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3 keys to a successful job search
Pramod Kumar Srivastav of PKS Management Consultants offers the nuts and bolts of finding a new job in the third part of the series on ‘How to find your NEXT job’.
Read Part I, HERE and Part II, HERE.
Finding your next job is similar to jumping from point A to point B. We can break the whole process into three major steps: Evaluation of current situation, visualisation of the new job, and taking action.
What is the first step when you think of looking out for a new job
Evaluate the current situation. You have to evaluate the 3Ps - professional, personal and passion.
Professional reason:
Why are you planning for the next job hop? It can be because:
Everything is going fine in your present job, but there is an itch to change your job. I term it jumping from the green zone.
There is stagnation in your present job -- no growth, no learning opportunity, no better hike etc. I term it jumping from the yellow zone.
Your current job is under threat. You can see the danger coming in many forms, you have already been asked to leave and serving notice, or worse, you are already jobless. This I term jumping from the red zone.
All these zones will have a substantial effect on the way you visualise your next job and take action for your next job.
As you move from green to red zone, you may have to compromise somewhat on your next job, and expend more effort to land your next job.
Personal reason
Make an evaluation on the personal front like EMIs, college-going son or daughter, or children of marriageable age, your health, health of your spouse, dependent parents etc. Review these factors before you start your next job hunt.
Passion
Are you dragging yourself every day to your office?
You want to do something but are doing something else in your present job.
You are interested in people management but are doing hard-core technical work.
You are interested in sales and marketing but the current job demands you crunch numbers ninety per cent of the time.
Definitely, you are in a wrong job, where your heart does not belong.
Visualising the new job
Define what type of job you want.
What will be the expected CTC (cost to company), whether you will be looking for higher levels, are you jumping from a small company to a bigger company, are you open to relocation?
Consider the number of job opportunities in the market. As you become more and more senior in your job, opportunities will be less. You may have to be flexible in taking up your next job.
If you are trying to move to a new functional area, you will have to put in extra efforts and sometimes you will have to compromise on the role, CTC etc.
The higher the level you are trying to jump from, the more the effort required to achieve your goal.
If you are currently in the red zone, you will have to be more flexible and lower your expectations, at least for the time being.
Taking action
Finding openings
Update your CV; update your social networking site profile on LinkedIn or wherever. Update your CV in professional job search websites. Start contacting job hunters.
Start networking with people. Unless you have been put on notice, do not let your bosses or colleagues know that you are searching for a job.
More senior you are, the greater the chances of getting interview calls through references.
Never use your official email ID for searching for a new job. Never use the network of the office to log onto job sites etc. Remember that all your keystrokes are being recorded, and you are putting your current job in jeopardy.
Appearing for the interview
Negotiate with the recruiter for telephone interviews after your working hours. Attend face-to-face interviews on weekends. This will help keep your current job intact
Do research about the company. Go for the interview properly dressed
Do not bad-mouth your present employer.
If you are serving notice period, do not feel shy about it. State the reason briefly. Don’t give the impression of being let down and don’t give lengthy explanations.
Know the terms and conditions of your present employer and accordingly negotiate your date of joining.
Do not show desperation. It will be better if you have two job offers in hand.
Resignation
You have got the job offer you were looking for, but don’t brag about it to colleagues and bosses. Fix up a meeting with your immediate boss and explain your plan of resigning.
Do a proper knowledge transfer and follow company policies. While serving the notice period, do not bad-mouth the current employer or indulge in bad behaviour with colleagues. Do not burn bridges.
Join your dream job
If you do not want a few days’ cooling off period between jobs, preferably your last working day should be Friday. On Monday join your new dream job.
Summary
Landing your next job is a continuous process. Keep giving your best in the present job. But always be on your toes. You never know when you need to go for your next interview.
You need to be loyal to your skills and project, not to your employer, because no employer loves you ever. Connecting with people on social media is easy and fast and if effectively used, can be a great advantage to find a new job.
Part I: New job, new you?
Part II: Are you ready for your next job?