Creating a Job Search Plan

You may be thinking to yourself, “Why do I need a job search plan?” But when you enter the job hunt without a plan, it’s like heading on a road trip without navigation. A strategic job plan will help you set clear goals for yourself and be intentional about your job applications instead of applying for anything and everything that comes across your desk.

We’re giving you some steps to create your job search plan so when you’re ready to start looking for your next career move, you’re prepared!

Determine Your Career Goals

You’ll first want to determine and clarify your career goals. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to get clear on those goals.

• What types of positions are you looking for? 
• What is important to you in your career? (travel, benefits, location, development opportunities, etc.)
• What salary range are you looking for? 
• Are you looking to transition to a different industry/sector? 
• What are your short-term career goals?
• What are your long-term career goals?

Get Real About Your Skills & Experience

We all have a list of unique skills and experiences, and this is your time to get real about what you have to offer. Our advice is to make an exhaustive list of your skills, both technical and soft skills, and your experiences that will correlate with your job search. Once you’ve got this list you can analyze your skills and experiences and determine where your talents lie and if your career goals align with those.

Create/Update Your Resume

Once you’re clear on your career goals and where you’re at with your skills and experiences, it’s now time to create or update your resume. It is crucial when entering the job hunt that you have an updated resume. If you apply for a job with an outdated resume it shows a lack of care and that you aren’t interested in the position at all! If you have a lot of job experience, a good rule of thumb is to not have anything on your resume that is older than five years unless it is relevant to the position you are applying for. You want to ensure that everything on your resume will help you make it to the top of the applicant pile! If you need some help creating a standout resume, we’ve got a resource just for you, here!

Start Searching & Applying for Jobs

We may be a little biased, but Of The West has some of the best career opportunities within the ag + western industry. It is the perfect place to create a Job Seeker profile and start looking for career opportunities that can be a fit for you. When you create your Job Seeker profile, you’re also able to add a resume and put that in the resume database so employers can find you! Also, when it comes time to apply, the application process is so easy on Of The West!

When you are starting to search for jobs, go back and look at your answers to the question, what is important to you in a career? Most job descriptions will give you insight into the day-to-day so if travel is not something you want and the job says 70% travel, it may not be the position for you. A big mistake many job seekers make is applying for jobs while ignoring big elements of the job description, so make sure you’re clear on the position you are applying for and generally interested.

Utilize Your Network

Something that many Job Seekers forget about when they are on the job hunt is utilizing their professional network! This is your time to reach out to those relationships you have worked hard to create and ask them if they know of any job opportunities that you might be a fit for. They might also be great references to use if employers ask for them.

Prepare For Interviews

It is never a bad idea to be prepared. Once you start applying for jobs, you might as well start preparing for interviews. Whether it’s getting your best interview outfit out from the back of the closet or creating a list of your own questions to ask the interviewer, being prepared ahead of time will ease those nerves when it’s time for that interview. If you want a few tips and pieces of advice, we’ve got a resource on How to Ace an Interview, here!

Be Patient

Job searching can be stressful and overwhelming, but it’s important to be patient! Remember that anything worth having doesn’t come easy, so don’t get discouraged when something doesn’t work out like you had hoped. The right job will come along! By following these steps to create a job search plan, you will already be on your way to finding success.

Now that you’ve got your job search plan, it’s time to find your next career opportunity! Head to Of The West now to explore some of the best opportunities in the ag + western industry!