you as you begin to execute your job search strategies. This won’t be your grandma’s job search, so if you’re thinking you don’t need scripts because you can hit the easy apply button, you may find yourself disappointed a few weeks into the process. It’s better to take the time now and write these out.
Test Everything
Start using your marketing collateral (resume, scripts, etc) with a small sample size of employers to determine if they resonate with your messaging. If not, go back to the drawing board and reevaluate.
Phase 3: Job Search Strategy
This phase of your job search flowchart is about identifying the ways in which you will uncover and fill your pipeline with qualified job leads. Below are a few strategies you could use, but there are many more. Depending on your skills and experiences, you may leverage some strategies more successfully than others.
Send resumes to target company’s ATS
The best recruiters start with their own ATS (applicant tracking system) when a new job opening happens. Rather than wait for people to apply, recruiters will see who they can contact immediately. Typically the candidates stored in an ATS are from previous job openings, but many companies allow you to submit an application without applying for a specific job. If you can do this, do it with any companies on your target list.
Register with recruiting agencies for contract and permanent work
Third-party recruiters can be your biggest asset in a job search, but you will want to be selective about which recruiting firms to work with. Find recruiting agencies who specialize in your niche area of work, in your niche geographic location, and who have long-standing relationships with employers.
Identify the job boards you will use
An effective job search flowchart includes the use of both large job boards and niche job boards. You won’t find as many job listings on the niche sites, but you will find less competition and better quality jobs. This makes it worth including a blend of niche job boards in your job search flowchart.
Make a target list for networking
Targeting is incredibly important to your job search flowchart. Because you’re not omnipresent, it’s imperative that you strategically determine where you will spend your time. By creating a target list of companies, you can strategically find people who work within those companies, build relationships, and effectively network.
Attend networking events, join professional organizations, and connect with people at your target companies on LinkedIn. Networking can lead to job opportunities and help you stay informed about industry trends and developments which will help you make adjustments to your resume and prepare for interviews.
Follow up on lost opportunities
A strategy often overlooked by job seekers is lost opportunities. Perhaps the company hired someone else. This doesn’t mean you should give up on your dream job. According to SHRM, nearly half of all new hires don’t work out. That opens a window of opportunity for you to reconnect with the hiring manager and express your continued interest. You can use a job search tracker such as Teal or an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of when to send your reconnect messages. A good rule of thumb is between 30 and 90 days after a company has made a hire. By utilizing this strategy you can get in front of the hiring manager before anyone else does.
Create an online presence
In today’s job market, it’s not as much about who you know, but rather, who knows you. Creating an online presence is a great strategy for individuals who may be light on experience because it offers the chance to gain experience and showcase it. You could do this through the creation of a website and social media posts. Use these tools to showcase projects you’re working on and the results you’ve obtained.
Phase 4: Interviews
Now that you have a plan for how you will find job opportunities, the next phase of your job search workflow is all about qualifying employers by strategically gathering information during your interviews.
Before the Interview
If you are invited for an interview, congratulations! Now it's time to prepare. Research the company and the position you applied for, and practice answering core interview questions. Use the information you’ve obtained from your job search strategies, such as networking and recruiters, to prep well. Make sure you have appropriate attire for the interview and arrive early.
The goal of the interview is to qualify the employer and yourself, and determine if working together will be mutually beneficial to both party’s goals. This will also take some moments of leadership on your part to ask the right questions and uncover the information you need to make an informed decision.
During the Interview
During the interview, be professional and courteous. Answer questions honestly and confidently, and ask questions of your own to demonstrate your interest in the position. No two interviews are ever the same. Try to match the style of the interviewer, communicate concisely, ask good questions, and gauge the success of the interview so you can pivot if needed.
After the Interview
After you’ve completed the interview, send a thank-you email to the recruiter, hiring manager, and anyone else that you met. Take every opportunity to show off skills such as follow-through and attention to detail by referencing topics from the interview. If you haven’t heard back from an employer after an interview, follow up a week later.
Phase 5: Evaluate and Negotiate Offers
If you are offered a job, congratulations! Take some time to evaluate the offer and make sure it aligns with your career goals and salary expectations. Don't be afraid to negotiate the terms of the offer if necessary. Doing your homework on the market value of your position will help ensure you negotiate the most favorable terms. Don’t forget to go below the line in your negotiation as well.
You can also negotiate things such as vacation time, perks, insurance benefits, and equity depending on the level of job you have been offered.
Phase 6: Start Your New Job
Once you have accepted a job offer, it's time to start your new job. Make a good first impression by being on time, dressing appropriately, and demonstrating the right attitude. Ask questions and take initiative to learn your job duties and responsibilities. Find out who your key business partners are so you can turn to them with questions.
Using Your Job Search Flowchart
Now that you have created a job search flowchart, it's important to use it effectively. Keep your flowchart visible and refer to it often to ensure that you are staying on track with your job search goals. Update your flowchart and job search plan as necessary if your goals change or if you find new companies or job opportunities.
One of the benefits of using a job search flowchart is that it helps you stay organized and focused. When you have a clear plan of action, you are less likely to feel overwhelmed or discouraged by the job search process. A flowchart can also help you track your progress and celebrate your successes along the way.
Another benefit of a job search flowchart is that it can help you identify areas where you need to improve. For example, if you find that you are not getting many interviews, you may need to revise your resume or cover letter. If you are getting interviews but not receiving job offers, you may need to work on your interview skills.
Remember that the job search process can take time, and it's important to be patient and persistent. Use your job search flowchart to stay motivated and keep moving forward. If you are feeling discouraged, reach out to friends, family, or a career counselor for support and guidance.
In conclusion, a job search flowchart is a valuable tool for anyone who is looking for a job. By defining your goals, identifying your target companies, creating your resume and cover letter, applying for jobs, following up, preparing for interviews, attending interviews, evaluating offers, starting your new job, and networking, you can create a targeted and effective job search strategy. Use your flowchart to stay organized, track your progress, and stay motivated throughout the job search process.
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