The Unwritten* Rules of the Highly Effective Job Search
by Orville Pierson
(* yet somehow he was able to write them down)
The book is based around the “Pierson Method,” for more information visit his website.
Get Ready: Plan and prepare
Read his book.
Create a Project Plan
Professional objective: What kind of work do you want to do?
Write this in 3 sentences or less. Give several sample job titles.
Create a Target List
Which organizations do you want to work for?
Write out the exact geographic areas in which you will conduct your search, the industries or types of organizations, and size range.
Here are some lists of companies that might be helpful.
Create a Core Message
What will you say about yourself to decision makers in your target market? Write an outline of the core message about yourself that you want everyone to know. It should tell your target market why you’re good at the kinds of work describe by your professional objective. Then use this outline to create a two-minute verbal summary of why you’re a good candidate for the jobs in your professional objective. (I find you also need a much shorter version as well “I want to leverage my background with X to help organizations like Y, do/solve Z)
Do a Reality Check:
Are there enough organizations and enough openings that happen over the course of your search. Besides doing a numeric estimate, talk to several people who know the field. (Do these organizations really hire these type of people? How often do they do this? )
Create resume:
Your resume should transmit your Core Message to your target market.
Get Moving: Take a systematic approach
Gather information
Check websites, talk to current/former employees, and people experienced with dealing with these organizations. Prepare a list of questions to ask about these organizations.
Talk to people
Let anyone inside target organization - including Decision Makers – and let them know how interested you are. Ask people if they have any information about your target organizations, and if they could suggest adding any additional target organizations. “I am looking for a new job, I am particularly interested in (Professional Objective), because that kind of work fits well with my background (Core Message) and with organizations like (mention some sample targets).”
Follow-up regularly – Every two to four weeks recontact each of the Decision Makers you have met or talk to before. (I think once a month is probably more appropriate). Always make an expression of interest. Follow-up with people you talk to, just a simple update would work. Not following up is one of the biggest mistakes. If you say you are interested, but don’t follow-up; it doesn’t seem like you are interested.
Use the Seven Search Techniques.
From least effective to most effective:
Walking in, cold calling, using direct mail, completing applications, responding to job ads, using staffing firms, networking/talking to people.
Manage You Search: Use progress measurements:
Track your progress – get a progress chart from his website.
(The vast majority of unemployed people don’t do this, because job hunt is all about rejection and it is hard to be rejected for 30 hours a week.)
If employed, can do a quarter or third of this activity
25 to 35 hours
15 to 30 new contacts
1 to 2 Decision Makers
Follow up contact with Decision Makers
Five to 50 letters, notes, and emails
Check your project plan regularly.
The best evidence is you are talking to Decision Makers (and/or getting interviews) and they say that you’re the kind of person they would like to hire or even express a willingness to do so when an opportunity arise. (In which case, you are at the head of the queue: they know you and will probably hire you instead of going through a costly job hunt if they need someone like you.)
Interview, negotiate, and start your new job (hey that wasn't that hard).