Welcome to another brand new series of Career Chat. In the next few issues, we will talk about job hunting in various circumstances, such as changing careers or returning to work after a career break. But first, let’s spend some time taking a broad look at the general steps for finding a job.
It’s important to remember what’s in your control and what’s out of your control when you’re getting a job—especially one you want. Some aspects, such as role availability and competitive recruitment pools, are out of your control. This series will help you focus on how to maximize your potential for success with the parts within your control.
What you can to do is to set yourself up for success at every turn. And if you’ve already started building your skills, you’re well on your way to success.
Here are the general stages of any job search:
1. Make yours clear Career goals. You may remember this from our resume series—the same reasoning applies here. If you know what you want to do, where you want to be and why, it will be easier to focus on your job search.
2. Recognize yours key business skills. Based on your career goals, check out the available roles on LinkedIn and expand your network to learn more about the opportunities available to you. Get to know the companies that are hiring and the skills you’ll need to get the job.
3. Write your resume. Think of this document as your first introduction to potential employers. If you’d like more guidance on formatting and what to include, revisit our resume series for a section-by-section breakdown, learn how to use ChatGPT to write a resume, or check out SUNY Online’s 5-hour course, How to Write a Resume .
4. Apply for jobs. Job listings will usually include everything you need to submit in order to be considered for a role. Be sure to follow the instructions exactly as stated. You can usually expect to fill out online forms, upload your CV, write a cover letter and submit work samples, depending on the role you want. If you can apply directly to a recruitment agency or hiring manager, check out our tips for writing a stand-out job application email.
5. Rate your interviews. Interviews are your chance to learn more about the position and show what you can do. We’ll offer more specific interview tips in an upcoming series, but for now, check out our top interview tips.
6. Follow up. It’s a good habit to send an email to recruiters and hiring managers after an interview. At the very least, you can thank them for their time – but for the roles that you are really excited, it’s an opportunity to reiterate your enthusiasm and gather more details to make a decision.
7. Refine your process. Job hunting can take time, so it’s important to keep developing skills, updating your resume, and thinking about your goals. Set up job alerts to keep up to date with new job listings. Take the time to consider and incorporate the feedback you receive from recruiters. If you’re stuck, here are a few ways you can expand your job search, whether it’s through networking, continuing your career preparation, or seeking guidance.
If you feel stuck at any of these steps, it might help to examine the step immediately before it in addition to the step you’re stuck on. For example, if you’re applying for jobs and not getting interviews, take a closer look at your resume and make sure it’s optimized for the positions you’re applying for; or if you’re uninspired during the interview process, consider whether the jobs you’re applying for really align with the job you want.
Where to start
We’ve linked to resources above for specific steps, but here are some recommendations to help you move forward at any stage of your job search:
To strengthen the various required skills, try Irvine’s career success specialization at the University of California. Here you will explore the skills that employers are looking for such as project management, communication, negotiation and problem solving.
To figure out your next career move, check out The Career Design Lab UC Santa Cruz: Change Your Job, Change Your Life Path. As you progress through the modules, you will clarify what you want in your next role and how you can achieve it.
To present yourself as you want to be seen, try the University of Michigan’s Personal Branding: Stand Out and Succeed course. In 10 hours, you will learn how to translate your values into a personal brand that brings you closer to achieving your goals.
If you want additional tips for any of the above steps, let us know in the comments and we’ll try to provide more resources. Remember that the Coursera community is also here to help you overcome obstacles.
Next week we’ll offer tips on applying for entry-level roles. I’ll see you then!