Tips for Measuring Job Search Success

Tips for Measuring Job Search SuccessAssess your employment strategy by asking yourself these important questions.

Have you been looking for a job for weeks, or months? It’s time to consider that there’s something wrong with your job search. What you’re doing likely isn’t working in your favor.

Receiving a job offer is your measure of success when it comes to your job search. However, achieving this goal requires the right actions, while tracking your outcomes. If you’ve applied to hundreds of jobs online, why are you meeting silence?

To make a change, track your job search metrics using these questions:

Where are you looking for job leads? You can find job leads using job boards, but bear in mind that many posted leads have circulated inside the company for quite some time before being posted on those online job boards. Internal candidates have submitted their resumes and have told their peers about the openings. Rather than relying on job boards, list at least 20 employers you want to work for, and monitor their career pages to get ahead.

Did you follow up after applying for a job? If the answer is yes, how did you make contact with the company? Did you leave a voicemail message or talk with an employee? Whenever possible, contact the hiring manager first, because that person has the power to hire you.

How many jobs did you apply to? Sending the same generic resume and cover letter for all job postings will not help you get a job. If you want to receive an offer, planning and communicating a concise and customized message for every company is important. Personalize each application as much as you can.

How many people did you meet last week? If you want to expand your network, you must make an effort to meet new people every week. It’s best to meet people working in the same field and industry you’re currently interested in. If you actively work to connect with people in your field, you’re much more likely to bump into people working inside your target companies. When this happens, the right connection might just increase your chances of getting in. Don’t forget to follow up with the people you’ve recently met and send a thank-you message. Regularly attend conferences, association meetings and meetups if you want to grow your network.

Tracking your efforts in these areas will help you set specific goals in your job search. Always remember that quality is better than quantity. Resist the temptation to send multiple generic resumes. Do more of what is working for you, and brainstorm new, smart ways to generate more leads.

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Alan Carniol

Alan is the creator of Interview Success Formula, a training program that has helped more than 80,000 job seekers to ace their interviews and land the jobs they deserve. Interviewers love asking curveball questions to weed out job seekers. But the truth is, most of these questions are asking about a few key areas. Learn more about how to outsmart tough interviewers by watching this video.