This is a perfectly fine place to start your journey, but it shouldn’t be the only technique you try.
As you make your career transition, there are multiple paths you can take. Using the job boards is one technique, but so is relationship-building, or enlisting the help of recruiters. You should think of these as different tools in your job-hunting toolbox - you’re going to use each one at some point - and each one has different purposes.
If you decide to focus on networking, that can be done through social media or through in-person networking events - it just depends on your strengths.
Similarly, you don’t have to only search job boards by title - you can use “quotation marks” in your search query to filter results by specific duties, tools, or software programs you like to work with. (See the video above for more information on this technique.)
All of this is part of developing a job search strategy. A job search strategy is closely related to your job search schedule - but it’s deciding how much time you’re going to dedicate to each type of job-searching technique.
The strategy is going to be specific to each individual based on your goals and strengths. For example, an extroverted “people-person” who is trying to break into a new industry might choose to focus on networking for the purpose of getting information, while a more introverted person just looking to get back to work quickly might spend more time on their online presence.
On the other hand, if you’re trying to get into a role you have little to no experience with, you might not want to spend your time talking with recruiters who are looking for very specific candidates.
Some questions to consider while developing your individual job search strategy:
How much time do you have before you absolutely have to be back at work?
Are you making a transition to a new career or staying in a familiar field?
How much time do you have in an average week to spend on job-hunting activities?
What job-hunting activities have you gotten good results from in the past?
What job-hunting activities are you less comfortable doing?
Go over these questions and any others you may have from these modules with your Career Consultant. Together, you’ll be able to work out a strategy and schedule that meets your needs and goals.
In the next few modules, you’ll learn about a tried and true technique of “targeted applications.” This system is based in research and networking, beginning with targeting specific industries and working down to finding specific individuals to connect with.
