When searching for jobs, there are those who land a job from 1 search and those who struggle through the process of finding one for a long time. ‘Luck’ is usually the response one hears from unhappy job seekers when they find out that their neighbour down the street was offered a position after only a two-week search. With many job seekers vying for only a few open positions, the truth is that ‘luck’ rarely has anything to do with it.
Realizing that their job search campaign doesn’t have to be a never-ending struggle, successful job seekers approach the process with patience and persistence. If you want to be among the highly successful job seekers follow the six steps outlined below.
Search with purpose
Instead of trying to fit into a mould set by a hiring organization, target companies that match your goals and career values; doing this will allows you to focus your energy into searching for a position that is a natural fit. After all, you don’t want to find yourself embarking on another search within a year’s time because you made a decision in haste.
Always be prepared
Be ready for your day’s activities by 9 am. Opportunities rarely land on your lap and you have to be prepared for the surprises that may come up during the day. You don’t want to be caught sleeping when someone calls to discuss an employment opportunity. Waiting until your unemployment insurance is about to end before you begin aggressively looking for a position can be a costly mistake. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you are running low on resources and desperation is about to set in. This is when mistakes are made and your job search may begin to suffer.
Develop a job search plan
Organize your job search, map out a strategy, set priorities, and establish goals. Begin your search with a clear focus and a plan. Participate in a number of activities including answering job vacancy ads, posting your CV on the Internet, and going on an information hunt.
Identify the decision maker
A human resources representative is also known as a “screener.” The screener’s job is to review CV’S and match your experience with a checklist of requirements set forth by the hiring manager. If there are enough matches, the human resources representative forwards the CV’S to the decision maker. Unfortunately, not much is left to the screener’s interpretation. This is why most opportunities are lost – because the screener doesn’t have the luxury of making a decision based on instinct; he or she is instructed to follow the lead of the hiring manager. Since the decision makers (e.g. Director of Engineering, Financial Director,) are the ones who determine who is ultimately hired, it is advisable that you apply directly to them, especially if you are sending a speculative CV into the company.

Write follow-up letters
Well-written follow up letters can make a difference as to whether you get hired. A follow-up letter is more than a simple note thanking the interviewer for his or her time. It should be a well structured letter that re-affirms your interest in the position, and serves as an opportunity to mention an important point you neglected to bring up, and/or provides an opportunity to offer new insight on a topic that was discussed during the interview. A great tip is to finish with a P.S as this draws attention to the main reason for the letter, i.e., I would like to confirm my interest in the accounts position and would be available to start as soon as possible you can call me anytime on (telephone number)
Employment agencies and Recruiters
Working with a recruiter to find your next job can be a master stroke as the recruiter when selected wisely can be a professional advisor and search assistant, they have many contacts and their job revolves around you getting placed, so the ideal result is a win/win. If you have a specific skill or experience base you would be wise to select your agency by their specialism that matches yours.