The 9 Steps of Your Job Search

​Have you ever heard of the 9 P’s? Prior proper planning prevents poor performance at peak panic periods.

Use the 9 P’s to help you with the 9 Steps of your Job Search Preparation. Read some of our other articles to find out more about each of the topics

Step 1 – Research your career options
Step 2 – Make a plan with SMART goals
Step 3 – Update your skills
Step 4 – Earn Credentials
Step 5 – Prepare for your job search
Step 6 – Network and search
Step 7 – Apply and interview
Step 8 – Get the job
Step 9 – Set financial goals

Let’s focus on Step 5 right now.

What do you need to Prepare for your job search?

You finished your career search, skill updates, or new career path training. Now is when most people think the job search begins. What do you need to make the best first impression on your future employer?

• Great skills?
• Great experience?
• Great education? Or, a
• Great resume that puts everything into a great package?

The following is the information you need to gather to build your resume.

1. Work – Document your work history. Gather dates, names, addresses and phone numbers.
2. Education – Obtain transcripts. Copy certificates. Gather dates, names, and addresses.
3. Licenses – Gather expiration dates and organizations.
4. References – Ask people if it is ok to include them on a reference list. Find three business related references and three personal references to cover all circumstances.
5. Recommendations – ask for letters of recommendations from employers, teachers, professors or people who can attest to your skills and abilities.
6. Skills – make lists of your:

• job and technical skills that will help you on future jobs – find a list here (Insert Link)
• transferable skills that you can use on any job
• soft skills that help you be a great employee
• military skills that can translate to civilian jobs

Once you have gathered all six pieces, build your resume and a portfolio.  Start building your resume today using the free resume and portfolio builder in Illinois workNet! 

Once you are ready to move onto the next steps in your job search, remember to use more than one approach when searching for job oprning.  Sometimes you can find jobs by:

• Networking with friends and other people;
  
• Using job search engines; and
  
• Making cold calls.

Then, keep all of these items in one place so they are at your fingertips when you are applying for a new job.  

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