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Conducting a SMART Job Search

on June 14, 2021 in ABR Blog, Job Search Webinars

 

Working hard on your job search does not guarantee success. Use our tips for a smart job search below to help create a written plan that includes extremely clear job search objectives.

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Smart Method of Job Searching

You may have heard the term SMART when it comes to goal setting. The letters in SMART stand for the following:
• Specific
• Motivational or Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic
• Time specific

Conducting a SMART job search is a powerful way of motivating yourself and progressing your search. Using this strategy helps you create a written plan that includes extremely clear objectives.

What Is A Specific Job Search?

To conduct a specific job search, answer the five “W” questions:
• What – what do I want to achieve by my job search?
• Why –  why as in specific reasons for my job targets and search efforts
• Who – who are the individuals I need to contact?
• Where – where is the geographic location I want to work in?
• When – what is target date to accept a job offer?

What Is A Motivational or Measurable Job Search

Develop specific criteria for measuring your progress toward finding your new opportunity. If you can’t measure your activity, it is not possible to know whether you’re making progress toward it. Measuring your progress helps you stay on track, reach targeted dates and
experience the exhilaration of achievement that encourages you to continue efforts required to keep your search on track.

When you measure your progress and celebrate achievements throughout the search process it also helps motivate you to continue and overcome obstacles and objections.

What Is An Attainable Job Search?

Your ultimate job search goals need to be attainable. If you are a recent grad, you cannot expect to land a position as CEO of a major corporation. If you are changing careers or industries, you can’t expect to be offered an increase in the compensation package offered.
It’s important to be aware of the contributing factors that will help you reach — or not reach — your expected outcome. Attaining your job search objectives may stretch you in order to be successful, but your targets should not be impossible. When you identify attainable job search goals that are important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them happen. You will develop the attitude and abilities to reach them.

What Is A Realistic Job Search?

Evaluate yourself and how much you currently have on your plate. A goal might be achievable by someone with no other commitments, but what about you? If you’re working full-time and conducting a job search – you have limited time to dedicate to your job search. That’s what realistic means. Do you have the time, skill set, and enthusiasm to attain the job you want? Be fair to yourself and set realistic goals within the context of your daily life. In order to make a change, you have to make it a priority.

What Is A Time Specific Job Search?

Simply, you must create a time frame within which to accept a job offer. It’s amazing how powerful a firm deadline can be. This takes your goal from happening someday to happening within a specific time frame. Time-specific job search goals create a sense of urgency and action. When you set a deadline it motivates you to put in the efforts needed in order to succeed. In order to set a proper time frame for your job search, it is important for you to study the job market, economy, trends in your profession or industry and average time frames for someone at your level to find employment. You don’t want to set yourself up for failure. If your job search involves a relocation, your time frame could increase to accommodate the interview process and eventual relocation.

You May Want To Implement An Additional ER Process

The E and R refer to Evaluate and Reward. You need to have a consistent plan to see if you are on track with the other SMART job search strategies, but you also need to evaluate your progress and reward yourself for small successes. A job search can be difficult, gut wrenching and frustrating. For these reasons, reward small accomplishments toward your goal to help your job search.

Subtle Changes To Enhance Your Results

It is also not realistic if you continue to conduct your search in the same way and expect different results. You must make changes throughout your search process in order to improve your results.

Each week review your activity and ask yourself the following questions:
• What did I do right? (Do more of these actions next week)
• What wasted my time? (Stop immediately)
• What subtle change can I implement next week?

This will keep your job search on target.

Why Working SMART Will Put Energy Into Your Job Search

When you conduct a SMART job search you have a map in front of you that guides your actions and job search activities. When you measure and watch your progression toward your goal, you will feel more energy and enthusiasm as you conduct your job search.

Follow the advice and you will be able to conduct a SMART job search and enjoy greater results.