TARGETING

Do’s

• Approach visionary people
• Be as specific as possible (mostly in terms of field/industry/domain)
• Define your top 3 job choices, as well as a consultant project and a Plan B job
• Discover and list key/critical tasks for each target
• Discover your added value to your potential employers
• Identify problems/trends in the related industry
• Include no more than 15 companies for each job target that you define
• Leverage networks
• Look for a job where there is room for growth and learning
• Match skills to needs
• Research by networking. Meet, at least, 3 to 5 people per job target who are doing the job you want to do
• Search for growing markets
• Talk to people who work in companies where you plan to apply
• Target companies where you like the culture
• Understand the culture of the companies that you have selected

Don’t’s 

• Accept a job that doesn’t your fit personality and/or doesn’t fit with your long term objectives
• Accept any job because you feel desperate
• Adopt a rigid attitude/behaviour
• Aim for a job beneath your skill level
• Be vague
• Choose a job where you like the company, but have doubts about your future boss
• Consider a job that doesn’t offer a work/life balance
• Follow or be blinded by job trends
• Select something for which you have absolutely no desire
• Shoot for a job you are not passionate about
• Take a job based mostly on salary (unless you have a lot of debts)
• Target jobs where you will not have an advantage or a unique selling point

METHODOLOGY

Do’s :

• Approach people in companies through social networks (e.g. LinkedIn) via relevant group discussions or digital events
• Attend job fairs and networking events to maintain/increase your professional contacts and meet relevant people directly
• Build your LinkedIn network, profile and get recommendations from your previous bosses/superiors
• Conduct an active job search in social/professional environments to allow relevant feedback and tap the “hidden market”
• Contact the line managers directly (potential future boss) 
• Create a network that will build over time
• Find companies that use social networks heavily and are in your targeted industry
• Spread the word that you’re looking for job to as many friends/acquaintances as possible

Don’t’s :

• Apply for a specialized role with a very generic profile
• Approach the wrong person
• Ask for the job during your first contact before you have done your homework
• Be too pushy
• Become too aggressive if the person you have approached is not returning your call
• Believe that job websites will provide a dream job very easily
• Directly apply on the company’s job portal (write “false unsolicited letters” to line managers)
• Invest too much hope in job ads/job fairs
• Look desperate when applying for a job
• Post inappropriate content on social networks
• Write directly to H.R.

PERSON APPROACHED

Do’s

• Deal with personal assistants
• Decide if the person you have chosen to approach can help you get the job or knows the right people inside the organization that can offer you a job
• Find out if the person you choose to approach is an Alumnus from your school/university
• Find the link between you and the person you want to meet
• Identify the right level in hierarchy and approach people there
• Leverage peers
• Start by approaching your network
• Suggest that you are doing research for your school/club or writing an article (when looking for information only)
• Take advantage of friends, family and your network
• Use social media/networks (use/expand your secondary network)

Don’t’s

• Approach a person who can reject you as your first contact (with no chance to continue on with the job hunt at that company)
• Believe that head hunters are the only people to approach
• Contact people from different departments simultaneously
• Disregard the secretary/personal assistant
• Expect H.R. to make your case
• Invest too much hope (in terms of decision making), with people operating at lower hierarchical levels

TOOLS USED

Do’s

• Adopt the right CV format: chronological/reverse chronological/functional
• Conduct research, in order to customize your documents
• Customize your CVs and Cover letters for each specific job position for which you apply. Make sure to include quantified achievements that make you stand out from the crowd
• Follow-up key interviews with thank you notes (your best choice), emails (your second choice) and short calls
• Quantify your achievements to show progress
• Write blogs or have a personal website

Don’t’s 

• Believe that it is about quantity on LinkedIn (scattergun approach)
• Forget that a tool does not replace a strategy but serves it
• Mention people with whom you had “less than good” relationships
• Mix private and professional worlds (photos, friends and attitudes)
• Post Information on social networks that you don’t want employers to read
• Provide a too detailed profile on LinkedIn
• Publish too much information (leave ‘em wanting more!)
• Send generic cover letters; instead customize each one
• Send your CV when you can avoid doing it
• Trust your Facebook profile
• Use Facebook to job hunt