On a mission for a new job?  Here are 5 simple steps for planning your successful job search.

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This article comes to us courtesy of Abby Locke:  a Nationally Certified Executive Resume-Writer, Master Resume Writer, and Personal Brand Strategist who helps senior-level professionals and C-level executives achieve personal success with customized, branded resumes, and career marketing documents. Her resumes have been published in Top Notch Executive Resumes, Nail the Resume! Great Tips for Creating Dynamic Resumes, Same-Day Resumes, Happy About My Resume, and Quick Resume and Cover Letter Book. Check out her resume, cover letter, and career marketing document samples

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Step 1: Conduct A Self-Evaluation

It is critical to know who you are and clearly understand the unique value and strengths that you bring to employers. Part of this process involves identifying and developing your personal brand. Consider these questions:

– Where do your greatest strengths lie?
– What are the most valuable things you have to offer an employer?
– What is your professional reputation?
– What do you consider to be your differentiating value over your peers?

Step 2: Do Your Research

The Internet is packed with priceless nuggets of information on industries, companies, and new/emerging careers. Maximize free resources like the Occupational Outlook Handbook, wetfeet.com, and vault.com to get an in-depth understanding before creating a list of target companies.

Step 3: Get The Inside Scoop

You cannot judge a book by its cover and even the best Internet sites will not get you the insider’s perspective you need about a company. Solution? Seek out a mentor already working for the company and/or industry through social networks like LinkedIn, Ecademy.com, Zoominfo.com, Facebook.com. Twitter.com, and Ziggs.com. If you make a good connection, that person can become a source for job referrals.

Step 4: Create The Right Impression On Paper

A a career changer, you want to avoid looking underqualified or like a mismatch for your new target positions. Conduct extensive research of your desired position to located keywords, industry jargon, relevant experience, and required skills.

Make sure that the job responsibilities, career achievements, and other additional information on your executive resume is RELEVANT and directly RELATED to your new career. It is quite acceptable to omit aspects of a position or your career (as long as it does not create a gap) if there is not any connection.

Step 5: Launch A Multifacted Job Search

I cannot emphasize this enough - searching the Internet, creating web-based resume profiles, and completing online job applications does not constitute a well-rounded job search campaign.

Build your network and referral base through active networking - join industry and professional associations, alumni groups, Chamber of Commerce committees, become a volunteer with your favorite charity or church group, and get active on Linked, Facebook, and Twitter.

In the end, networking is still the best tool for landing a new job.

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