Be a Better Job Seeker: 12 Tips
By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor

Successfully looking for a job is an acquired skill, a lot like learning to ride a bike. Most of us eventually get the hang of both once we understand the mechanics. Therefore, think of the following tips as "training wheels" in helping you become a better job seeker.

Getting the Interview
·  Get Motivated. While some people may look at the prospect of finding a new job as similar to getting a root canal -- without anesthesia -- job change is a fact of life. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers between the ages of 18 and 38 will change jobs approximately 10 times. So get over it and get moving.
·  Determine What You Really Want... Besides a Bigger Paycheck. You need to sit down and identify what it is you do particularly well and what you truly enjoy. This will help lead you to a targeted market of potential employers.
·  Revamp That Résumé. Companies are looking for tangible skills and talents from their job candidates. As John Putzier, author and president of human resources consulting firm FirStep Inc. explains, "Just because you had the title of 'manager' at your last job doesn't mean you were good at it." Your résumé must show measurable successes, such as increased profitability or departmental savings.
·  Shift the Focus. Potential employers are interested in more than merely a litany of past companies and titles on your résumé. Putzier advises taking the focus off your past jobs and shifting it to highlight your skills -- both professional and personal. The fact that you are organized, persuasive and an excellent manager may best be exhibited by that successful community fundraiser you volunteered to head up.
·  Network. Looking for a job without contacting former colleagues and current business contacts is like setting up Internet access strictly for e-mail services -- you're excluding an entire body of useful information that could help you in your search.

At the Interview
·  Listen. "Really listen," advises John Challenger, CEO of global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. "You have such a small amount of time with the interviewer, so you really have to listen when they say what they want."
·  Make a connection with the interviewer. "Candidates all tend to look similar on paper," Challenger notes. But how you conduct yourself in the interview, he warns, is what either sets you apart (for better or worse) or lumps you in with all the other faceless candidates. So smile, make eye contact, try to relate on a human level.
·  Enjoy the silence. Don't feel compelled to cover lulls in the interview with idle chatter, says Challenger. Putzier agrees, "Most of the time this talking says nothing and sometimes the rambling can even get you into trouble by saying things you really didn't intend to."
·  Be prepared. Be ready for any questions the interviewer may hurl at you. In fact, Putzier suggests taking it a step further by giving interviewers what they want before they ask for it. "It's a great way to make a lasting impression," he says.
·  Be a superstar. Use what Putzier terms the "STAR" Technique. Describe the "Situation" in which you worked, the "Task" you solved, the "Action" you took to solve it and the "Results."
·  Ask questions. Be sure to ask questions, such as: "Why is the position vacant?" "Has there been frequent turnover in the position?" or "What are the priorities of the position?" You can glean much information about the company, the corporate culture and the position from how the interviewer answers these questions.
·  Say "Thanks." Thank the interviewer for the time spent talking to you and be sure to ask what the next step is, Challenger advises. Then follow up the interview with a prompt thank-you note or e-mail.


Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.