This article is part of a series from The Career Doctor's Cures & Remedies to Quintessentially Perplexing Career and Job-Hunting Ailments. Read more. What’s the most critical factor in finding a job? Having a job-search strategy - and following it. Besides having some sort of plan, the other key issue is having the tenacity to stick with it -- and adjust it as necessary -- for as long as it takes. There are no magic formulas or guarantees. Job-hunting is hard work, but the more you plan, and the more committed you are to finding a new job, the better your chances. So, with that introduction, here are the 10 steps to finding a new job. Step 1: Examine your life/career. Are you where you want to be in your career? How well does your current job and career path meet your life goals? Do you feel as though your life and career are in or out of balance? Be completely honest with yourself in answering these questions. Step 2: Set career/job-search goals. Create a vision of where you see yourself in six months, in six years. Research careers, jobs, and employers. Be sure all your goals are realistic. Step 3: Reconnect with/expand your network. Your network of personal contacts is the most powerful job-search tool under your control. Expand, build, strengthen your network. Step 4: Upgrade your knowledge/skills. Employers want employees who have a set of what’s termed "soft" skills, including communications (written and verbal), interpersonal, teamwork, problem-solving, analytical, and adaptability. Step 5: Consider additional training/education. One of the best ways to improve your employability is to gain additional knowledge, training, or certification. Step 6: Update/polish your resume. There are so many new rules of resume-writing, including different formats and versions, that you best spend a fair amount of time on this step. (See Question 9 for more details.) Step 7: Learn/refresh job-search techniques. Do you know how to generate job leads? How to use your network? You must stay current with the latest job-search techniques. Step 8: Practice interviewing. One of the most overlooked areas of job-hunting is preparing and practicing for job interviews. Research the employer; practice answering common interview questions. Step 9: Test your marketability. Job-hunting is all about marketing yourself to employers. Determine what makes you unique among all other job-seekers. Step 10: Consider advancing internally. Don’t always assume the best job opportunities are those waiting for you outside your current employer. Get more details and resources on each step in this article: 10-Step Career Tune-Up.
See a list of all the most common college, career, and job questions -- and Dr. Hansen's solutions. Who is the Career Doctor? Learn more, read his current career column, or browse the column archives when you visit the Career Doctor's homepage.
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Dr. Randall S. Hansen is a nationally recognized career and job-search expert.
He is Founder and Webmaster of Quintessential Careers, as
well as publisher of its electronic newsletter, 