Job Search Checklist, by Julie Miller

Looking for a job can be a daunting task, even in good times. To help you
organize your efforts, use this checklist. Being buttoned up is especially
important if you’re working and looking for a new position, because you have
to stay on your game even while you’re scoping out new positions.
1. Do What You Can To Keep Yourself Employed
€ Step up to help out; be a utility player ­ you might find a satisfying
new role in the organization.
€ If things are getting unbearable, look to what you do outside of work
to stay sane and carve out time to devote to your career strategy.
€ Take the high road ­ resist the temptation to do job search activities
on company time.

2. Revive Your Resume
€ Develop an all-purpose resume that¹s ready to go on short notice, but
also develop a Master Resume document you¹ll tailor to reflect different
opportunities. See the ³tailored² vs. ³off the rack² resume comments here.
€ Be sure your bullet points answer the ³So What?² question. Emphasize
context and results, and de-emphasize job responsibilities.
€ Lead with verbs (³Managed,² not ³Responsible for managing²). Search
³resume action words² online.

3. Order Personal Business Cards
€ Name, cell phone, personal e-mail address, brief descriptive title
(³CFO²) if appropriate.

4. Set Up A Personal (Not Family) E-Mail Account If You Don¹t Have One
Already
€ Keep it simple: Jane_Smith@xxx. com ­ not Racquetball_ King@xxx. com

5. Revisit Your Voicemail Greetings (Home And Cell). Are They Appropriate
For a Job Search?
€ ³You¹ve reached the cellphone mailbox of Jill Moneypenny² — let the
caller know they¹ve reached their intended number.
€ Nothing silly, please — no singing children.

6. Determine Your Minimum and Ideal Salaries

7. Develop an ³Elevator Pitch² and Practice It Out Loud Till It¹s Second
Nature
€ Concisely describe who you are and what you offer, ideally in about 30
seconds.
€ If you¹re unclear on exactly what you¹d like to do next, it¹s fine to
say something like, ³Right now I¹m evaluating ways to combine my background
in A with my personal interest in B.²
€ Leave yourself a voicemail with your elevator pitch — it¹s always a
good thing to get an idea of how you sound.

8. Read Articles From Efinancialcareers. Com¹s Career Toolkit Daily ­
They¹re Relevant To Everyone

9. Subscribe Online to a Regional Business Journal to See Who¹s Growing
€ Visit www.bizjournals. com and click on ³Choose Another City² to find
your area.

10. Interview For Information
€ Connect with a college or work alumnus/a or friend of a friend — have
a phone conversation, or meet for coffee. Ask candid questions as you
develop your job search strategy: Where should I be looking for job
opportunities ­ online, recruiters, networking, finance professional
organizations? What are typical salary ranges? What backgrounds are
successful in the role you¹re in? What surprises you about the work you do?

11. Revisit Your Online Presence
€ Employers do look. Is your online image (or lack thereof) in synch
with the professional image you¹d like to portray?

12. Start Lining Up References
€ Identify a cross-section of references, brief them about your career
plans, and confirm that they¹re willing to speak confidentially on your
behalf.
€ Give each reference a heads-up every time you provide their name to an
employer, and brief them on the specifics of the opportunity.

13. Reconnect With Your Alma Mater And Their Career Resources For Alumni

14. Consider Meeting With An Independent Career Counselor To Map Out Your
Strategy And Options

15. Dust Off the Interviewing Cobwebs
€ Examples, examples, examples ­ build an arsenal of great stories about
your accomplishments.
€ What are the current trends? Ask informational interviewing and HR
contacts.
€ Phone interviews are increasingly common; look online for tips for
successful telephone interviewing.
€ Practice at home ­ talk out loud, watch yourself in the mirror.

16. Critique Your Appearance in Anticipation of Interviews
€ Have at least one up-to-date suit or outfit tailored and ready. Shoes
in great shape. Hairstyle, eyeglasses, accessories up-to-date. Nice-looking
portfolio and/or briefcase with handsome pen.

17. Circulate!
€ Tune in to career conversations even when socializing ­ get an idea of
what other people are doing, which organizations are growing, the nuances of
the job search for different careers and employers.
€ Attend professional organization meetings to keep current while
expanding your network.
€ Connect with recruiters if relevant.
€ Expand your mind and your network to keep things interesting ­ attend
lectures at local colleges/universiti es, teach a community education
course, pursue that long-put-aside hobby, join a round-robin.

18. Fine-Tune Your Job Search Strategy and Start Applying
€ Integrate what you¹ve learned from your research and your
informational interviews and determine where the jobs are ­ Online? Via
recruiters? Networking? Combination?

19. Interview and Evaluate
€ Ask about next steps when you interview so you may follow up
appropriately.
€ When you receive an offer: Get the facts, say ³thank you,² and stop
talking! Digest the information and talk it through with a trusted partner
before negotiating.