The job changing process is a learning experience.
You learn what has changed in the marketplace since the last time you searched for a job. You recognize that you don't send out your resume to get an interview and don't wear your flip-flops to interviews.
You learn about all the new and interesting ways to use social media to uncover job openings and expand your network of contacts. And you learn that it is you who is driving the entire process, and that includes creating a one-page "Career Plan Strategy" (that includes your work objective, professional achievements, personal skills, target company attributes and industry segments/target companies) to use in your social networking and the scheduling job interviews.
An effective job hunter is someone who is out there in the marketplace actively looking for new opportunities--with knowledge, energy and focus.
Yet, many job hunters want to jump right into the interviewing process without realizing that there is a process that can be mastered if one wants to uncover more opportunities, uncover them sooner, and avoid wasting a lot of valuable time wandering around lost for some under determined amount of time.
When it comes to getting another job, it can be stressful, it can be a long process and even the smallest thing can trip you up. "But if you're looking for a job (or about to) you've already discovered some discontent with your current situation--and that's a good thing," according to author Dr. Paul Powers. "Tap into it. Use it. If you want something better, go for it. It's all up to you, because the job fairy isn't coming..."
In his book, "Don't Wear Flip-Flops To Your Job Interview", Dr. Powers shares market-proven techniques, new approaches, and shortcuts around the roadblocks that stymie most job hunters.
Referrals Matter
As a source of new, competent staff, employee referrals have no equal.
Think of your Career Plan Strategy as a compass — not as a road map.
Just let people you know what you have accomplished in your career up-to-now, what your personal skills are, what target organizational attributes you are interested in and your career objective. When they think that you will be a good match for a targeted company, your social or professional contacts will make the connection for you.
There is no other source for candidates that generate the same ROI; in fact, 7% of candidates that come through referrals account for 40% of total hires.
New data show that employee referrals provide better candidates, higher retention rates and help companies hire faster:
Referrals are the number one source of high performing employees.
Applicants hired from a referral begin their position quicker than applicants found via job boards and career sites (after 29 days compared with 39 days via job boards and 55 days via career sites).
Referral hires have higher retention rates – 46% of employee referrals stay for three years or more, compared to only 14% of those hired from job boards.
http://coachingtip.blogs.com/coaching_tip/2007/01/dont_send_your_.html